[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 493 Introduced in House (IH)]







106th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 493

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 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            February 2, 1999

 Mr. Stearns 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 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 Seventh 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.
                   Not later than 6       Committees submit views and estimates to Budget Committees.
                    weeks after 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..............  House 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..........  President submits budget review.
                   Not later than 6       Congressional Budget Office submits report to Budget Committees.
                    weeks after
                    President submits
                    budget review.
                   The last day of the    Congress completes action on bills and resolutions authorizing 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 completes action on biennial appropriation bills.
                   August 1.............  Congress completes action on reconciliation legislation.
                   October 1............  Biennium begins.''.
 

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) Budget resolution.--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) Biennium.--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) Contents of resolution.--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''; and
                            (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'';
                    (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 first 
                fiscal year'' and inserting ``for each fiscal year in 
                the biennium''.
            (2) Additional matters.--Section 301(b)(3) of such Act (2 
        U.S.C. 632(b)) is amended by striking ``for such fiscal year'' 
        and inserting ``for either fiscal year in such biennium''.
            (3) Views of other committees.--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) Hearings.--Section 301(e)(1) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 
        632(e)) is amended by--
                    (A) striking ``fiscal year'' and inserting 
                ``biennium''; and
                    (B) inserting after the second sentence the 
                following: ``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.''.
            (5) Goals for reducing unemployment.--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) Economic assumptions.--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) Section heading.--The section heading of section 301 of 
        such Act is amended by striking ``annual'' and inserting 
        ``biennial''.
            (8) Table of contents.--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) in subsection (a)(1) by striking ``for the first fiscal 
        year of the resolution,'' and inserting ``for each fiscal year 
        in the biennium, for at least each of 4 ensuing fiscal 
        years,'';
            (2) in subsection (f)(1), by striking ``for a fiscal year'' 
        and inserting ``for a biennium'';
            (3) in subsection (f)(1), by striking ``first fiscal year'' 
        and inserting ``each fiscal year of the biennum'';
            (4) in subsection (f)(2)(A), by striking ``first fiscal 
        year'' and inserting ``each fiscal year of the biennium''; and
            (5) in subsection (g)(1)(A), by striking ``April'' and 
        inserting ``May''.
    (e) Section 303 Point of Order.--
            (1) In general.--Section 303(a) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 
        634(a)) is amended by striking ``first fiscal year'' and 
        inserting ``each fiscal year of the biennium''.
            (2) Exceptions in the house.--Section 303(b)(1) of such Act 
        (2 U.S.C. 634(b)) is amended--
                    (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``the budget 
                year'' and inserting ``the biennium''; and
                    (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``the fiscal 
                year'' and inserting ``the biennium''.
            (3) Application to the senate.--Section 303(c)(1) of such 
        Act (2 U.S.C. 634(c)) is amended by--
                    (A) striking ``fiscal year'' and inserting 
                ``biennium''; and
                    (B) striking ``that year'' and inserting ``each 
                fiscal year of that biennium''.
    (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 ``each year'' and inserting ``each odd-
        numbered year'';
            (2) by striking ``annual'' and inserting ``biennial'';
            (3) by striking ``fiscal year'' and inserting ``biennium''; 
        and
            (4) 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'';
            (2) by striking ``annual'' and inserting ``biennial''; and
            (3) by striking ``fiscal year'' and inserting ``biennium''.
    (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''.
    (k) Section 311 Point of Order.--
            (1) In the house.--Section 311(a)(1) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 
        642(a)) is amended--
                    (A) by striking ``for a fiscal year'' and inserting 
                ``for a biennium'';
                    (B) by striking ``the first fiscal year'' each 
                place it appears and inserting ``either fiscal year of 
                the biennium''; and
                    (C) by striking ``that first fiscal year'' and 
                inserting ``each fiscal year in the biennium''.
            (2) In the senate.--Section 311(a)(2) of such Act is 
        amended--
                    (A) by striking ``for the first fiscal year'' and 
                inserting ``for either fiscal year of the biennium''; 
                and
                    (B) by striking ``that first fiscal year'' each 
                place it appears and inserting ``each fiscal year in 
                the biennium''.
            (3) Social security levels.--Section 311(a)(3) of such Act 
        is amended by--
                    (A) striking ``for the first fiscal year'' and 
                inserting ``each fiscal year in the biennium''; and
                    (B) striking ``that fiscal year'' and inserting 
                ``each fiscal year in the biennium''.
    (l) MDA Point of Order.--Section 312(c) of the Congressional Budget 
Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 643) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``for a fiscal year'' and inserting ``for a 
        biennium'';
            (2) in paragraph (1), by striking ``first fiscal year'' and 
        inserting ``either fiscal year in the biennium'';
            (3) in paragraph (2), by striking ``that fiscal year'' and 
        inserting ``either fiscal year in the biennium''; and
            (4) in the matter following paragraph (2), by striking 
        ``that fiscal year'' and inserting ``the applicable fiscal 
        year''.

SEC. 4. 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. 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) Schedule.--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 
Seventh 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) Expenditures.--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) Receipts.--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) Balance statements.--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) Functions and activities.--Section 1105(a)(12) of title 
        31, United States Code, is amended in subparagraph (A), by 
        striking ``the fiscal year'' and inserting ``each fiscal year 
        in the biennium''.
            (6) Allowances.--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) Allowances for uncontrolled expenditures.--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) Tax expenditures.--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) Future years.--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) Prior year outlays.--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) Prior year receipts.--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 ``the fiscal year for'' the first place it 
        appears and inserting ``each fiscal year in the biennium for'';
            (2) by striking ``the fiscal year for'' the second place it 
        appears and inserting ``each fiscal year of the biennium, as 
        the case may be,''; and
            (3) by striking ``that year'' and inserting ``for each year 
        of the biennium''.
    (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) In general.--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) Changes.--Section 1106(b) of title 31, United States 
        Code, is amended by--
                    (A) striking ``the fiscal year'' and inserting 
                ``each fiscal year in the biennium'';
                    (B) striking ``April 11 and July 16 of each year'' 
                and inserting ``February 15 of each even-numbered 
                year''; and
                    (C) striking ``July 16'' and inserting ``February 
                15 of each even-numbered year.''.
    (g) Current Programs and Activities Estimates.--
            (1) In general.--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) Joint economic committee.--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 ``May 16'' and inserting ``March 31''; and
            (2) striking ``year before the year in which the fiscal 
        year begins'' and inserting ``calendar year preceding the 
        calendar year in which the biennium begins''.

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. 316. (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 appropriations are authorized will 
        require no further appropriations and will be completed or 
        terminated after the appropriations have been expended; 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;
            ``(2) any matter considered in Executive Session; or
            ``(3) 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. 316. Authorizations of appropriations.''.

SEC. 8. GOVERNMENT PLANS ON A 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'';
            (2) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) by striking ``at least every three years'' and 
                inserting ``at least every 4 years''; and
                    (B) by striking ``five years forward'' and 
                inserting ``six years forward''; and
            (3) in subsection (c), by inserting a comma after 
        ``section'' the second place it appears and adding ``including 
        a strategic plan submitted by September 30, 1997 meeting the 
        requirements of subsection (a)''.
    (b) Budget Contents and Submission to Congress.--Paragraph (28) of 
section 1105(a) of title 31, United States Code, is amended by striking 
``beginning with fiscal year 1999, a'' and inserting ``beginning with 
fiscal year 2002, a biennial''.
    (c) Performance Plans.--Section 1115 of title 31, United States 
Code, is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) in the matter before paragraph (1)--
                            (i) by striking ``section 1105(a)(29)'' and 
                        inserting ``section 1105(a)(28)''; and
                            (ii) by striking ``an annual'' and 
                        inserting ``a biennial'';
                    (B) in paragraph (1) by inserting after ``program 
                activity'' the following: ``for both years 1 and 2 of 
                the biennial plan'';
                    (C) in paragraph (5) by striking ``and'' after the 
                semicolon,
                    (D) in paragraph (6) by striking the period and 
                inserting a semicolon; and inserting ``and'' after the 
                inserted semicolon; and
                    (E) 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.'';
            (2) in subsection (d) by striking ``annual'' and inserting 
        ``biennial''; and
            (3) in paragraph (6) of subsection (f) by striking 
        ``annual'' and inserting ``biennial''.
    (d) Managerial Accountability and Flexibility.--Section 9703 of 
title 31, United States Code, relating to managerial accountability, is 
amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) in the first sentence by striking ``annual''; 
                and
                    (B) by striking ``section 1105(a)(29)'' and 
                inserting ``section 1105(a)(28)'';
            (2) in subsection (e)--
                    (A) in the first sentence by striking ``one or'' 
                before ``years'';
                    (B) in the second sentence by striking ``a 
                subsequent year'' and inserting ``for a subsequent 2-
                year period''; and
                    (C) in the third sentence by striking ``three'' and 
                inserting ``four''.
    (e) Pilot Projects for Performance Budgeting.--Section 1119 of 
title 31, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1) of subsection (d), by striking 
        ``annual'' and inserting ``biennial''; and
            (2) in subsection (e), by striking ``annual'' and inserting 
        ``biennial''.
    (f) Strategic Plans.--Section 2802 of title 39, United States Code, 
is amended--
            (1) is subsection (a), by striking ``September 30, 1997'' 
        and inserting ``September 30, 2000'';
            (2) in subsection (b), by striking ``at least every three 
        years'' and inserting ``at least every 4 years'';
            (3) by striking ``five years forward'' and inserting ``six 
        years forward''; and
            (4) in subsection (c), by inserting a comma after 
        ``section'' the second place it appears and inserting 
        ``including a strategic plan submitted by September 30, 1997 
        meeting the requirements of subsection (a)''.
    (g) Performance Plans.--Section 2803(a) of title 39, United States 
Code, is amended--
            (1) in the matter before paragraph (1), by striking ``an 
        annual'' and inserting ``a biennial'';
            (2) in paragraph (1), by inserting after ``program 
        activity'' the following: ``for both years 1 and 2 of the 
        biennial plan'';
            (3) in paragraph (5), by striking ``and'' after the 
        semicolon;
            (4) in paragraph (6), by striking the period and inserting 
        ``; and''; and
            (5) 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.''.
    (h) 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.''.
    (i) Effective Date.--
            (1) In general.--The amendments made by this section shall 
        take effect on March 1, 2000.
            (2) Agency actions.--Effective on and after the date of 
        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. 9. BIENNIAL 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 biennial appropriations bills

    ``Sec. 317. 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 or a limitation on 
obligations under the jurisdiction of any of the subcommittees of the 
Committees on Appropriations for only the first fiscal year of a 
biennium, unless the program, project, or activity for which the new 
budget authority or obligation limitation is provided will require no 
additional authority beyond 1 year and will be completed or terminated 
after the amount provided has been expended.''.
    (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. 317. Consideration of biennial appropriations bills.''.

SEC. 10. 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 biennial 
        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. 11. EFFECTIVE DATE.

    (a) In General.--Except as provided in sections 8 and 10 and 
subsection (b), this Act and the amendments made by this Act shall take 
effect on January 1, 2001, and shall apply to budget resolutions and 
appropriations for the biennium beginning with fiscal year 2002.
    (b) Authorizations for the Biennium.--For purposes of 
authorizations for the biennium beginning with fiscal year 2002, the 
provisions of this Act and the amendments made by this Act relating to 
2-year authorizations shall take effect January 1, 2000.
                                 <all>