[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 232 Introduced in House (IH)]







106th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 232

To provide for a two-year Federal budget cycle, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 6, 1999

 Mr. Regula (for himself, Mr. Luther, and Mr. Bilbray) 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 provide for a two-year Federal budget 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 Budget Act of 1999''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

    (a) Findings.--The Congress finds and declares that the present 
annual Federal budgeting process--
            (1) allows insufficient time for the fulfillment by the 
        Congress of its legislative and oversight responsibilities;
            (2) allows insufficient time for the review and 
        consideration by the Congress of authorizing legislation, 
        budget resolutions, and appropriation bills and resolutions and 
        other spending measures;
            (3) allows insufficient time for the evaluation of costly 
        and complicated Federal programs, and thereby contributes to 
        the unrestrained growth of the Federal budget; and
            (4) allows insufficient time for agencies and State and 
        local governments to plan for the implementation of programs.
    (b) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this Act--
            (1) to establish a process through which the Federal budget 
        will be adopted for a two-year period;
            (2) to improve congressional control over the Federal 
        budget process;
            (3) to streamline the requirements of the budget process in 
        order to promote better accountability to the public;
            (4) to improve the legislative and budgetary processes by 
        providing additional time for congressional oversight and other 
        vital legislative activities;
            (5) to provide stability and coherence for recipients of 
        Federal funds; and
            (6) to implement other improvements in the Federal budget 
        process.

SEC. 3. 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 Seventh 
Congress) is as follows:


 
                             ``First Session
 
``On or before:                              Action to be completed:
First Monday after January 3...............  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...................................  Senate 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 30...............................  Congress completes action
                                              on reconciliation
                                              legislation.
September 30...............................  Congress completes action
                                              on biennial appropriation
                                              bills.
October 1..................................  Biennium begins.
 
                            ``Second Session
 
``On or before:                              Action to be completed:
May 15.....................................  Congressional Budget Office
                                              submits report to Budget
                                              Committees.
The last day of the session................  Congress completes action
                                              on bills and resolutions
                                              authorizing a new budget
                                              authority for the
                                              succeeding biennium.''.
 

SEC. 4. 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) Duties of CBO.--
            (1) Section 202(e)(1) of the Congressional Budget Act of 
        1974 (2 U.S.C. 602(e)(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 inserting ``each fiscal year in 
                such biennium''.
            (2) Section 202(e) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 602(e)) 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''.
    (d) Biennial Concurrent Resolution on the Budget.--
            (1) Section 301(a) of such Act (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 ``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 4 ensuing fiscal 
                years'' and inserting ``each fiscal year in the 
                succeeding bienniums''.
            (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 striking ``February 25 of each year'' and inserting 
        ``February 25 of each odd-numbered year''.
            (4) Section 301(e)(1) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 632(e)(1)) 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.''.
            (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) The section heading of section 301 of such Act is 
        amended by striking ``annual'' and inserting ``biennial''.
            (7) The table of contents set forth in section 1(b) of the 
        Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 is 
        amended by striking ``Annual'' in the item relating to section 
        301 and inserting ``Biennial''.
    (e) Committee Allocations.--
            (1) Section 302(a)(1) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 633(a)(1)) is 
        amended--
                    (A) by inserting ``for a biennium'' after 
                ``budget'' the first place it appears; and
                    (B) by striking ``for the first fiscal year of the 
                resolution, for at least each of the 4 ensuing fiscal 
                years, and a total for that period of fiscal years'' 
                and inserting ``for each of the 2 bienniums covered by 
                the resolution and a total for that period of 2 
                bienniums''; and
                    (C) by striking ``fiscal year'' the last place it 
                appears and inserting ``first biennium''.
            (2) Section 302(c) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 633(c)) is 
        amended--
                    (A) by striking ``for a fiscal year'' and inserting 
                ``for either fiscal year in a biennium''; and
                    (B) by striking ``for such fiscal year'' and 
                inserting ``for such biennium''.
            (3) Section 302(f)(1) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 633(f)(1)) is 
        amended--
                    (A) by striking ``for a fiscal year'' and inserting 
                ``for a biennium'';
                    (B) by striking ``any fiscal year'' in the matter 
                preceding subparagraph (A) and inserting ``a fiscal 
                year in such biennium''; and
                    (C) by striking ``first fiscal year or the total of 
                fiscal years'' and inserting ``first biennium or the 
                total of the first 2 bienniums''.
            (4) Section 302(f)(2) of such Act is amended by striking 
        ``first fiscal year or the total of fiscal years'' and 
        inserting ``first biennium or the total of the first 2 
        bienniums''.
    (f) Section 303 Point of Order.--
            (1) Section 303(a) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 634(a)) is amended 
        by striking ``fiscal year'' each place it appears and inserting 
        ``biennium''.
            (2) Section 303(b) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 634(b)) is 
        amended--
                    (A) by striking ``fiscal year'' each place it 
                appears and inserting ``biennium'';
                    (B) in paragraph (b)(1)(A) by striking ``first or 
                second fiscal year after the budget year'' and 
                inserting ``the biennium after the first biennium''; 
                and
                    (C) in paragraph (b)(2) by inserting ``of any odd-
                numbered calendar year'' after ``May 15''.
            (3) Section 303(c) of such Act is amended--
                    (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``a fiscal year'' 
                and inserting ``a biennium'', by striking ``that year'' 
                the first place it appears and inserting ``that 
                biennium'', and by striking ``that year or any 
                subsequent year'' and inserting ``that biennium''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``for the first 
                or second fiscal year after the year'' and inserting 
                ``for the biennium after the biennium''.
    (g) Permissible Revisions of Concurrent Resolutions on the 
Budget.--Section 304 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''.
    (h) Procedures for Consideration of Budget Resolutions.--Section 
305(b)(3) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 636(b)(3)) is amended--
            (1) striking ``the concurrent'' and inserting ``a 
        concurrent''; and
            (2) by striking ``fiscal year'' and inserting ``biennium''.
    (i) Report and Summaries of Congressional Budget Actions.--
            (1)(A) Section 308(a)(1) of the Congressional Budget Act of 
        1974 (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 (B) by striking ``such fiscal 
                year (or fiscal years)'' and inserting ``such 
                biennium''.
            (B) Section 308(a)(2) of such Act is amended by striking 
        ``fiscal year (or fiscal years)'' and inserting ``biennium''.
            (2) Section 308(b)(1) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 639(b)(1)) is 
        amended--
                    (A) by striking ``fiscal year'' the first place it 
                appears and inserting ``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'' and inserting ``each fiscal year in 
                the biennium preceding such biennium''.
            (3) Section 308(c) of such Act (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''.
    (j) 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'';
            (2) by striking ``annual'' and inserting ``regular''; and
            (3) by striking ``fiscal year'' and inserting ``biennium''.
    (k) Reconciliation Process.--
            (1) Section 310(a) of such Act (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) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 641(e)) is 
        amended--
                    (A) by striking ``20 hours'' in paragraph (2) and 
                inserting ``100 hours''; and
                    (B) by adding at the end 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) of such Act (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''.
    (l) Section 311 Point of Order.--
            (1) Section 311(a) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 642(a)) is 
        amended--
                    (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``for a fiscal 
                year'' and inserting ``for a biennium'', by striking 
                ``first fiscal year'' each place it appears and 
                inserting ``first biennium'', and by striking ``ensuing 
                fiscal years'' and inserting ``second biennium'';
                    (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``first fiscal 
                year'' each place it appears and inserting ``first 
                biennium'', and by striking ``ensuing fiscal years'' 
                and inserting ``second biennium'';
                    (C) in paragraph (3), by striking ``first fiscal 
                year or for the total of that fiscal year and the 
                ensuing fiscal years'' and inserting ``first biennium 
                or for the total of that biennium and the next 
                biennium''.
            (2) Section 311(b) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 642(b)) is amended 
        by striking ``fiscal year or years'' both places it appears and 
        inserting ``biennium''.
            (3) Section 311(c) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 642(c)) is amended 
        by striking ``fiscal year'' both places it appears and 
        inserting ``biennium''.
    (m) Determinations and Points of Order.--Section 312 of such Act (2 
U.S.C. 643) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``for a fiscal year''; 
        and
            (2) in subsection (c), by striking ``for a fiscal year'' 
        and inserting ``for a biennium''.
    (n) Extraneous Matter in Reconciliation Legislation.--Section 313 
of such Act (2 U.S.C. 644) is amended by striking ``fiscal year'' each 
place it appears and inserting ``biennium'' and by striking ``fiscal 
years'' each place it appears and inserting ``bienniums''.
    (o) Budget-Related Legislation Not Subject to Appropriations.--
Section 401 of such Act (2 U.S.C. 651 is amended by striking ``fiscal 
year'' each place it appears and inserting ``biennium''.
    (p) Analysis by CBO.--Section 402(1) of the Congressional Budget 
Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 652(1)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``the fiscal year'' and inserting ``each 
        fiscal year in the biennium''; and
            (2) by striking ``4 fiscal years following such year'' in 
        paragraph (1) and inserting ``each fiscal year in the 
        succeeding biennium''.

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 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) is amended to read as follows:
    ``(a) On or before the first Monday after January 3 of each odd-
numbered year, 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 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) 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 1994)'' 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 
        ``February 25 of each odd-numbered year''.
    (i) 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, 2001)'', 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''.
    (j) 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, 2001, the''; and
            (2) by striking ``each year'' each place it appears.

SEC. 6. 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 appropriation 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. 7. ASSISTANCE BY FEDERAL AGENCIES TO STANDING COMMITTEES OF THE 
              SENATE AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

    (a) Information Regarding Agency Appropriations Requests.--To 
assist each standing committee of the Senate and the House of 
Representatives in carrying out its responsibilities, the head of each 
Federal agency which administers the laws or parts of laws under the 
jurisdiction of such committee shall provide to such committee such 
studies, information, analyses, reports, and assistance as may be 
requested by the chairman and ranking minority member of the committee.
    (b) Information Regarding Agency Program Administration.--
            (1) Furnishing information.--To assist each standing 
        committee of the Senate and the House of Representatives in 
        carrying out its responsibilities, the head of any agency shall 
        furnish without charge to such committee computer tapes or 
        disks, together with explanatory documentation, containing 
        information received, compiled, or maintained by the agency as 
        part of the operation or administration of a program, or 
        specifically compiled pursuant to a request in support of a 
        review of a program, as may be requested by the chairman and 
        ranking minority member of such committee.
            (2) Minimizing requests.--The Committee on House Oversight 
        of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Rules and 
        Administration of the Senate shall prescribe rules and 
        regulations for their respective Houses which will minimize 
        duplication of requests under paragraph (1) of this subsection.
    (c) Summaries by Comptroller General.--Within thirty days after the 
receipt of a request from a chairman and ranking minority member of a 
standing committee having jurisdiction over a program being reviewed 
and studied by such committee under this section, the Comptroller 
General of the United States shall furnish to such committee summaries 
of any audits or reviews of such program which the Comptroller General 
has completed during the preceding six years.
    (d) Congressional Assistance.--Consistent with their duties and 
functions under law, the Comptroller General of the United States, the 
Director of the Congressional Budget Office, the Director of the Office 
of Technology Assessment, and the Director of the Congressional 
Research Service shall furnish to each standing committee of the Senate 
or the House of Representatives such information, studies, analyses, 
and reports as the chairman and ranking minority member may request to 
assist the committee in conducting reviews and studies of programs 
under this section.
    (e) Secret and Classified Information Protected.--This section does 
not require the public disclosure of matters that are specifically 
authorized under criteria established by an Executive order to be kept 
secret in the interest of national defense or foreign policy and are in 
fact properly classified pursuant to such Executive order, or which are 
otherwise specifically protected by law. This section does not require 
any committee of the Senate to disclose publicly information the 
disclosure of which is governed by any rule of the Senate.

SEC. 8. AMENDMENTS TO RULES OF HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

    (a) Clause 4(a)(1)(A) of rule X of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives is amended by inserting ``odd-numbered'' after 
``each''.
    (b) Clause 4(a)(2) of rule X of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives is amended by striking ``the fiscal year involved'' and 
inserting ``the biennium involved''.
    (c) Clause 4(f) of rule X of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives is amended by striking ``annually'' each place it 
appears and inserting ``biennially''.
    (d) Clause 4(g) of rule X of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives is amended--
            (1) by inserting ``during each odd-numbered year'' after 
        ``submits his budget'';
            (2) by striking ``fiscal year'' the first place it appears 
        and inserting ``biennium''; and
            (3) by striking ``that fiscal year'' and inserting ``each 
        fiscal year in such ensuing biennium''.
    (e) Clause 4(h) of rule X of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives is amended by striking ``fiscal year'' and inserting 
``biennium''.
    (f) Clause 4(a) of rule XI of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives 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''.

SEC. 9. EFFECTIVE DATE; APPLICATION.

    (a) In General.--Except as provided in subsection (b), this Act and 
the amendments made by this Act shall become effective January 1, 2001, 
and shall apply to bienniums beginning after September 30, 2001.
    (b) Fiscal Year 2001.--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, 
2000.
    (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 4(b)(2) of this Act.
                                 <all>