What This Bill Does
This bill creates a special commission called the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform. The commission will study the federal government's money problems and suggest ways to balance the budget and fix long-term financial issues. The President must then send Congress a proposed law based on these suggestions, which Congress will vote on using a fast-track process.
##
Who It Affects
- The President
- Members of Congress (specifically the Senate Majority Leader, Senate Minority Leader, House Speaker, and House Minority Leader)
- Federal agencies and their employees
- The American public (who will see the commission's recommendations)
##
Key Provisions
- The commission will have 18 members: six appointed by the President, three by each Congressional leader (Senate and House, both majority and minority). The President picks two members from different political parties to co-lead the commission. (Sec. 2(b))
- The commission must propose recommendations to balance the budget (excluding debt interest payments) within 10 years of its creation and to improve the long-term financial outlook of the federal government. (Sec. 2(e))
- The commission must publish its final report within one year of members being appointed, and the report needs approval from at least 12 members, including at least 4 from each major political party. (Sec. 2(f))
- The President has 60 days after receiving the commission's report to send Congress a proposed law to implement the recommendations, which must be written as a joint resolution (a special type of legislation). (Sec. 3(a))
- Congress must use an expedited (fast-track) process to consider the President's proposed law, with strict time limits and debate restrictions in both the House and Senate. The proposal cannot be changed with amendments. (Sec. 4)
##
What Changes
If this bill becomes law, a new 18-member commission will be created to study federal budget problems and recommend solutions. Within one year, the commission will report its findings to Congress. The President then has two months to draft a law based on those recommendations. Congress will vote on this proposed law using special fast-track rules that limit debate time and prevent members from changing the proposal.
##
Important Definitions
- **Federal agency:** Any establishment in the executive, legislative, or judicial branch of the federal government. (Sec. 2(m))
##
Effective Date
Not specified in bill text. The commission must be established within 30 days of the bill becoming law, with member appointments made within 60 days after that.
I
118TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 710
To establish a national commission on fiscal responsibility and reform, and
for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
FEBRUARY 1, 2023
Mr. CASE (for himself and Mr. WOMACK) introduced the following bill; which
was referred to the Committee on the Budget, and in addition to the
Committee on Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the
Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within
the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
A BILL
To establish a national commission on fiscal responsibility
and reform, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
1
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
2
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
3
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Sustainable Budget
4
Act of 2022’’.
5
SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION.
6
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 30 days after
7
the date of the enactment of this Act, there shall be estab-
8
lished within the legislative branch a commission to be
9
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•HR 710 IH
known as the National Commission on Fiscal Responsi-
1
bility and Reform (referred to in this Act as the ‘‘Commis-
2
sion’’).
3
(b) MEMBERSHIP.—
4
(1) COMPOSITION OF COMMISSION.—A Commis-
5
sion shall be composed of 18 members of whom—
6
(A) six members shall be appointed by the
7
President, of whom not more than 4 shall be
8
from the same political party;
9
(B) three members shall be appointed by
10
the majority leader of the Senate, from among
11
current Members of the Senate;
12
(C) three members shall be appointed by
13
the Speaker of the House of Representatives,
14
from among current Members of the House of
15
Representatives;
16
(D) three members shall be appointed by
17
the minority leader of the Senate, from among
18
current Members of the Senate; and
19
(E) three members shall be appointed by
20
the minority leader of the House of Representa-
21
tives, from among current Members of the
22
House of Representatives.
23
(2) INITIAL
APPOINTMENTS.—Initial appoint-
24
ments to the Commission shall be made not later
25
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•HR 710 IH
than 60 days after the establishment of the Commis-
1
sion.
2
(3) VACANCY.—A vacancy on the Commission
3
shall be filled in the same manner as the initial ap-
4
pointment.
5
(c) CO-CHAIRPERSONS.—From among the members
6
appointed under paragraph (1), the President shall des-
7
ignate 2 members, who shall not be of the same political
8
party, to serve as Co-Chairpersons of the Commission.
9
(d) QUALIFICATIONS.—Members appointed to the
10
Commission shall have significant depth of experience and
11
responsibilities in matters relating to government service,
12
fiscal policy, economics, Federal agency management or
13
private sector management, public administration, and
14
law.
15
(e) DUTIES.—
16
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall iden-
17
tify policies to improve the fiscal situation in the me-
18
dium term and to achieve fiscal sustainability over
19
the long term.
20
(2) REQUIREMENTS.—In carrying out para-
21
graph (1), the Commission shall—
22
(A) propose recommendations designed to
23
balance the budget, excluding interest payments
24
on the debt, by the end of the 10-year period
25
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•HR 710 IH
beginning on the date on which the Commission
1
is established, in order to stabilize the debt-to-
2
GDP ratio at an acceptable level; and
3
(B) propose recommendations that mean-
4
ingfully improve the long-term fiscal outlook,
5
including changes to address the growth of enti-
6
tlement spending and the gap between the pro-
7
jected revenues and expenditures of the Federal
8
Government.
9
(f) REPORTS.—
10
(1) IN GENERAL.—
11
(A) FINAL
REPORT.—Not later than 1
12
year after the date on which members are ap-
13
pointed to the Commission under subsection
14
(b), the Commission shall vote on the approval
15
of a final report containing the recommenda-
16
tions required under subsection (e).
17
(B) INTERIM REPORTS.—At any time after
18
the date on which members are appointed and
19
prior to voting on the approval of a final report
20
under subparagraph (A), the Commission may
21
vote on the approval of an interim report con-
22
taining such recommendations described in sub-
23
section (e) as the Commission may provide.
24
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(2) APPROVAL OF REPORT.—The Commission
1
may only issue a report under this subsection if—
2
(A) the report is approved by not less than
3
12 members of the Commission; and
4
(B) of the members approving the report,
5
at least 4 are members of the same political
6
party to which the Speaker of the House of
7
Representatives belongs and at least 4 are
8
members of the same political party to which
9
the minority leader of the House of Representa-
10
tives belongs.
11
(3) SUBMISSION OF REPORT TO CONGRESS.—
12
Each report approved under this subsection shall be
13
submitted to Congress and made available to the
14
public.
15
(g) POWERS OF THE COMMISSION.—
16
(1) HEARINGS.—The Commission may hold
17
such hearings, sit and act at such times and places,
18
take such testimony, and receive such evidence as
19
the Commission considers advisable to carry out the
20
duties of the Commission described in subsection (e).
21
(2) INFORMATION FROM FEDERAL AGENCIES.—
22
The Commission may secure directly from any Fed-
23
eral agency such information as the Commission
24
considers necessary to carry out the duties of the
25
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•HR 710 IH
Commission described in subsection (e). Upon re-
1
quest from the Co-Chairpersons of the Commission,
2
the head of the Federal agency shall provide the in-
3
formation requested to the Commission.
4
(3) POSTAL SERVICES.—The Commission may
5
use the United States mail in the same manner and
6
under the same conditions as other departments and
7
agencies of the Federal Government.
8
(4) WEBSITE.—
9
(A) CONTENTS.—The Commission shall es-
10
tablish a website that shall contain—
11
(i)
the
recommendations
required
12
under subsection (e); and
13
(ii) the records of attendance of the
14
members of the Commission for each meet-
15
ing of the Commission.
16
(B) DATE
OF
PUBLICATION.—The Com-
17
mission shall publish a recommendation or
18
record of attendance described under subpara-
19
graph (A) on the website established under
20
such subparagraph not later than 72 hours
21
after the conclusion of the meeting at which
22
such recommendation is made or at which such
23
record of attendance is taken.
24
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•HR 710 IH
(h) ASSISTANCE OF OTHER LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
1
ENTITIES.—
2
(1) GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE.—
3
The Comptroller General shall provide technical as-
4
sistance to the Commission, as the Commission con-
5
ducts the work of the Commission, on the findings
6
and recommendations of the Government Account-
7
ability Office.
8
(2) CONGRESSIONAL
BUDGET
OFFICE.—The
9
Director of the Congressional Budget Office shall
10
provide technical assistance to the Commission, as
11
the Commission conducts the work of the Commis-
12
sion, on the findings and recommendations of the
13
Congressional Budget Office.
14
(3) JOINT
COMMITTEE
ON
TAXATION.—The
15
chair of the Joint Committee on Taxation shall pro-
16
vide technical assistance to the Commission, as the
17
Commission conducts the work of the Commission,
18
on the findings and recommendations of the Joint
19
Committee on Taxation.
20
(i) PERSONNEL MATTERS.—
21
(1) IN GENERAL.—Members of the Commission
22
shall serve without any additional compensation.
23
(2) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—Members of the Com-
24
mission shall be allowed travel expenses, including
25
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•HR 710 IH
per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized
1
for employees of agencies under subchapter I of
2
chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, while
3
away from their homes or regular places of business
4
in the performance of services for the Commission.
5
(3) STAFF.—
6
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Co-Chairpersons of
7
the Commission, may without regard to the civil
8
service laws and regulations, appoint and termi-
9
nate an executive director and such other addi-
10
tional personnel as may be necessary to enable
11
the Commission to perform its duties. The em-
12
ployment of an executive director shall be sub-
13
ject to confirmation by the Commission.
14
(B) COMPENSATION.—The Co-Chairper-
15
sons of the Commission may fix the compensa-
16
tion of the executive director and other per-
17
sonnel without regard to the provisions of chap-
18
ter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of title
19
5, United States Code, relating to the classifica-
20
tion of positions and General Schedule pay
21
rates, except that the rate of pay for the execu-
22
tive director and other personnel may not ex-
23
ceed the rate payable for level V of the Execu-
24
tive Schedule under section 5613 of such title.
25
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•HR 710 IH
(4) DETAIL
OF
GOVERNMENT
EMPLOYEES.—
1
Any Federal Government employee may be detailed
2
to the Commission without reimbursement, and such
3
detail shall be without interruption or loss of civil
4
service status or privilege.
5
(5) PROCUREMENT OF TEMPORARY AND INTER-
6
MITTENT SERVICES.—The Co-Chairpersons of each
7
Commission may procure temporary and intermit-
8
tent services under section 3109(b) of title 5, United
9
States Code, at rates for individuals which do not
10
exceed the daily equivalent of the annual rate of
11
basic pay prescribed for level V of the Executive
12
Schedule under section 5316 of such title.
13
(j) TERMINATION OF THE COMMISSION.—The Com-
14
mission established shall terminate 30 days after the date
15
on which the Commission submits the final report of the
16
Commission under subsection (f).
17
(k) RULES OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this Act
18
shall be construed to—
19
(1) impair or otherwise affect—
20
(A) authority granted by law to an execu-
21
tive department, agency, or the head thereof; or
22
(B) functions of the Director of the Office
23
of Management and Budget relating to budg-
24
etary, administrative, or legislative proposals; or
25
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•HR 710 IH
(2) create any right or benefit, substantive or
1
procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any
2
party against the United States, its departments,
3
agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or
4
agents, or any other person.
5
(l) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—
6
(1) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be
7
appropriated to the Commission such sums as may
8
be necessary to carry out this Act.
9
(2) AVAILABILITY.—Any sums appropriated
10
under paragraph (1) shall remain available, without
11
fiscal year limitation, until expended.
12
(m) FEDERAL AGENCY DEFINED.—The term ‘‘Fed-
13
eral agency’’ means an establishment in the executive, leg-
14
islative, or judicial branch of the Federal Government.
15
SEC. 3. CONSIDERATION OF COMMISSION RECOMMENDA-
16
TIONS.
17
(a) SUBMISSION
OF PROPOSED JOINT RESOLU-
18
TION.—Not later than 60 days after the date on which
19
the Commission submits a report to Congress under sec-
20
tion 2(f)(3), the President shall transmit to Congress a
21
special message on the report, accompanied by a proposed
22
joint resolution consisting of legislative language to imple-
23
ment the recommendations contained in such report.
24
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•HR 710 IH
(b) REQUIREMENTS
FOR PREPARATION
OF PRO-
1
POSED JOINT RESOLUTION.—
2
(1) CONSULTATION WITH CONGRESS.—
3
(A) IN GENERAL.—The President may not
4
transmit a proposed joint resolution under sub-
5
section (a) until after the President completes
6
consultation with Congress in accordance with
7
this paragraph.
8
(B) CONSULTATION WITH COMMITTEES.—
9
The President shall consult with the chairman
10
and ranking minority member of each relevant
11
committee of the Senate or of the House of
12
Representatives regarding the contents of a
13
proposed joint resolution.
14
(C)
REQUIREMENTS
FOR
CONSULTA-
15
TION.—The consultation required under sub-
16
paragraph (B) shall provide the opportunity for
17
the chairman and ranking member of each rel-
18
evant committee of the Senate or of the House
19
of Representatives to provide—
20
(i) recommendations for alternative
21
means of addressing the recommendations
22
contained in the Commission report; and
23
(ii) recommendations regarding which
24
recommendations contained in the Com-
25
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•HR 710 IH
mission report should not be addressed in
1
the proposed joint resolution.
2
(D) RELEVANT
COMMITTEES.—The rel-
3
evant committees of the Senate and the House
4
of Representatives for purposes of this para-
5
graph shall be—
6
(i) determined by the President; and
7
(ii) based on the content of the pro-
8
posed joint resolution.
9
(2) CONSULTATION WITH GAO AND CBO.—The
10
President shall prepare a proposed joint resolution
11
transmitted under subsection (a) in consultation
12
with the Comptroller General of the United States
13
and the Director of the Congressional Budget Office.
14
(c) CONTENTS
OF SPECIAL MESSAGE.—A special
15
message transmitted under subsection (a) shall—
16
(1) specify recommendations outlined in the
17
Commission report that are excluded from the pro-
18
posed joint resolution;
19
(2) detail why the recommendations described
20
in paragraph (1) were excluded from the proposed
[Text truncated for display. Full text available on Congress.gov.]