[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 261 Referral Instructions Senate (RIS)]







105th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 261

To provide for a biennial budget process and a biennial appropriations 
  process and to enhance oversight and the performance of the Federal 
                              Government.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            February 4, 1997

   Mr. Domenici (for himself, Mr. Ford, Ms. Snowe, Mr. Thompson, Mr. 
 Thomas, Mr. Roth, Mr. Moynihan, Mr. Nickles, Mr. McCain, Mr. Conrad, 
Mr. Abraham, Mr. Frist, Mr. Grams, Mr. Lugar, Ms. Collins, Mr. Breaux, 
 Mr. DeWine, Mr. Burns, Mr. Warner, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Coats, Mr. Mack, 
  Mr. Kempthorne, Mr. D'Amato, and Mr. Enzi) 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 30 days to report or be discharged

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To provide for a biennial budget process and a biennial appropriations 
  process and to enhance oversight and the performance of the Federal 
                              Government.

    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 and 
Appropriations Act''.

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. (a) In General.--Except as provided by subsection (b), 
the timetable with respect to the congressional budget process for any 
Congress (beginning with the One Hundred Sixth Congress) is as follows:

  

                                                 ``First Session                                                
                   ``On or before:        Action to be completed:                                               
                   First Monday in        President submits budget recommendations.                             
                    February.                                                                                   
                   February 15..........  Congressional Budget Office submits report to Budget Committees.      
                   Within 6 weeks after   Committees submit views and estimates to Budget Committees.           
                    budget submission.                                                                          
                   April 1..............  Budget Committees report concurrent resolution on the biennial budget.
                   May 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.                                                                
                   June 30..............  Congress completes action on biennial appropriation bills.            
                   August 1.............  Congress completes action on reconciliation legislation.              
                   October 1............  Biennium begins.                                                      
                                                                                                                
                                                ``Second Session                                                
                                                                                                                
                   ``On or before:        Action to be completed:                                               
                   February 15..........  Congressional Budget Office submits report to Budget Committees.      
                   The last day of the    Congress completes action on bills and resolutions authorizing a new  
                    session.               budget authority for the succeeding biennium.                        
                                                                                                                

    ``(b) Special Rule.--In the case of any first session of Congress 
that begins in any year immediately following a leap year and during 
which the term of a President (except a President who succeeds himself) 
begins, the following dates shall supersede those set forth in 
subsection (a):

  

                                                 ``First Session                                                
                   ``On or before:        Action to be completed:                                               
                   First Monday in April  President submits budget recommendations.                             
                    April 20............  Committees submit views and estimates to Budget Committees.           
                   May 15...............  Budget Committees report concurrent resolution on the biennial budget.
                   June 1...............  Congress completes action on concurrent resolution on the biennial    
                                           budget.                                                              
                   July 1...............  Biennial appropriation bills may be considered in the House.          
                   July 20..............  House Appropriations Committee reports last biennial appropriation    
                                           bill.''.                                                             
                                                                                                                

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

    (a) Declaration of Purpose.--Section 2(2) of the Congressional 
Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 621(2)) is amended 
by striking ``each year'' and inserting ``biennially''.
    (b) Definitions.--
            (1) Section 3(4) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 622(4)) is amended 
        by striking ``fiscal year'' each place it appears and inserting 
        ``biennium''.
            (2) Section 3 of such Act (2 U.S.C. 622) is further amended 
        by adding at the end 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.''.
    (c) Biennial Concurrent Resolution on the Budget.--
            (1) Section 301(a) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 632(a)) is 
        amended--
                    (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1) by--
                            (i) striking ``April 15 of each year'' and 
                        inserting ``May 15 of each odd-numbered year'';
                            (ii) 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'';
                            (iii) 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
                            (iv) striking ``and planning levels for 
                        each of the two ensuing fiscal years'' and 
                        inserting ``and the appropriate levels for each 
                        of the 4 ensuing fiscal years'';
                    (B) in paragraph (6), by striking ``for the fiscal 
                year'' and inserting ``for each fiscal year in the 
                biennium''; and
                    (C) in paragraph (7), by striking ``for the fiscal 
                year'' and inserting ``for each fiscal year in the 
                biennium''.
            (2) Section 301(b) of such Act (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) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 632(d)) is amended 
        by inserting ``(or, if applicable, as provided by section 
        300(b))'' after ``United States Code''.
            (4) Section 301(e) of such Act (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 
                April 1 of each odd-numbered year (or, if applicable, 
                as provided by section 300(b)), 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), by striking ``five fiscal 
                years beginning with such fiscal year'' and inserting 
                ``six fiscal years beginning with the first fiscal year 
                of such biennium''.
            (5) Section 301(f) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 632(f)) is amended 
        by striking ``fiscal year'' each place it appears and inserting 
        ``biennium''.
            (6) Section 301(g)(1) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 632(g)(1)) is 
        amended by striking ``for a fiscal year'' and inserting ``for a 
        biennium''.
            (7) The section heading of section 301 of such Act is 
        amended by striking ``annual'' and inserting ``biennial''.
            (8) The item relating to section 301 in the table of 
        contents set forth in section 1(b) of such Act is amended by 
        striking ``Annual'' and inserting ``Biennial''.
    (d) Committee Allocations.--Section 302 is amended--
            (1) by striking subsection (a)(2) and inserting the 
        following:
            ``(2)(A) For the Senate, the joint explanatory statement 
        accompanying a conference report, on a concurrent resolution on 
        the budget shall include an estimated allocation of the 
        appropriate levels of total new budget authority, total 
outlays, and social security outlays, based upon the concurrent 
resolution as recommended in the conference report, to each committee 
of the Senate which has jurisdiction over bills and resolutions 
providing budget authority.
            ``(B) For all committees except the Committee on 
        Appropriations, the allocation under subparagraph (A) shall 
        include the appropriate levels of budget authority, outlays, 
        and social security outlays for each fiscal year in the 
        biennium and the total of the biennium and the 4 succeeding 
        fiscal years.
            ``(C) For the Committee on Appropriations, the allocation 
        under subparagraph (A) shall include the appropriate levels of 
        budget authority, outlays, and social security outlays for each 
        fiscal year in the biennium.'';
            (2) in subsection (f)(1)--
                    (A) by striking ``for a fiscal year'';
                    (B) by striking ``for such fiscal year'', both 
                places it appears; and
                    (C) by striking ``effective during such fiscal 
                year''; and
            (3) in subsection (f)(2)--
                    (A) by striking the first sentence and inserting 
                the following: ``At any time after Congress has 
                completed action on a concurrent resolution on the 
                budget required to be reported under section 301(a), it 
                shall not be in order to consider any bill, joint 
                resolution, amendment, motion, or conference report, 
                that provides new budget authority, outlays, new 
                spending authority (as defined in section 401(c)(2)), 
                or social security outlays in excess of allocations 
                made pursuant to subsection (a) and (b).''; and
                    (B) by striking ``Subparagraph (A)'' and inserting 
                ``The requirement of this paragraph to comply with 
                allocations made pursuant to section 302(a)''.
    (e) Section 303 Point of Order.--
            (1) The matter following paragraph (6) of section 303(a) of 
        such Act (2 U.S.C. 634(a)) is amended by striking ``fiscal 
        year'' the first place it appears and inserting ``biennium''.
            (2) Section 303(b) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 634(b)) is 
        amended--
                    (A) in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (1), 
                by striking ``the fiscal year'' each place it appears 
                and inserting ``biennium'';
                    (B) in the matter following paragraph (1)(B), by 
                striking ``any calendar year'' and inserting ``any odd-
                numbered calendar year (or, if applicable, as provided 
                by section 300(b))''; and
                    (C) by--
                            (i) striking paragraph (2);
                            (ii) striking ``(1)''; and
                            (iii) redesignating subparagraphs (A) and 
                        (B) as paragraphs (1) and (2), respectively, 
                        and indenting appropriately.
    (f) Permissible Revisions of Concurrent Resolutions on the 
Budget.--Section 304(a) of such Act (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''.
    (g) Procedures for Consideration of Budget Resolutions.--Section 
305(a)(3) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 636(b)(3)) is amended by striking 
``fiscal year'' and inserting ``biennium''.
    (h) Completion of House Action on Appropriation Bills.--Section 307 
of such Act (2 U.S.C. 638) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``fiscal year'' and inserting ``biennium''; 
        and
            (2) by striking ``that year'' and inserting ``each odd-
        numbered year''.
    (i) Completion of Action on Regular Appropriation Bills.--Section 
309 of such Act (2 U.S.C. 640) is amended--
            (1) by inserting ``of any odd-numbered calendar year'' 
        after ``July''; and
            (2) by striking ``annual'' and inserting ``biennial''.
    (j) Reconciliation Process.--Section 310(a) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 
641(a)) is amended--
            (1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking 
        ``any fiscal year'' and inserting ``any biennium''; and
            (2) in paragraph (1) by striking ``such fiscal year'' each 
        place it appears and inserting ``any fiscal year covered by 
        such resolution''.
    (j) Section 311 Point of Order.--
            (1)(A) Section 311(a)(1) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 642(a)) is 
        amended--
                    (i) by striking ``for a fiscal year'' and inserting 
                ``for a biennium'';
                    (ii) by striking ``such fiscal year'' the first 
                place it appears and inserting ``either fiscal year in 
                such biennium'';
                    (iii) by striking ``during such fiscal year'' and 
                inserting ``during either fiscal year in such 
                biennium'';
                    (iv) by striking ``revenues for such fiscal year'' 
                and inserting ``revenues for a fiscal year''; and
                    (v) by striking ``budget for such fiscal year'' and 
                inserting ``budget for either fiscal year in such 
                biennium''.
            (B) Section 311(a)(2)(A) of such Act is amended--
                    (i) by striking ``for the first'' and inserting 
                ``for either'';
                    (ii) by striking ``covering such fiscal year'' and 
                inserting ``covering the biennium'';
                    (iii) by striking ``the first fiscal year covered'' 
                and inserting ``either fiscal year in the biennium 
                covered''; and
                    (iv) by striking ``the first fiscal year plus'' and 
                inserting ``the biennium plus''.
            (2) Section 311(b) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 642(b)) is amended 
        by striking ``such fiscal year'' the second place it appears 
        and inserting ``either fiscal year in such biennium''.
    (l)  Bills Providing New Spending Authority.--Section 401(b)(2) of 
such Act (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''.
    (m) Date of Adjusting Allocations.--Section 603(a) of such Act (2 
U.S.C. 665b) is amended by inserting after ``April 15'' the following 
``(or if section 300(b) applies by June 15th)''.

SEC. 4. PAY-AS-YOU-GO IN THE SENATE.

    Subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) of section 202(b)(2) of House 
Concurrent Resolution 67 (104th Congress) are amended to read as 
follows:
                    ``(A) The period of the biennium covered by the 
                most recently adopted concurrent resolution on the 
                budget.
                    ``(B) The period of the first six fiscal years 
                covered by the most recently adopted concurrent 
                resolution on the budget.
                    ``(C) The period of the four fiscal years following 
                the first six fiscal years covered by the most recently 
                adopted concurrent resolution on the budget.''.

SEC. 5. 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) The matter preceding paragraph (1) in section 1105(a) 
        of title 31, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:
    ``(a) On or before the first Monday in February of each odd-
numbered year (or, if applicable, as provided by section 300(b) of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974), beginning with the One Hundred Sixth 
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 4 years''.
            (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 4 years''.
            (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) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``the fiscal 
                year'' and inserting ``each fiscal year in the 
                biennium''; and
                    (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``4 fiscal 
                years after that year'' and inserting ``4 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 those fiscal years''; and
                    (C) by striking ``in that year'' and inserting ``in 
                those fiscal years''.
            (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 those fiscal years''; and
                    (C) by striking ``in that year'' each place it 
                appears and inserting ``in those fiscal years''.
    (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) Capital Investment Analysis.--Section 1105(e)(1) of title 31, 
United States Code, is amended by striking ``ensuing fiscal year'' and 
inserting ``biennium to which such budget relates''.
    (f) 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--
                            (i) striking ``Before July 16 of each 
                        year,'' and inserting ``Before February 15 of 
                        each even numbered year,''; and
                            (ii) 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 ``4 fiscal 
                years following the biennium''; and
                    (D) in paragraph (3), by striking ``fiscal year'' 
                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''.
    (g) Current Programs and Activities Estimates.--
            (1) Section 1109(a) of title 31, United States Code, is 
        amended--
                    (A) by striking ``On or before the first Monday 
                after January 3 of each year (on or before February 5 
                in 1986)'' and inserting ``At the same time the budget 
                required by section 1105 is submitted for a biennium''; 
                and
                    (B) by striking ``the following fiscal year'' and 
                inserting ``each fiscal year of such period''.
            (2) Section 1109(b) of title 31, United States Code, is 
        amended by striking ``March 1 of each year'' and inserting 
        ``within 6 weeks of the President's budget submission for each 
        odd-numbered year (or, if applicable, as provided by section 
        300(b) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974)''.
    (h) Year-Ahead Requests for Authorizing Legislation.--Section 1110 
of title 31, United States Code, is amended by--
            (1) striking ``fiscal year'' and inserting ``biennium 
        (beginning on or after October 1, 1999)'';
            (2) striking ``May 16'' and inserting ``March 31''; and
            (3) striking ``year before the year in which the fiscal 
        year begins'' and inserting ``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, 1999, the''; and
            (2) by striking ``each year'' each place it appears.

SEC. 6. TWO-YEAR APPROPRIATIONS; 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 each fiscal year in the 
biennium of fiscal years (here insert the fiscal years of the 
biennium).'.
    ``(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. 7. MULTIYEAR AUTHORIZATIONS.

    (a) In General.--Title III of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 
is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

                   ``authorizations of appropriations

    ``Sec. 314. (a) Point of Order.--It shall not be in order in the 
House of Representatives or the Senate to consider--
            ``(1) any bill, joint resolution, amendment, motion, or 
        conference report that authorizes appropriations for a period 
        of less than 2 fiscal years, unless the program, project, or 
        activity for which the funds are to be spent is of less than 2 
        years duration; and
            ``(2) in any odd-numbered year, any authorization or 
        revenue bill or joint resolution until Congress completes 
        action on the biennial budget resolution, all regular biennial 
        appropriations bills, and all reconciliation bills.
    ``(b) Applicability.--In the Senate, subsection (a) shall not apply 
to--
            ``(1) any measure that is privileged for consideration 
        pursuant to a rule or statute; or
            ``(2) any matter considered in Executive Session.
    ``(c) Definition.--For the purposes of this section, the term 
`authorization and revenue bill or resolution' does not include an 
appropriations measure or reconciliation bill.''.
    (b) Amendment to Table of Contents.--The table of contents set 
forth in section 1(b) of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment 
Control Act of 1974 is amended by adding after the item relating to 
section 313 the following new item:

``Sec. 314. Authorizations of appropriations.''.

SEC. 8. GAO ASSISTANCE WITH AUTHORIZATIONS AND OVERSIGHT.

    Section 717 of title 31, United States Code, is amended by adding 
at the end thereof the following:
    ``(e) During the second session of each Congress, the Comptroller 
General shall give priority to requests from Congress for audits and 
evaluations of Government programs and activities.''.

SEC. 9. APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE SECOND YEAR OF A BIENNIUM.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 13 of title 31, United States Code, is 
amended by inserting after section 1310 the following new section:
``Sec. 1311. Appropriations for the second year of a biennium
    ``(a)(1) If any regular appropriation bill becomes law that 
provides funding only for the first year of a biennium, there is 
appropriated for the second year, out of any moneys in the Treasury not 
otherwise appropriated, and out of other revenues, receipts, and funds, 
such sums as may be necessary to continue those projects and activities 
for which funds were provided in the first fiscal year of the biennium 
at the rate of operations provided for the first fiscal year of the 
biennium by that regular appropriation bill.
    ``(2) In determining the rate of operations for the first fiscal 
year of a biennium for purposes of paragraph (1), the rate of 
operations for a project or activity for the first fiscal year of a 
biennium shall take into account--
                    ``(A) reductions made pursuant to an order issued 
                under section 251 or 254 of the Balanced Budget and 
                Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985; and
                    ``(B) any cancellation made (or a disapproval of 
                such cancellation) under part C of title X of the 
                Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 
                1974.
    ``(3) Appropriations and funds made available, and authority 
granted, for any fiscal year pursuant to this section for a project or 
activity shall be available for the period beginning with the first day 
of such fiscal year and ending with the last day of such fiscal year.
    ``(b) An appropriation or funds made available, or authority 
granted, for a project or activity for any fiscal year pursuant to this 
section shall be subject to the terms and conditions imposed with 
respect to the appropriation made, funds made available, or authority 
granted for such project or activity for the preceding fiscal year.
    ``(c) This section shall not apply to a project or activity for a 
fiscal year if any other provision of law (other than an authorization 
of appropriations) specifically provides that no appropriation shall be 
made, no funds shall be made available, or no authority shall be 
granted for such project or activity to continue for such period.
    ``(d) For purposes of this section, the term `regular appropriation 
bill' means any appropriation bill making appropriations, otherwise 
making funds available, or granting authority, for any 1 of the 
following categories of projects and activities:
            ``(1) Agriculture, rural development, and related agencies 
        programs.
            ``(2) The Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the 
        judiciary, and related agencies.
            ``(3) The Department of Defense.
            ``(4) The government of the District of Columbia and other 
        activities chargeable in whole or in part against the revenues 
        of the District.
            ``(5) The Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, 
        and Education, and related agencies.
            ``(6) The Department of Housing and Urban Development, and 
        sundry independent agencies, boards, commissions, corporations, 
        and offices.
            ``(7) Energy and water development.
            ``(8) Foreign assistance and related programs.
            ``(9) The Department of the Interior and related agencies.
            ``(10) Military construction.
            ``(11) The Department of Transportation and related 
        agencies.
            ``(12) The Treasury Department, the U.S. Postal Service, 
        the Executive Office of the President, and certain independent 
        agencies.
            ``(13) The legislative branch.''.
    (b) Amendment to Table of Contents.--The table of contents of 
chapter 13 of title 31, United States Code, is amended by inserting 
after the item relating to section 1310 the following new item:

``1311. Continuing appropriations.''.

SEC. 10. GOVERNMENT PLANS AND REPORTS ON BIENNIAL BASIS.

    (a) Strategic Plans.--Section 306 of title 5, United States Code, 
is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``September 30, 1997'' 
        and inserting ``September 30, 2000''; and
            (2) in subsection (b), by striking ``at least every three 
        years'' and inserting ``at least every 4 years''; and
            (3) striking ``five years forward'' and inserting ``six 
        years forward''.
    (b) Performance Plans.--Section 1115 of title 31, United States 
Code, is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) in the first sentence--
                            (i) by striking ``section 1105(a)(29)'' and 
                        inserting ``section 1105(a)(30)''; and
                            (ii) by striking ``annual'' and inserting 
                        ``biennial'';
                    (B) in paragraph (5) by striking ``and'' after the 
                semicolon;
                    (C) in paragraph (6) by striking the period and 
                inserting a semicolon; and
                    (D) by adding after paragraph (6) the following:
            ``(7) cover a 2-year period beginning with the first fiscal 
        year of the next biennial budget cycle; and
            ``(8) include an executive summary which--
                    ``(A) contains the most important performance goals 
                necessary to achieve the agency's mission statement;
                    ``(B) does not include more than 10 performance 
                goals; and
                    ``(C) shall be prepared after consultation with the 
                Congress.'';
            (2) in subsection (d) by striking ``annual'' and inserting 
        ``biennial''; and
            (3) by redesignating subsection (f) as subsection (g) and 
        inserting after subsection (e) the following:
    ``(f) No later than March 31 of each even-numbered year, the head 
of each agency shall submit to each committee of the Congress with 
jurisdiction, a preliminary draft of the next biennial performance plan 
of the agency.''.
    (c) Performance Reports in Budget Submission.--Section 1105(a)(30) 
of title 31, United States Code, is amended by--
            (1) striking ``1999'' and inserting ``2000''; and
            (2) inserting before the period ``, and beginning with 
        fiscal year 2002, a Federal Government performance report for 
        the overall budget as provided under section 1116(h)''.
    (d) Program Performance Reports.--Section 1116 of title 31, United 
States Code, is amended--
            (1) in subsection (d)--
                    (A) in paragraph (4) by striking ``and'' after the 
                semicolon;
                    (B) in paragraph (5) by striking the period and 
                inserting ``; and''; and
                    (C) by adding after paragraph (5) the following:
            ``(6) describe any statutes that hindered the agency's 
        ability to meet the mission statement of the agency, and 
        propose legislative recommendations to modify or eliminate such 
        statutory hindrances.''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(g) Each agency performance report shall include an executive 
summary on the most important performance goals as specified under 
section 1115(a)(8). The executive summary for fiscal year 2000 shall 
include actual results for the preceding fiscal year. The executive 
summary for fiscal year 2001 shall include the actual results for the 
two preceding years. The executive summary for fiscal year 2002 and all 
subsequent executive summaries shall include the actual results for at 
least the three preceding fiscal years.
    ``(h) In carrying out section 1105(a)(30), the Director of the 
Office of Management and Budget shall prepare a report on previous 
Federal Government performance plans (submitted under such section) 
comparing actual performance to the stated goals for the 2 most-recent 
fiscal years for the report with the fiscal years 2002 and 2003 budget 
and at least the three most-recent fiscal years for each report 
thereafter.''.
    (e) Committee Views of Plans and Reports.--Section 301(d) of the 
Congressional Budget Act (2 U.S.C. 632(d)) is amended by adding at the 
end ``Each committee of the Senate or the House of Representatives 
shall review the strategic plans, performance plans, and performance 
reports, required under section 306 of title 5, United States Code, and 
sections 1115 and 1116 of title 31, United States Code, of all agencies 
under the jurisdiction of the committee. Each committee may provide its 
views on such plans or reports to the Committee on the Budget of the 
applicable House.''.
    (f) Effective Date.--
            (1) In general.--The amendments made by this section shall 
        take effect on March 31, 1998.
            (2) Agency actions.--Effective on and after the date of the 
        enactment of this Act, each agency shall take such actions as 
        necessary to prepare and submit any plan or report in 
        accordance with the amendments made by this Act.

SEC. 11. TWO-YEAR APPROPRIATIONS BILLS.

    (a) In General.--Title III of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 
(2 U.S.C. 631 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

            ``consideration of two year appropriations bills

    ``Sec. 315. It shall not be in order in the House of 
Representatives or the Senate in any odd-numbered year to consider any 
regular bill providing new budget authority under the jurisdiction of 
all of the subcommittees of the Committees on Appropriations for a 
period other than each of the fiscal years of the biennium.''.
    (b) Amendment to Table of Contents.--The table of contents set 
forth in section 1(b) of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment 
Control Act of 1974 is amended by adding after the item relating to 
section 313 the following new item:

``Sec. 315. Consideration of two year appropriations bills.''.

SEC. 12. REPORT ON TWO YEAR FISCAL PERIOD.

    Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, 
the Director of OMB shall--
            (1) determine the impact and feasibility of changing the 
        definition of a fiscal year and the budget process based on 
        that definition to a 2-year fiscal period with a 2-year budget 
        process based on the 2-year period; and
            (2) report the findings of the study to the Committees on 
        the Budget of the House of Representatives and the Senate.

SEC. 13. EFFECTIVE DATE.

    (a) In General.--Except as provided in sections 10 and 12 and 
subsection (b), this Act and the amendments make by this Act shall take 
effect on January 1, 1999, and shall apply to budget resolutions and 
appropriations for the biennium beginning with fiscal year 2000.
    (b) Authorizations for the Biennium.--For purposes of 
authorizations for the biennium beginning with fiscal year 2000, the 
provisions of this Act and the amendments made by this Act relating to 
2-year authorizations shall take effect January 1, 1998.
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