[Congressional Bills 104th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1434 Referral Instructions Senate (RIS)]







104th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1434

To amend the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to provide for a two-year 
          (biennial) budgeting cycle, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           November 29, 1995

  Mr. Thomas (for himself, Mr. Dole, Mr. Domenici, Mr. Simpson, Mrs. 
Kassebaum, Mr. Faircloth, Mr. Thompson, and Mr. Cochran) introduced the 
 following bill; which was read twice and referred jointly pursuant to 
   the order of August 4, 1977, to the Committees on the Budget and 
Governmental Affairs, with instructions that if one committee reports, 
    the other committee have thirty days to report or be discharged

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To amend the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to provide for a two-year 
          (biennial) budgeting cycle, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Biennial Budgeting Act of 1995''.

SEC. 2. REVISION OF TIMETABLE.

    Section 300 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 631) 
is amended to read as follows:

                              ``timetable

    ``Sec. 300. The timetable with respect to the Congressional budget 
process for any Congress (beginning with the One Hundred Fifth 
Congress) is as follows:

      

                                                 ``First Session                                                
                   ``On or before:        Action to be completed:                                               
                   First Monday in                                                                              
                    February............  President submits budget recommendations.                             
                   February 15..........  Congressional Budget Office submits report to Budget Committees.      
                   February 25..........  Committees submit views and estimates to Budget Committees.           
                   March 31.............  House Budget Committee reports concurrent resolution on the biennial  
                                           budget.                                                              
                   April 15.............  Congress completes action on concurrent resolution on the biennial    
                                           budget.                                                              
                   May 15...............  Biennial appropriation bills may be considered in the House.          
                   June 10..............  House Appropriations Committee reports last biennial appropriation    
                                           bill.                                                                
                   September 1..........  OMB submits report setting forth estimate of surplus/deficit for      
                                           current fiscal year.                                                 
                   September 30.........  Congress completes action on reconciliation legislation.              
                   September 30.........  Congress completes action on biennial appropriation bills.            
                   October 1............  Biennium begins.                                                      
                   October 15...........  OMB submits report setting forth actual surplus/deficit for fiscal    
                                           year ending September 30.                                            
                                                                                                                



                                                ``Second Session                                                
                                                                                                                
                   ``On or before:        Action to be completed:                                               
                   May 15...............  Congressional Budget Office submits report to Budget Committees.      
                   September 1..........  OMB submits report setting forth estimate of surplus/deficit for      
                                           current fiscal year.                                                 
                   October 15...........  OMB submits report setting forth actual surplus/deficit for fiscal    
                                           year ending September 30.                                            
                   The last day of the                                                                          
                    session.............  Congress completes action on bills and resolutions authorizing new    
                                           budget authority for the succeeding biennium.''.                     
                                                                                                                

SEC. 3. AMENDMENTS TO THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET AND IMPOUNDMENT CONTROL 
              ACT OF 1974.

    (a) Amendment of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974.--Whenever in 
this section an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an 
amendment to, or repeal of, a section or other provision, the 
references shall be to a section or other provision of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974.
    (b) Declaration of Purpose.--Section 2(2) (2 U.S.C. 621(2)) is 
amended by striking ``each year'' and inserting ``biennially''.
    (c) Definitions.--
            (1) Section 3(4) (2 U.S.C. 622(4)) is amended by striking 
        ``fiscal year'' each place it appears and inserting 
        ``biennium''.
            (2) Section 3 (2 U.S.C. 622) is further amended by adding 
        at the end thereof the following new paragraph:
            ``(11) The term `biennium' means the period of 2 
        consecutive fiscal years beginning on October 1 of any odd-
        numbered year.''.
    (d) Duties of CBO.--
            (1) Section 202(f)(1) (2 U.S.C. 602(f)(1)) is amended--
                    (A) by striking ``February 15 of each year'' and 
                inserting ``February 15 of each odd-numbered calendar 
                year'';
                    (B) by striking ``the fiscal year commencing'' and 
                inserting ``each fiscal year in the biennium 
                commencing'';
                    (C) by striking ``such fiscal year'' the first 
                place it appears and inserting ``such biennium''; and
                    (D) by striking ``such fiscal year'' the second 
                place it appears and ``each fiscal year in such 
                biennium''.
            (2) Section 202(f) (2 U.S.C. 602(f)) is further amended--
                    (A) in paragraph (2) by striking ``The Director 
                shall from time to time'' and inserting ``On May 15 of 
                each even numbered year and at such other times as he 
                or she deems appropriate, the Director shall''.
                    (B) in paragraph (3)--
                            (i) by striking ``January 15'' and 
                        inserting ``February 15'',
                            (ii) by striking ``each year'' and 
                        inserting ``each even-numbered calendar year'',
                            (iii) by striking ``the fiscal year ending 
                        September 30 of that calendar year'' in clause 
                        (A) and inserting ``either fiscal year in the 
                        biennium beginning October 1 of the preceding 
                        calendar year'',
                            (iv) by striking ``the fiscal year ending 
                        September 30 of that calendar year'' in clause 
                        (B) and inserting ``either fiscal year of such 
                        biennium'', and
                            (v) by striking ``fiscal year beginning 
                        October 1 of that calendar year'' and inserting 
                        ``succeeding biennium''.
    (e) Biennial Concurrent Resolution on the Budget.--
            (1) Section 301(a) (2 U.S.C. 632(a)) is amended--
                    (A) by striking ``April 15 of each year'' and 
                inserting ``April 15 of each odd-numbered year'';
                    (B) by striking ``the fiscal year beginning on 
                October 1 of such year'' the first place it appears and 
                inserting ``the biennium beginning on October 1 of such 
                year'';
                    (C) by striking ``the fiscal year beginning on 
                October 1 of such year'' the second place it appears 
                and inserting ``each fiscal year in such period''; and
                    (D) by striking ``each of the two ensuing fiscal 
                years'' and inserting ``each fiscal year in the 
                succeeding biennium''.
            (2) Section 301(b) (2 U.S.C. 632(b)) is amended--
                    (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1) by 
                inserting ``for a biennium'' after ``concurrent 
                resolution on the budget''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (3) by striking ``for such fiscal 
                year'' and inserting ``for either fiscal year in such 
                biennium''.
            (3) Section 301(d) (2 U.S.C. 632(d)) is amended by striking 
        ``Within 6 weeks after the President submits a budget under 
        section 1105(a) of title 31, United States Code'' and inserting 
        ``On or before February 25 of each odd-numbered year''.
            (4) Section 301(e) (2 U.S.C. 632(e)) is amended--
                    (A) in the first sentence by striking ``fiscal 
                year'' and inserting ``biennium'';
                    (B) by inserting between the second and third 
                sentences the following new sentence: ``On or before 
                March 31 of each odd-numbered year the Committee on the 
                Budget of each House shall report to its House the 
                concurrent resolution on the budget referred to in 
                subsection (a) for the biennium beginning on October 1 
                of that year.''; and
                    (C) in paragraph (6)--
                            (i) by striking ``five'' and inserting 
                        ``four'',
                            (ii) by striking ``such fiscal year'' and 
                        inserting ``the first fiscal year of such 
                        biennium,'', and
                            (iii) by striking ``such period'' and 
                        inserting ``such four-fiscal-year period''.
            (5) Section 301(f) (2 U.S.C. 632(f)) is amended by striking 
        ``fiscal year'' each place it appears and inserting 
        ``biennium''.
            (6) The section heading of section 301 is amended by 
        striking ``annual'' and inserting ``biennial''.
            (7) The table of contents set forth in section 1(b) is 
        amended by striking ``Annual'' in the item relating to section 
        301 and inserting ``Biennial''.
    (f) Committee Allocations.--
            (1) Paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 302(a) (2 U.S.C. 
        633(a)) are amended--
                    (A) by inserting ``for a biennium'' after 
                ``budget'' the first place it appears in each such 
                paragraph; and
                    (B) by inserting ``for each fiscal year in such 
                biennium'' after ``estimated allocation'' each place it 
                appears.
            (2) Section 302(c) (2 U.S.C. 633(c)) is amended--
                    (A) by striking ``for a fiscal year'' each place it 
                appears and inserting ``for either fiscal year in a 
                biennium''; and
                    (B) by striking ``for such fiscal year'' each place 
                it appears and inserting ``for such biennium''.
            (3) Section 302(f)(1) (2 U.S.C. 633(f)(1)) is amended--
                    (A) by striking ``for a fiscal year'' and inserting 
                ``for a biennium'', and
                    (B) by striking ``such fiscal year'' each place it 
                appears in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) and 
                inserting ``a fiscal year in such biennium''.
            (4) Section 302(f)(2) is amended--
                    (A) by striking ``for a fiscal year'' and inserting 
                ``for a biennium'',
                    (B) by striking ``for such fiscal year'' and 
                inserting ``for a biennium'', and
                    (C) by striking ``4 succeeding'' and inserting ``3 
                succeeding''.
    (g) Section 303 Point of Order.--
            (1) Section 303(a) (2 U.S.C. 634(a)) is amended by striking 
        ``fiscal year'' each place it appears and inserting 
        ``biennium''.
            (2) Section 303(b) (2 U.S.C. 634(b)) is amended--
                    (A) in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (1) 
                and paragraph (2) by striking ``the fiscal year'' each 
                place it appears and inserting ``biennium''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (1) by striking ``any calendar 
                year'' and inserting ``any odd-numbered calendar 
                year''.
    (h) Permissible Revisions of Concurrent Resolutions on the 
Budget.--Section 304 (2 U.S.C. 635) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``fiscal year'' the first two places it 
        appears and inserting ``biennium'';
            (2) by striking ``for such fiscal year''; and
            (3) by inserting before the period ``for such biennium''.
    (i) Procedures For Consideration of Budget Resolutions.--Section 
305(b)(3) (2 U.S.C. 636(b)(3)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``the concurrent'' and inserting ``a 
        concurrent''; and
            (2) by striking ``fiscal year'' and inserting ``biennium''.
    (j) Reports and Summaries of Congressional Budget Actions.--
            (1)(A) Section 308(a)(1) (2 U.S.C. 639(a)(1)) is amended--
                    (i) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) by 
                striking ``fiscal year (or fiscal years)'' and 
                inserting ``biennium'',
                    (ii) in subparagraph (A) by striking ``fiscal year 
                (or fiscal years)'' and inserting ``biennium'', and
                    (iii) in subparagraph (C) by striking ``such fiscal 
                year (or fiscal years)'' and inserting ``such 
                biennium''.
            (B) Section 308(a)(2) is amended by striking ``fiscal year 
        (or fiscal years)'' and inserting ``biennium''.
            (2) Section 308(b)(1) (2 U.S.C. 639(b)(1)) is amended--
                    (A) by striking ``each fiscal year covered by a 
                concurrent resolution on the budget'' the first place 
                it appears and inserting ``a biennium'';
                    (B) by inserting ``for such biennium'' after 
                ``concurrent resolution on the budget''; and
                    (C) by striking ``the fiscal year preceding the 
                first fiscal year covered by the appropriate concurrent 
                resolution'' and inserting ``each fiscal year in the 
                biennium preceding such biennium''.
            (3) Section 308(c) (2 U.S.C. 639(c)) is amended--
                    (A) by striking ``Five'' in the subsection heading 
                and inserting ``Four'';
                    (B) by striking ``fiscal year'' each place it 
                appears in the matter preceding paragraph (1) and 
                inserting ``biennium''; and
                    (C) by striking ``5 fiscal years'' and inserting 
                ``4 fiscal years''.
    (k) Completion of Action on Regular Appropriation Bills.--Section 
309 (2 U.S.C. 640) is amended--
            (1) by inserting ``of any odd-numbered calendar year'' 
        after ``July'';
            (2) by striking ``annual'' and inserting ``regular''; and
            (3) by striking ``fiscal year'' and inserting ``biennium''.
    (l) Reconciliation Process.--
            (1) Section 310(a) (2 U.S.C. 641(a)) is amended--
                    (A) by striking ``any fiscal year'' in the matter 
                preceding paragraph (1) and inserting ``any biennium'';
                    (B) in paragraph (1) by striking ``such fiscal 
                year'' each place it appears and inserting ``each 
                fiscal year in such biennium''; and
                    (C) in paragraph (2) by inserting ``for each fiscal 
                year in such biennium'' after ``revenues''.
            (2) Section 310(e) (2 U.S.C. 641(e)) is amended--
                    (A) by striking ``20 hours'' in paragraph (2) and 
                inserting ``50 hours''; and
                    (B) by adding at the end thereof the following new 
                paragraph:
            ``(3) It shall not be in order in the Senate or the House 
        of Representatives to consider any reconciliation bill or 
        resolution or any amendment thereto or any conference report 
        thereon which changes any provision of law other than 
        provisions of law which--
                    ``(A) provide new budget authority or spending 
                authority described in section 401(c)(2);
                    ``(B) relate to revenues; or
                    ``(C) specify the amount of the statutory limit on 
                the public debt.''.
            (3) Section 310(f) (2 U.S.C. 641(f)) is amended--
                    (A) by inserting ``of any odd-numbered calendar 
                year'' after ``July'',
                    (B) by striking ``fiscal year beginning on October 
                1 of the calendar year to which the adjournment 
                resolution pertains'' and inserting ``biennium 
                beginning on October 1 of such calendar year'', and
                    (C) by striking ``for such fiscal year'' and 
                inserting ``for such biennium''.
    (m) Section 311 Point of Order.--
            (1) Section 311(a)(1) (2 U.S.C. 642(a)) is amended--
                    (A) by striking ``for a fiscal year'' and inserting 
                ``for a biennium'';
                    (B) by striking ``such fiscal year'' the first, 
                second, and third places it appears and inserting ``a 
                fiscal year in such biennium'';
                    (C) by inserting ``for such fiscal year'' after 
                ``outlays'';
                    (D) by striking ``concurrent resolution on the 
                budget for such fiscal year'' and inserting 
                ``concurrent resolution on the budget for the biennium 
                in which such fiscal year occurs'';
                    (E) by inserting ``for such fiscal year'' after 
                ``revenues'' the first place it appears; and
                    (F) by inserting ``for such fiscal year'' after 
                ``set forth'' the second place it appears.
            (2) Section 311(b) (2 U.S.C. 642(b)) is amended--
                    (A) by striking ``such fiscal year'' the first 
                place it appears and inserting ``a biennium''; and
                    (B) by striking ``such fiscal year'' the second 
                place it appears and inserting ``either fiscal year in 
                such biennium''.
    (n)  Bills Providing New Spending Authority.--Section 401(b)(2) (2 
U.S.C. 651(b)(2)) is amended by striking ``for such fiscal year'' the 
second place it appears and inserting ``for the biennium in which such 
fiscal year occurs''.
    (o) Analysis by CBO.--Section 403(a) (2 U.S.C. 653(a)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``the fiscal year'' in paragraph (1) and 
        inserting ``each fiscal year in the biennium'';
            (2) by striking ``each of the 4 fiscal years following such 
        year'' in paragraph (1) and inserting ``each fiscal year in the 
        succeeding biennium'';
            (3) by striking ``the fiscal year'' in paragraph (2) and 
        inserting ``each fiscal year in the biennium''; and
            (4) by striking ``each of the four fiscal years following 
        such fiscal year'' in paragraph (2) and inserting ``each fiscal 
        year in the succeeding biennium''.

SEC. 4. AMENDMENTS TO TITLE 31, UNITED STATES CODE.

    (a) Definition.--Section 1101 of title 31, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end thereof the following new paragraph:
            ``(3) `biennium' has the meaning given to such term in 
        paragraph (11) of section 3 of the Congressional Budget and 
        Impoundment Control Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 622(11)).''.
    (b) Budget Contents and Submission to the Congress.--
            (1) So much of section 1105(a) of title 31, United States 
        Code, as precedes paragraph (1) thereof is amended to read as 
        follows:
    ``(a) On or before the first Monday in February of each odd-
numbered year, beginning with the One Hundred Fifth Congress, the 
President shall transmit to the Congress, the budget for the biennium 
beginning on October 1 of such calendar year. The budget transmitted 
under this subsection shall include a budget message and summary and 
supporting information. The President shall include in each budget the 
following:''.
            (2) Section 1105(a)(5) of title 31, United States Code, is 
        amended by striking ``the fiscal year for which the budget is 
        submitted and the 4 fiscal years after that year'' and 
        inserting ``each fiscal year in the biennium for which the 
        budget is submitted and in the succeeding biennium''.
            (3) Section 1105(a)(6) of title 31, United States Code, is 
        amended by striking ``the fiscal year for which the budget is 
        submitted and the 4 fiscal years after that year'' and 
        inserting ``each fiscal year in the biennium for which the 
        budget is submitted and in the succeeding biennium''.
            (4) Section 1105(a)(9)(C) of title 31, United States Code, 
        is amended by striking ``the fiscal year'' and inserting ``each 
        fiscal year in the biennium''.
            (5) Section 1105(a)(12) of title 31, United States Code, is 
        amended--
                    (A) by striking ``the fiscal year'' in subparagraph 
                (A) and inserting ``each fiscal year in the biennium''; 
                and
                    (B) by striking ``4 fiscal years after that year'' 
                in subparagraph (B) and inserting ``2 fiscal years 
                immediately following the second fiscal year in such 
                biennium''.
            (6) Section 1105(a)(13) of title 31, United States Code, is 
        amended by striking ``the fiscal year'' and inserting ``each 
        fiscal year in the biennium''.
            (7) Section 1105(a)(14) of title 31, United States Code, is 
        amended by striking ``that year'' and inserting ``each fiscal 
        year in the biennium for which the budget is submitted''.
            (8) Section 1105(a)(16) of title 31, United States Code, is 
        amended by striking ``the fiscal year'' and inserting ``each 
        fiscal year in the biennium''.
            (9) Section 1105(a)(17) of title 31, United States Code, is 
        amended--
                    (A) by striking ``the fiscal year following the 
                fiscal year'' and inserting ``each fiscal year in the 
                biennium following the biennium'';
                    (B) by striking ``that following fiscal year'' and 
                inserting ``each such fiscal year''; and
                    (C) by striking ``fiscal year before the fiscal 
                year'' and inserting ``biennium before the biennium''.
            (10) Section 1105(a)(18) of title 31, United States Code, 
        is amended--
                    (A) by striking ``the prior fiscal year'' and 
                inserting ``each of the 2 most recently completed 
                fiscal years'';
                    (B) by striking ``for that year'' and inserting 
                ``with respect to that fiscal year''; and
                    (C) by striking ``in that year'' and inserting ``in 
                that fiscal year''.
            (11) Section 1105(a)(19) of title 31, United States Code, 
        is amended--
                    (A) by striking ``the prior fiscal year'' and 
                inserting ``each of the 2 most recently completed 
                fiscal years'';
                    (B) by striking ``for that year'' and inserting 
                ``with respect to that fiscal year''; and
                    (C) by striking ``in that year'' each place it 
                appears and inserting ``in that fiscal year''.
    (c) Estimated Expenditures of Legislative and Judicial Branches.--
Section 1105(b) of title 31, United States Code, is amended by striking 
``each year'' and inserting ``each even-numbered year''.
    (d) Recommendations To Meet Estimated Deficiencies.--Section 
1105(c) of title 31, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) by striking ``fiscal year for'' each place it appears 
        and inserting ``biennium for'';
            (2) by inserting ``or current biennium, as the case may 
        be,'' after ``current fiscal year''; and
            (3) by striking ``that year'' and inserting ``that 
        period''.
    (e) Statement With Respect to Certain Changes.--Section 1105(d) of 
title 31, United States Code, is amended by striking ``fiscal year'' 
and inserting ``biennium''.
    (f) Capital Investment Analysis.--Section 1105(e) of title 31, 
United States Code, is amended by striking ``ensuing fiscal year'' and 
inserting ``biennium to which such budget relates''.
    (g) Supplemental Budget Estimates and Changes.--
            (1) Section 1106(a) of title 31, United States Code, is 
        amended--
                    (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1) by 
                striking ``fiscal year'' and inserting ``biennium'';
                    (B) in paragraph (1) by striking ``that fiscal 
                year'' and inserting ``each fiscal year in such 
                biennium'';
                    (C) in paragraph (2) by striking ``4 fiscal years 
                following the fiscal year'' and inserting ``2 fiscal 
                years following the biennium'';
                    (D) by striking ``future fiscal years'' in 
                paragraph (3) and inserting ``the 2 fiscal years 
                following the biennium for which the budget is 
                submitted''; and
                    (E) by striking ``fiscal year'' in paragraph (3) 
                and inserting ``biennium''.
            (2) Section 1106(b) of title 31, United States Code, is 
        amended by striking ``the fiscal year'' and inserting ``each 
        fiscal year in the biennium''.
    (h) Year-Ahead Requests for Authorizing Legislation.--Section 1110 
of title 31, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) by striking ``fiscal year'' and inserting ``biennium 
        (beginning on or after October 1, 1997)'', and
            (2) by striking ``year before the year in which the fiscal 
        year begins'' and inserting ``second calendar year preceding 
        the calendar year in which the biennium begins''.
    (i) Budget Information on Consulting Services.--Section 1114 of 
title 31, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) by striking ``The'' each place it appears and inserting 
        ``For each biennium beginning with the biennium beginning on 
        October 1, 1997, the''; and
            (2) by striking ``each year'' each place it appears.

SEC. 5. TITLE AND STYLE OF APPROPRIATIONS ACTS.

    Section 105 of title 1, United States Code, is amended to read as 
follows:
``Sec. 105. Title and style of appropriations Acts
    ``(a) The style and title of all Acts making appropriations for the 
support of the Government shall be as follows: `An Act making 
appropriations (here insert the object) for the biennium ending 
September 30 (here insert the odd-numbered calendar year).'.
    ``(b) All Acts making regular appropriations for the support of the 
Government shall be enacted for a biennium and shall specify the amount 
of appropriations provided for each fiscal year in such period.
    ``(c) For purposes of this section, the term `biennium' has the 
same meaning as in section 3(11) of the Congressional Budget and 
Impoundment Control Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 622(11)).''.

SEC. 6. AMENDMENTS TO RULES OF HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

    The Rules of the House of Representatives are amended as follows:
            (1) Clause 4(a)(1)(A) of rule X is amended by inserting 
        ``odd-numbered'' after ``each''.
            (2) Clause 4(a)(2) of rule X is amended by striking ``such 
        fiscal year'' and inserting ``the biennium in which such fiscal 
        year begins''.
            (3) Clause 4(b)(2) of rule X is amended by striking 
        ``concurrent resolution on the budget for each fiscal year'' 
        and inserting ``concurrent resolution on the budget required 
        under section 301(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 
        for each biennium''.
            (4) Clause 4(f) of rule X is amended by striking 
        ``annually'' each place it appears and inserting 
        ``biennially''.
            (5) Clause 4(g) of rule X is amended--
                    (A) by striking ``March 15 of each year'' and 
                inserting ``March 15 of each odd-numbered year'';
                    (B) by striking ``fiscal year'' the first place it 
                appears and inserting ``biennium''; and
                    (C) by striking ``that fiscal year'' and inserting 
                ``each fiscal year in such ensuing biennium''.
            (6) Clause 4(h) of rule X is amended by striking ``fiscal 
        year'' and inserting ``biennium''.
            (7) Subdivision (C) of clause 2(l)(1) of rule XI is 
        repealed.
            (8) Clause 4(a) of rule XI is amended by striking ``fiscal 
        year if reported after September 15 preceding the beginning of 
        such fiscal year'' and inserting ``biennium if reported after 
        August 1 of the year in which such biennium begins''.
            (9) Clause 2 of rule XLIX is amended by striking ``fiscal 
        year'' and inserting ``biennium''.

SEC. 7. REAUTHORIZATION OF DISCRETIONARY PROGRAMS.

    (a) Reauthorization.--Effective October 1, 1997, spending authority 
for each discretionary spending program is terminated unless such 
spending authority is reauthorized after the date of enactment of this 
Act.
    (b) Point of Order.--It shall not be in order in the House of 
Representatives or the Senate to consider any bill, joint resolution, 
amendment, or conference report that includes any provision that 
appropriates funds unless such appropriation has been previously 
authorized by law.
    (c) Waiver or Suspension.--This section may be waived or suspended 
in the House of Representatives or the Senate only by the affirmative 
vote of three-fifths of the Members, duly chosen and sworn.

SEC. 8. EFFECTIVE DATE; APPLICATION.

    (a) In General.--Except as provided in subsection (b) and section 
7, this Act and the amendments made by it shall become effective 
January 1, 1997, and shall apply to bienniums beginning after September 
30, 1997.
    (b) Fiscal Year 1997.--Notwithstanding subsection (a), the 
provisions of--
            (1) the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, and
            (2) title 31, United States Code,
(as such provisions were in effect on the day before the effective date 
of this Act) shall apply to the fiscal year beginning on October 1, 
1997.
    (c) Definition.--For purposes of this section, the term 
``biennium'' shall have the meaning given to such term in section 3(11) 
of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 (2 
U.S.C. 622(11)), as added by section 3(c)(2) of this Act.
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