What This Bill Does
This resolution gives the Senate Budget Committee permission to spend money on its operations. The committee can spend these funds from March 1, 2023, through February 28, 2025. The bill sets specific spending limits for three different time periods during this two-year window.
Who It Affects
The Senate Budget Committee (a group of senators responsible for reviewing federal spending plans) is directly affected. Senate employees, outside consultants hired by the committee, and Senate support offices that provide services to the committee are also impacted.
Key Provisions
- The committee can spend money from the contingent fund of the Senate (a special account for Senate operations) and can hire staff to help with its work (Sec. 1).
- The committee can use government department or agency employees to help with its work if those departments agree and the Senate Rules Committee approves (Sec. 1).
- Committee expenses from March 1, 2023, through September 30, 2023, cannot exceed a set amount, with separate limits on consultant services and staff training (Sec. 2).
- Committee expenses from October 1, 2023, through September 30, 2024, cannot exceed a set amount, with separate limits on consultant services and staff training (Sec. 2).
- Most regular expenses can be paid without requiring special approval forms, including employee salaries, phone services, office supplies, and mail costs (Sec. 3).
What Changes
The Senate Budget Committee gains formal authorization to spend money on its operations during the specified period. The committee can now legally use Senate funds, hire workers, and use government services within the spending limits established by this resolution.
Important Definitions
Contingent fund of the Senate: A special account used to pay Senate operational expenses.
Vouchers: Written approval documents authorizing payment.
Effective Date
March 1, 2023, through February 28, 2025.
III
118TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
S. RES. 52
Authorizing expenditures by the Committee on the Budget.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
FEBRUARY 9, 2023
Mr. WHITEHOUSE, from the Committee on the Budget, reported the following
original resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Rules and
Administration
RESOLUTION
Authorizing expenditures by the Committee on the Budget.
Resolved,
1
SECTION 1. GENERAL AUTHORITY.
2
In carrying out its powers, duties, and functions
3
under the Standing Rules of the Senate, in accordance
4
with its jurisdiction under rule XXV of the Standing Rules
5
of the Senate, including holding hearings, reporting such
6
hearings, and making investigations as authorized by
7
paragraphs 1 and 8 of rule XXVI of the Standing Rules
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of the Senate, the Committee on the Budget (in this reso-
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lution referred to as the ‘‘committee’’) is authorized from
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•SRES 52 IS
March 1, 2023, through February 28, 2025, in its discre-
1
tion, to—
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(1) make expenditures from the contingent fund
3
of the Senate;
4
(2) employ personnel; and
5
(3) with the prior consent of the Government
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department or agency concerned and the Committee
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on Rules and Administration, use on a reimbursable
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or nonreimbursable basis the services of personnel of
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any such department or agency.
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SEC. 2. EXPENSES.
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(a) EXPENSES FOR PERIOD ENDING SEPTEMBER 30,
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2023.—The expenses of the committee for the period
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March 1, 2023, through September 30, 2023, under this
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resolution shall not exceed $4,368,375, of which amount—
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(1) not to exceed $15,000 may be expended for
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the procurement of the services of individual consult-
17
ants, or organizations thereof (as authorized by sec-
18
tion 202(i) of the Legislative Reorganization Act of
19
1946 (2 U.S.C. 4301(i))); and
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(2) not to exceed $18,000 may be expended for
21
the training of the professional staff of the com-
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mittee (under procedures specified by section 202(j)
23
of that Act).
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•SRES 52 IS
(b) EXPENSES FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024 PERIOD.—
1
The expenses of the committee for the period October 1,
2
2023, through September 30, 2024, under this resolution
3
shall not exceed $7,488,643, of which amount—
4
(1) not to exceed $40,000 may be expended for
5
the procurement of the services of individual consult-
6
ants, or organizations thereof (as authorized by sec-
7
tion 202(i) of the Legislative Reorganization Act of
8
1946 (2 U.S.C. 4301(i))); and
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(2) not to exceed $30,000 may be expended for
10
the training of the professional staff of the com-
11
mittee (under procedures specified by section 202(j)
12
of that Act).
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(c) EXPENSES FOR PERIOD ENDING FEBRUARY 28,
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2025.—The expenses of the committee for the period Oc-
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tober 1, 2024, through February 28, 2025, under this res-
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olution shall not exceed $3,120,268, of which amount—
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(1) not to exceed $10,000 may be expended for
18
the procurement of the services of individual consult-
19
ants, or organizations thereof (as authorized by sec-
20
tion 202(i) of the Legislative Reorganization Act of
21
1946 (2 U.S.C. 4301(i))); and
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(2) not to exceed $10,000 may be expended for
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the training of the professional staff of the com-
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•SRES 52 IS
mittee (under procedures specified by section 202(j)
1
of that Act).
2
SEC. 3. EXPENSES AND AGENCY CONTRIBUTIONS.
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(a) EXPENSES OF THE COMMITTEE.—
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(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para-
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graph (2), expenses of the committee under this res-
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olution shall be paid from the contingent fund of the
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Senate upon vouchers approved by the chairman of
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the committee.
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(2) VOUCHERS NOT REQUIRED.—Vouchers shall
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not be required for—
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(A) the disbursement of salaries of employ-
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ees paid at an annual rate;
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(B) the payment of telecommunications
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provided by the Office of the Sergeant at Arms
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and Doorkeeper;
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(C) the payment of stationery supplies pur-
17
chased through the Keeper of the Stationery;
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(D) payments to the Postmaster of the
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Senate;
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(E) the payment of metered charges on
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copying equipment provided by the Office of the
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Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper;
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(F) the payment of Senate Recording and
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Photographic Services; or
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•SRES 52 IS
(G) the payment of franked and mass mail
1
costs by the Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper.
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(b) AGENCY CONTRIBUTIONS.—There are authorized
3
to be paid from the appropriations account for ‘‘Expenses
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of Inquiries and Investigations’’ of the Senate such sums
5
as may be necessary for agency contributions related to
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the compensation of employees of the committee—
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(1) for the period March 1, 2023, through Sep-
8
tember 30, 2023;
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(2) for the period October 1, 2023, through
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September 30, 2024; and
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(3) for the period October 1, 2024, through
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February 28, 2025.
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Æ
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