[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Con. Res. 95 Placed on Calendar Senate (PCS)]






                                                       Calendar No. 437
108th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. CON. RES. 95

Setting forth the congressional budget for the United States Government 
for fiscal year 2005 and including the appropriate budgetary levels for 
                    fiscal years 2006 through 2009.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 5, 2004

    Mr. Nickles, from the Committee on the Budget, reported, under 
  authority of the order of the Senate of March 4, 2004, an original 
              resolution; which was placed on the calendar

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
Setting forth the congressional budget for the United States Government 
for fiscal year 2005 and including the appropriate budgetary levels for 
                    fiscal years 2006 through 2009.

    Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), 

SECTION 1. CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ON THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2005.

    (a) Declaration.--Congress declares that this resolution is the 
concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2005 including the 
appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2006 through 2009 as 
authorized by section 301 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (2 
U.S.C. 632).
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this concurrent 
resolution is as follows:

Sec. 1. Concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2005.
                      TITLE I--LEVELS AND AMOUNTS

Sec. 101. Recommended levels and amounts.
Sec. 102. Social security.
Sec. 103. Major functional categories.
                        TITLE II--RECONCILIATION

Sec. 201. Reconciliation in the Senate.
                TITLE III--RESERVE FUNDS AND ADJUSTMENTS

                       Subtitle A--Reserve Funds

Sec. 301. Reserve fund for health insurance for the uninsured.
Sec. 302. Reserve fund for higher education.
Sec. 303. Reserve for energy legislation.
     Subtitle B--Adjustments With Respect to Discretionary Spending

Sec. 311. Adjustment for surface transportation.
Sec. 312. Supplemental appropriations for Iraq and related activities 
                            for fiscal year 2005.
Sec. 313. Adjustment for wildland fire suppression.
                      TITLE IV--BUDGET ENFORCEMENT

Sec. 401. Restrictions on advance appropriations.
Sec. 402. Extension of emergency rule in the Senate.
Sec. 403. Discretionary spending limits in the Senate.
Sec. 404. Scoring rules.
Sec. 405. Adjustments to reflect changes in concepts and definitions.
Sec. 406. Application and effect of changes in allocations and 
                            aggregates.
Sec. 407. Exercise of rulemaking powers.
                      TITLE V--SENSE OF THE SENATE

Sec. 501. Sense of the Senate on budget process reform.
Sec. 502. Sense of the Senate on budget process reform with regard to 
                            the creation of bipartisan commissions to 
                            combat waste, fraud, and abuse and to 
                            promote spending efficiency.
Sec. 503. Sense of the Senate on the relationship between annual 
                            deficit spending and increases in debt 
                            service costs.
Sec. 504. Sense of the Senate regarding the costs of the medicare 
                            prescription drug program.
Sec. 505. Sense of the Senate regarding pay parity.
Sec. 506. Sense of the Senate on returning stability to payments under 
                            medicare physician fee schedule.
Sec. 507. Sense of the Senate regarding the use of Federal funds to 
                            support American companies and American 
                            workers.
Sec. 508. Sense of the Senate regarding closing the ``tax gap''.
Sec. 509. Sense of the Senate amendment on drug comparativeness 
                            studies.

                      TITLE I--LEVELS AND AMOUNTS

SEC. 101. RECOMMENDED LEVELS AND AMOUNTS.

    The following budgetary levels are appropriate for the fiscal years 
2005 through 2009:
            (1) Federal revenues.--For purposes of the enforcement of 
        this resolution--
                    (A) The recommended levels of Federal revenues are 
                as follows:
                        Fiscal year 2005: $1,452,838,000,000.
                        Fiscal year 2006: $1,614,601,000,000.
                        Fiscal year 2007: $1,729,121,000,000.
                        Fiscal year 2008: $1,821,450,000,000.
                        Fiscal year 2009: $1,923,634,000,000.
                    (B) The amounts by which the aggregate levels of 
                Federal revenues should be changed are as follows:
                        Fiscal year 2005: -$24,296,000,000.
                        Fiscal year 2006: -$39,580,000,000.
                        Fiscal year 2007: -$25,823,000,000.
                        Fiscal year 2008: -$24,340,000,000.
                        Fiscal year 2009: -$29,426,000,000.
            (2) New budget authority.--For purposes of the enforcement 
        of this resolution, the appropriate levels of total new budget 
        authority are as follows:
                    Fiscal year 2005: $1,952,853,000,000.
                    Fiscal year 2006: $2,072,235,000,000.
                    Fiscal year 2007: $2,186,751,000,000.
                    Fiscal year 2008: $2,293,612,000,000.
                    Fiscal year 2009: $2,396,927,000,000.
            (3) Budget outlays.--For purposes of the enforcement of 
        this resolution, the appropriate levels of total budget outlays 
        are as follows:
                    Fiscal year 2005: $1,965,001,000,000.
                    Fiscal year 2006: $2,059,612,000,000.
                    Fiscal year 2007: $2,160,581,000,000.
                    Fiscal year 2008: $2,263,205,000,000.
                    Fiscal year 2009: $2,363,452,000,000.
            (4) Deficits.--For purposes of the enforcement of this 
        resolution, the amounts of the deficits are as follows:
                    Fiscal year 2005: -$512,163,000,000.
                    Fiscal year 2006: -$445,011,000,000.
                    Fiscal year 2007: -$431,460,000,000.
                    Fiscal year 2008: -$441,755,000,000.
                    Fiscal year 2009: -$439,818,000,000.
            (5) Debt subject to limit.--The appropriate levels of the 
        public debt are as follows:
                    Fiscal year 2005: $8,048,028,000,000.
                    Fiscal year 2006: $8,616,924,000,000.
                    Fiscal year 2007: $9,169,227,000,000.
                    Fiscal year 2008: $9,731,725,000,000.
                    Fiscal year 2009: $10,295,210,000,000.
            (6) Debt held by the public.--The appropriate levels of the 
        debt held by the public are as follows:
                    Fiscal year 2005: $4,736,438,000,000.
                    Fiscal year 2006: $5,001,818,000,000.
                    Fiscal year 2007: $5,237,750,000,000.
                    Fiscal year 2008: $5,468,263,000,000.
                    Fiscal year 2009: $5,683,106,000,000.

SEC. 102. SOCIAL SECURITY.

    (a) Social Security Revenues.--For purposes of Senate enforcement 
under sections 302 and 311 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the 
amounts of revenues of the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance 
Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund are as 
follows:
            Fiscal year 2005: $572,314,000,000.
            Fiscal year 2006: $600,902,000,000.
            Fiscal year 2007: $629,333,000,000.
            Fiscal year 2008: $658,731,000,000.
            Fiscal year 2009: $689,620,000,000.
    (b) Social Security Outlays.--For purposes of Senate enforcement 
under sections 302 and 311 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the 
amounts of outlays of the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust 
Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund are as follows:
            Fiscal year 2005: $396,159,000,000.
            Fiscal year 2006: $406,390,000,000.
            Fiscal year 2007: $419,424,000,000.
            Fiscal year 2008: $433,487,000,000.
            Fiscal year 2009: $450,288,000,000.
    (c) Social Security Administrative Expenses.--In the Senate, the 
amounts of new budget authority and budget outlays of the Federal Old-
Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Disability 
Insurance Trust Fund for administrative expenses are as follows:
            Fiscal year 2005:
                    (A) New budget authority, $4,249,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, $4,264,000,000.
            Fiscal year 2006:
                    (A) New budget authority, $4,352,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, $4,335,000,000.
            Fiscal year 2007:
                    (A) New budget authority, $4,477,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, $4,457,000,000.
            Fiscal year 2008:
                    (A) New budget authority, $4,617,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, $4,594,000,000.
            Fiscal year 2009:
                    (A) New budget authority, $4,762,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, $4,738,000,000.

SEC. 103. MAJOR FUNCTIONAL CATEGORIES.

    Congress determines and declares that the appropriate levels of new 
budget authority, budget outlays, new direct loan obligations, and new 
primary loan guarantee commitments for fiscal years 2005 through 2009 
for each major functional category are:
    (1) National Defense (050):
            Fiscal year 2005:
                    (A) New budget authority, $415,257,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, $444,033,000,000.
            Fiscal year 2006:
                    (A) New budget authority, $445,708,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, $440,563,000,000.
            Fiscal year 2007:
                    (A) New budget authority, $456,148,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, $441,290,000,000.
            Fiscal year 2008:
                    (A) New budget authority, $467,482,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, $451,419,000,000.
            Fiscal year 2009:
                    (A) New budget authority, $479,494,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, $463,058,000,000.
    (2) International Affairs (150):
            Fiscal year 2005:
                    (A) New budget authority, $30,140,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, $33,779,000,000.
            Fiscal year 2006:
                    (A) New budget authority, $34,658,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, $32,471,000,000.
            Fiscal year 2007:
                    (A) New budget authority, $35,301,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, $31,287,000,000.
            Fiscal year 2008:
                    (A) New budget authority, $35,658,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, $31,303,000,000.
            Fiscal year 2009:
                    (A) New budget authority, $35,714,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, $31,805,000,000.
    (3) General Science, Space, and Technology (250):
            Fiscal year 2005:
                    (A) New budget authority, $23,678,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, $23,152,000,000.
            Fiscal year 2006:
                    (A) New budget authority, $25,412,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, $24,863,000,000.
            Fiscal year 2007:
                    (A) New budget authority, $26,269,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, $25,613,000,000.
            Fiscal year 2008:
                    (A) New budget authority, $26,499,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, $25,914,000,000.
            Fiscal year 2009:
                    (A) New budget authority, $26,547,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, $26,095,000,000.
    (4) Energy (270):
            Fiscal year 2005:
                    (A) New budget authority, $2,793,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, $1,154,000,000.
            Fiscal year 2006:
                    (A) New budget authority, $2,762,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, $1,653,000,000.
            Fiscal year 2007:
                    (A) New budget authority, $2,781,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, $1,214,000,000.
            Fiscal year 2008:
                    (A) New budget authority, $2,501,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, $601,000,000.
            Fiscal year 2009:
                    (A) New budget authority, $2,082,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, $718,000,000.
    (5) Natural Resources and Environment (300):
            Fiscal year 2005:
                    (A) New budget authority, $32,817,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, $30,957,000,000.
            Fiscal year 2006:
                    (A) New budget authority, $32,909,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, $32,995,000,000.
            Fiscal year 2007:
                    (A) New budget authority, $32,895,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, $33,115,000,000.
            Fiscal year 2008:
                    (A) New budget authority, $32,825,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, $32,926,000,000.
            Fiscal year 2009:
                    (A) New budget authority, $33,523,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, $33,486,000,000.
    (6) Agriculture (350):
            Fiscal year 2005:
                    (A) New budget authority, $21,746,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, $20,976,000,000.
            Fiscal year 2006:
                    (A) New budget authority, $23,806,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, $22,574,000,000.
            Fiscal year 2007:
                    (A) New budget authority, $24,698,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, $23,509,000,000.
            Fiscal year 2008:
                    (A) New budget authority, $24,604,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, $23,483,000,000.
            Fiscal year 2009:
                    (A) New budget authority, $25,563,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, $24,623,000,000.
    (7) Commerce and Housing Credit (370):
            Fiscal year 2005:
                    (A) New budget authority, $7,743,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, $2,867,000,000.
            Fiscal year 2006:
                    (A) New budget authority, $8,041,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, $2,553,000,000.
            Fiscal year 2007:
                    (A) New budget authority, $9,141,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, $3,399,000,000.
            Fiscal year 2008:
                    (A) New budget authority, $9,336,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, $2,550,000,000.
            Fiscal year 2009:
                    (A) New budget authority, $9,826,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, $2,766,000,000.
    (8) Transportation (400):
            Fiscal year 2005:
                    (A) New budget authority, $69,985,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, $68,390,000,000.
            Fiscal year 2006:
                    (A) New budget authority, $70,923,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, $70,998,000,000.
            Fiscal year 2007:
                    (A) New budget authority, $71,428,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, $72,207,000,000.
            Fiscal year 2008:
                    (A) New budget authority, $71,760,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, $72,571,000,000.
            Fiscal year 2009:
                    (A) New budget authority, $72,241,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, $72,597,000,000.
    (9) Community and Regional Development (450):
            Fiscal year 2005:
                    (A) New budget authority, $13,637,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, $14,968,000,000.
            Fiscal year 2006:
                    (A) New budget authority, $13,422,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, $14,994,000,000.
            Fiscal year 2007:
                    (A) New budget authority, $13,591,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, $14,061,000,000.
            Fiscal year 2008:
                    (A) New budget authority, $13,719,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, $13,558,000,000.
            Fiscal year 2009:
                    (A) New budget authority, $13,890,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, $13,653,000,000.
    (10) Education, Training, Employment, and Social Services (500):
            Fiscal year 2005:
                    (A) New budget authority, $97,620,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, $88,259,000,000.
            Fiscal year 2006:
                    (A) New budget authority, $95,254,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, $92,867,000,000.
            Fiscal year 2007:
                    (A) New budget authority, $95,568,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, $93,657,000,000.
            Fiscal year 2008:
                    (A) New budget authority, $95,798,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, $94,197,000,000.
            Fiscal year 2009:
                    (A) New budget authority, $96,108,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, $94,624,000,000.
    (11) Health (550):
            Fiscal year 2005:
                    (A) New budget authority, $250,617,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, $246,061,000,000.
            Fiscal year 2006:
                    (A) New budget authority, $254,677,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, $255,590,000,000.
            Fiscal year 2007:
                    (A) New budget authority, $267,998,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, $27,752,000,000.
            Fiscal year 2008:
                    (A) New budget authority, $286,815,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, $286,525,000,000.
            Fiscal year 2009:
                    (A) New budget authority, $307,860,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, $305,533,000,000.
    (12) Medicare (570):
            Fiscal year 2005:
                    (A) New budget authority, $287,513,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, $288,654,000,000.
            Fiscal year 2006:
                    (A) New budget authority, $322,517,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, $322,035,000,000.
            Fiscal year 2007:
                    (A) New budget authority, $361,999,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, $362,277,000,000.
            Fiscal year 2008:
                    (A) New budget authority, $386,753,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, $386,795,000,000.
            Fiscal year 2009:
                    (A) New budget authority, $412,922,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, $412,515,000,000.
    (13) Income Security (600):
            Fiscal year 2005:
                    (A) New budget authority, $337,712,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, $341,976,000,000.
            Fiscal year 2006:
                    (A) New budget authority, $343,192,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, $346,622,000,000.
            Fiscal year 2007:
                    (A) New budget authority, $348,102,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, $350,750,000,000.
            Fiscal year 2008:
                    (A) New budget authority, $361,495,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, $363,499,000,000.
            Fiscal year 2009:
                    (A) New budget authority, $371,422,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, $372,943,000,000.
    (14) Social Security (650):
            Fiscal year 2005:
                    (A) New budget authority, $15,214,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, $15,214,000,000.
            Fiscal year 2006:
                    (A) New budget authority, $16,779,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, $16,779,000,000.
            Fiscal year 2007:
                    (A) New budget authority, $18,269,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, $18,269,000,000.
            Fiscal year 2008:
                    (A) New budget authority, $20,218,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, $20,218,000,000.
            Fiscal year 2009:
                    (A) New budget authority, $22,229,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, $22,229,000,000.
    (15) Veterans Benefits and Services (700):
            Fiscal year 2005:
                    (A) New budget authority, $70,346,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, $69,079,000,000.
            Fiscal year 2006:
                    (A) New budget authority, $68,196,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, $67,623,000,000.
            Fiscal year 2007:
                    (A) New budget authority, $66,209,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, $65,829,000,000.
            Fiscal year 2008:
                    (A) New budget authority, $69,326,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, $69,131,000,000.
            Fiscal year 2009:
                    (A) New budget authority, $69,888,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, $69,660,000,000.
    (16) Administration of Justice (750):
            Fiscal year 2005:
                    (A) New budget authority, $41,241,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, $40,595,000,000.
            Fiscal year 2006:
                    (A) New budget authority, $39,490,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, $40,156,000,000.
            Fiscal year 2007:
                    (A) New budget authority, $40,099,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, $40,342,000,000.
            Fiscal year 2008:
                    (A) New budget authority, $40,870,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, $40,783,000,000.
            Fiscal year 2009:
                    (A) New budget authority, $41,206,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, $41,150,000,000.
    (17) General Government (800):
            Fiscal year 2005:
                    (A) New budget authority, $17,382,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, $17,474,000,000.
            Fiscal year 2006:
                    (A) New budget authority, $17,503,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, $17,290,000,000.
            Fiscal year 2007:
                    (A) New budget authority, $17,611,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, $17,365,000,000.
            Fiscal year 2008:
                    (A) New budget authority, $17,190,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, $16,968,000,000.
            Fiscal year 2009:
                    (A) New budget authority, $17,256,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, $16,841,000,000.
    (18) Net Interest (900):
            Fiscal year 2005:
                    (A) New budget authority, $270,018,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, $270,018,000,000.
            Fiscal year 2006:
                    (A) New budget authority, $316,934,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, $316,934,000,000.
            Fiscal year 2007:
                    (A) New budget authority, $361,381,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, $361,381,000,000.
            Fiscal year 2008:
                    (A) New budget authority, $394,546,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, $394,546,000,000.
            Fiscal year 2009:
                    (A) New budget authority, $422,181,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, $422,181,000,000.
    (19) Allowances (920):
            Fiscal year 2005:
                    (A) New budget authority, -$100,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, -$100,000,000.
            Fiscal year 2006:
                    (A) New budget authority, -$100,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, -$100,000,000.
            Fiscal year 2007:
                    (A) New budget authority, -$300,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, -$300,000,000.
            Fiscal year 2008:
                    (A) New budget authority, -$300,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, -$300,000,000.
            Fiscal year 2009:
                    (A) New budget authority, -$300,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, -$300,000,000.
    (20) Undistributed Offsetting Receipts (950):
            Fiscal year 2005:
                    (A) New budget authority, -$52,505,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, -$52,505,000,000.
            Fiscal year 2006:
                    (A) New budget authority, -$59,848,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, -$59,848,000,000.
            Fiscal year 2007:
                    (A) New budget authority, -$62,437,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, -$62,437,000,000.
            Fiscal year 2008:
                    (A) New budget authority, -$63,482,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, -$63,482,000,000.
            Fiscal year 2009:
                    (A) New budget authority, -$62,725,000,000.
                    (B) Outlays, -$62,725,000,000.

                        TITLE II--RECONCILIATION

SEC. 201. RECONCILIATION IN THE SENATE.

    (a) Tax Relief.--The Senate Committee on Finance shall report a 
reconciliation bill not later than September 30, 2004, that consists of 
changes in laws within its jurisdiction sufficient to reduce revenues 
by not more than $12,311,000,000 for fiscal year 2005 and 
$80,642,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2005 through 2009.
    (b) Increase in Statutory Debt Limit.--The Committee on Finance 
shall report a reconciliation bill not later than September 30, 2004, 
that consists solely of changes in laws within its jurisdiction to 
increase the statutory debt limit by $664,028,000,000.
    (c) Reductions in Outlays.--The Senate Committee on Finance shall 
report changes in laws within its jurisdiction not later than September 
30, 2004, that provide direct spending (as defined in section 250(c)(8) 
of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985) to 
reduce outlays $2,888,000,000 for fiscal year 2005 and $3,423,000,000 
for the period of fiscal years 2005 through 2009.

                TITLE III--RESERVE FUNDS AND ADJUSTMENTS

                       Subtitle A--Reserve Funds

SEC. 301. RESERVE FUND FOR HEALTH INSURANCE FOR THE UNINSURED.

    If the Committee on Finance or the Committee on Health, Education, 
Labor, and Pensions of the Senate reports a bill or joint resolution, 
or an amendment thereto is offered or a conference report thereon is 
submitted, that provides health insurance or expands access to care for 
the uninsured (including a measure providing for tax deductions for the 
purchase of health insurance or other measures), increases access to 
health insurance through lowering costs, and does not increase the 
costs of current health insurance coverage, the chairman of the 
Committee on the Budget may revise allocations of new budget authority 
and outlays, the revenue aggregates, and other appropriate aggregates 
to reflect such legislation, provided that such legislation would not 
increase the deficit for fiscal year 2005 and for the period of fiscal 
years 2005 through 2009.

SEC. 302. RESERVE FUND FOR HIGHER EDUCATION.

    If the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the 
Senate reports a bill or joint resolution, or if an amendment thereto 
is offered or a conference report thereon is submitted, that provides, 
funding for--
            (1) the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act of 
        1965, the chairman of the Committee on the Budget may revise 
        committee allocations for that committee and other appropriate 
        budgetary aggregates and allocations of new budget authority 
        and outlays by the amount provided by that measure for that 
        purpose, but not to exceed $1,000,000,000 in new budget 
        authority and $1,000,000,000 in outlays for fiscal year 2005, 
        $5,000,000,000 in new budget authority and $5,000,000,000 in 
        outlays for the period of fiscal years 2005 through 2009; and
            (2) a measure that eliminates the accumulated shortfall of 
        budget authority resulting from insufficient appropriations of 
        discretionary new budget authority previously enacted for the 
        Federal Pell Grant Program for awards made through award year 
        2004-2005, the chairman of the Committee on the Budget may 
        revise the committee allocation and other appropriate budgetary 
        aggregates by the amount provided by that measure for that 
        purpose, but not to exceed $3,700,000,000 in new budget 
        authority only for fiscal year 2005.

SEC. 303. RESERVE FOR ENERGY LEGISLATION.

    If a measure, predominately within the jurisdiction of the 
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate (including a 
bill or joint resolution, an amendment or a conference report), is 
considered in the Senate that provides for a national energy policy and 
does not reduce revenues by more than $1,785,000,000 in 2005 and 
$15,092,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2005 through 2009, the 
chairman of the Committee on the Budget may revise committee 
allocations for that committee and other appropriate budgetary 
aggregates and allocation of new budget authority and outlays by the 
amount provided by that measure for that purpose, but not to exceed 
$261,000,000 in new budget authority and $221,000,000 in outlays for 
fiscal year 2005 and $1,465,000,000 in new budget authority and 
$1,465,000,000 in outlays for the period of fiscal years 2005 through 
2009.

     Subtitle B--Adjustments With Respect to Discretionary Spending

SEC. 311. ADJUSTMENT FOR SURFACE TRANSPORTATION.

    (a) In General.--If the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure of the House or the Committee on Environment and Public 
Works, the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, or the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate 
reports a bill or joint resolution, or if an amendment thereto is 
offered or a conference report thereon is submitted, that provides new 
budget authority for the budget accounts or portions thereof in the 
highway and transit categories as defined in subparagraphs (B) and (C) 
of section 250(c)(4) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit 
Control Act of 1985 in excess of--
            (1) for fiscal year 2005, $41,772,000,000; or
            (2) for fiscal years 2005 through 2009, $207,293,000,000;
the chairman of the Committee on the Budget may adjust the appropriate 
budget aggregates and increase the allocation of new budget authority 
to such committee for fiscal year 2005 and for the period of fiscal 
years 2005 through 2009 to the extent such excess is offset by an 
increase in net new user-fee receipts related to the purposes of the 
highway trust fund that are appropriated to such fund for the 
applicable fiscal year caused by such legislation. In the Senate, any 
increase in receipts shall be reported from the Committee on Finance.
    (b) Adjustment for Outlays.--(1) For fiscal year 2005, in the 
Senate, if a bill or joint resolution is reported, or if an amendment 
thereto is offered or a conference report thereon is submitted, that 
changes obligation limitations such that the total limitations are in 
excess of $40,600,000,000 for fiscal year 2005, for programs, projects, 
and activities within the highway and transit categories as defined in 
subparagraphs (B) and (C) of section 250(c)(4) of the Balanced Budget 
and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 and if legislation has been 
enacted that satisfies the conditions set forth in subsection (a) for 
such fiscal year, the appropriate chairman of the Committee on the 
Budget may increase the allocation of outlays and appropriate 
aggregates for such fiscal year for the committee reporting such 
measure by the amount of outlays that corresponds to such excess 
obligation limitations, but not to exceed the amount of such excess 
that was offset in 2005 pursuant to subsection (a).
    (2) For fiscal year 2006, in the Senate, if a bill or joint 
resolution is reported, or if an amendment thereto is offered or a 
conference report thereon is submitted, that changes obligation 
limitations such that the total limitations are in excess of 
$40,621,000,000 for fiscal year 2005, for programs, projects, and 
activities within the highway and transit categories as defined in 
subparagraphs (B) and (C) of section 250(c)(4) of the Balanced Budget 
and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 and if legislation has been 
enacted that satisfies the conditions set forth in subsection (a) for 
such fiscal year, the chairman of the Committee on the Budget may 
increase the allocation of outlays and appropriate aggregates for such 
fiscal year for the committee reporting such measure by the amount of 
outlays that corresponds to such excess obligation limitations, but not 
to exceed the amount of such excess that was offset in 2006 pursuant to 
subsection (a).

SEC. 312. SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR IRAQ AND RELATED ACTIVITIES 
              FOR FISCAL YEAR 2005.

    If the President transmits a budget request for additional 
resources for activities in Iraq and Afghanistan and if the Committee 
on Appropriations of the Senate reports legislation providing 
additional discretionary appropriations in excess of the levels assumed 
in this resolution for defense-related activities for fiscal year 2005, 
the chairman of the Committee on the Budget may revise the allocation 
(and all other appropriate levels and aggregates set out in this 
resolution) for that committee for such purpose but not to exceed: 
$30,000,000,000 in new budget authority for fiscal year 2005 and the 
outlays that flow therefrom.

SEC. 313. ADJUSTMENT FOR WILDLAND FIRE SUPPRESSION.

    (a) Findings.--The Senate makes the following findings:
            (1) Due to the expansion of the wildland urban interface, 
        severe drought conditions in many regions of the country, and 
        the poor health of the Nation's forests and rangelands, the 
        Forest Service and Department of the Interior regularly spend 
        more than the amount appropriated for fire suppression, and 
        then borrow from other accounts to pay for fire suppression.
            (2) This borrowing has a negative effect on many Forest 
        Service and Department of the Interior programs.
            (3) This resolution provides an amount equal to the 10-year 
        average for fire suppression in fiscal year 2005.
            (4) The Senate recommends that the Forest Service and the 
        Department of the Interior address cost containment within the 
        fire suppression account, and report to Congress regarding how 
        funds appropriated pursuant to this section are used.
    (b) Cap Adjustment.--
            (1) Definition.--For this subsection, the term ``base 
        amount'' refers to the average of the obligations of the 
        preceding 10 years for wildfire suppression in the Forest 
        Service and the Department of the Interior, calculated as of 
        the date of the applicable year's budget request is submitted 
        by the President to Congress.
            (2) Adjustments for fiscal years 2005 and 2006.--If the 
        amount appropriated for Wildland Fire Suppression in a fiscal 
        year is not less than the base amount, then the chairman of the 
        Committee on the Budget may adjust the appropriate allocations 
        and other budgetary levels in the most recently agreed to 
        concurrent resolution on the budget for any bill, joint 
        resolution, amendment, motion, or conference report that 
        provides additional funding for wildland fire suppression, but 
        not to exceed--
                    (A) for the Forest Service--
                            (i) for fiscal year 2005, $400,000,000; and
                            (ii) for fiscal year 2006, $400,000,000; 
                        and
                    (B) for the Department of the Interior--
                            (i) for fiscal year 2005, $100,000,000; and
                            (ii) for fiscal year 2006, $100,000,000.
            (3) Special rule for fiscal year 2004.--If additional 
        funding for wildland fire suppression for fiscal year 2004 is 
        provided in a bill, joint resolution, amendment, motion, or 
        conference report, then the chairman of the Committee on the 
        Budget may determine that such amounts shall not be counted for 
        the purposes of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 and this 
        resolution, provided that such amounts do not exceed--
                    (A) for the Forest Service, for fiscal year 2004, 
                $400,000,000; and
                    (B) for the Department of the Interior, for fiscal 
                year 2004, $100,000,000.

                      TITLE IV--BUDGET ENFORCEMENT

SEC. 401. RESTRICTIONS ON ADVANCE APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) In General.--Except as provided in subsection (b), it shall not 
be in order in the Senate to consider any bill, joint resolution, 
motion, amendment, or conference report that would provide an advance 
appropriation.
    (b) Accounts.--An advance appropriation may be provided for fiscal 
years 2006 and 2007 for programs, projects, activities, or accounts 
identified in the joint explanatory statement of managers accompanying 
this resolution under the heading ``Accounts Identified for Advance 
Appropriations'' in an aggregate amount not to exceed $23,158,000,000 
in new budget authority in each year.
    (c) Point of Order.--
            (1) Waiver.--In the Senate, subsection (a) may be waived or 
        suspended only by an affirmative vote of three-fifths of the 
        Members, duly chosen and sworn. An affirmative vote of three-
        fifths of the Members of the Senate, duly chosen and sworn, 
        shall be required to sustain an appeal of the ruling of the 
        Chair on a point of order raised under subsection (a).
            (2) Procedure.--A point of order under subsection (a) may 
        be raised by a Senator as provided in section 313(e) of 
        Congressional Budget Act of 1974.
            (3) Conference report.--If a point of order is sustained 
        under subsection (a) against a conference report in the Senate, 
        the report shall be disposed of as provided in section 313(d) 
        of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974.
    (d) Advance Appropriation.--In this section, the term ``advance 
appropriation'' means any discretionary new budget authority in a bill 
or joint resolution--
            (1) making general appropriations or continuing 
        appropriations for fiscal year 2005 that first becomes 
        available for any fiscal year after 2005; or
            (2) making general appropriations or continuing 
        appropriations for fiscal year 2006 that first becomes 
        available for any fiscal year after 2006.

SEC. 402. EXTENSION OF EMERGENCY RULE IN THE SENATE.

    Section 502(c) of H. Con. Res. 95 (108th Cong., 1st. Sess.) is 
amended to read as follows:
    ``(c) In the Senate.--
            ``(1) Authority to designate.--In the Senate, with respect 
        to a provision of direct spending or receipts legislation or 
        appropriations for discretionary accounts that the President 
        designates as an emergency requirement and that Congress so 
        designates in such measure, the amounts of new budget 
        authority, outlays, and receipts in all fiscal years resulting 
        from that provision shall be treated as an emergency 
        requirement for the purpose of this section.
            ``(2) Exemption of emergency provisions.--In the Senate, 
        any new budget authority, outlays, and receipts resulting from 
        any provision designated as an emergency requirement, pursuant 
        to this section, in any bill, joint resolution, amendment, or 
        conference report shall not count for purposes of sections 302, 
        303, 311, and 401 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 and 
        any concurrent resolution on the budget.
            ``(3) Designations.--
                    ``(A) Guidance.--In the Senate, if a provision of 
                legislation is designated as an emergency requirement 
                under this section, the committee report and any 
                statement of managers accompanying that legislation 
                shall include an explanation of the manner in which the 
                provision meets the criteria in subparagraph (B).
                    ``(B) Criteria.--
                            ``(i) In general.--Any such provision is an 
                        emergency requirement if the situation 
                        addressed by such provision is--
                                    ``(I) necessary, essential, or 
                                vital (not merely useful or 
                                beneficial);
                                    ``(II) sudden, quickly coming into 
                                being, and not building up over time;
                                    ``(III) an urgent, pressing, and 
                                compelling need requiring immediate 
                                action;
                                    ``(IV) subject to clause (ii), 
                                unforeseen, unpredictable, and 
                                unanticipated; and
                                    ``(V) not permanent, temporary in 
                                nature.
                            ``(ii) Unforeseen.--An emergency that is 
                        part of an aggregate level of anticipated 
                        emergencies, particularly when normally 
                        estimated in advance, is not unforeseen.
            ``(4) Definitions.--In this subsection, the terms `direct 
        spending', `receipts', and `appropriations for discretionary 
        accounts' means any provision of a bill, joint resolution, 
        amendment, motion, or conference report that affects direct 
        spending, receipts, or appropriations as those terms have been 
        defined and interpreted for purposes of the Balanced Budget and 
        Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.
            ``(5) Point of order.--When the Senate is considering a 
        bill, resolution, amendment, motion, or conference report, if a 
        point of order is made by a Senator against an emergency 
        designation in that measure, that provision making such a 
        designation shall be stricken from the measure and may not be 
        offered as an amendment from the floor.
            ``(6) Waiver and appeal.--Paragraph (5) may be waived or 
        suspended in the Senate only by an affirmative vote of three-
        fifths of the Members, duly chosen and sworn. An affirmative 
        vote of three-fifths of the Members of the Senate, duly chosen 
        and sworn, shall be required to sustain an appeal of the ruling 
        of the Chair on a point of order raised under this section.
            ``(7) Definition of an emergency designation.--For purposes 
        of paragraph (5), a provision shall be considered an emergency 
        designation if it designates any item as an emergency 
        requirement pursuant to this section.
            ``(8) Form of the point of order.--A point of order under 
        paragraph (5) may be raised by a Senator as provided in section 
        313(e) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974.
            ``(9) Conference reports.--If a point of order is sustained 
        under paragraph (5) against a conference report, the report 
        shall be disposed of as provided in section 313(d) of the 
        Congressional Budget Act of 1974.
            ``(10) Exception for defense spending.--Paragraph (5) shall 
        not apply against an emergency designation for a provision 
        making discretionary appropriations in the defense category.''.

SEC. 403. DISCRETIONARY SPENDING LIMITS IN THE SENATE.

    (a) Discretionary Spending Limits.--In the Senate and as used in 
this section, the term ``discretionary spending limit'' means--
            (1) for fiscal year 2005--
                    (A) $812,773,000,000 in new budget authority and 
                $818,285,000,000 in outlays for the discretionary 
                category;
                    (B) for the highway category, $33,393,000,000 in 
                outlays; and
                    (C) for the mass transit category, $1,488,000,000 
                in new budget authority, and $6,726,000,000 in outlays; 
                and
            (2) for fiscal year 2006 $852,257,000,000 in new budget 
        authority, and $884,266,000,000 in outlays for the 
        discretionary category.
    (b) Discretionary Spending Point of Order in the Senate.--
            (1) In general.--Except as otherwise provided in this 
        subsection, it shall not be in order in the Senate to consider 
        any bill or resolution (including a concurrent resolution on 
        the budget) or amendment, motion, or conference report thereon 
        that would exceed any of the discretionary spending limits in 
        this section.
            (2) Waiver.--This subsection may be waived or suspended in 
        the Senate only by the affirmative vote of three-fifths of the 
        Members, duly chosen and sworn.
            (3) Appeals.--Appeals in the Senate from the decisions of 
        the Chair relating to any provision of this subsection shall be 
        limited to 1 hour, to be equally divided between, and 
        controlled by, the appellant and the manager of the bill or 
        joint resolution, as the case may be. An affirmative vote of 
        three-fifths of the Members of the Senate, duly chosen and 
        sworn, shall be required to sustain an appeal of the ruling of 
        the Chair on a point of order raised under this subsection.
    (c) Adjustments.--
            (1) In general.--
                    (A) Chairman.--After the reporting of a bill or 
                joint resolution, or the offering of an amendment 
                thereto or the submission of a conference report 
                thereon, the chairman of the Committee on the Budget 
                may make the adjustments set forth in subparagraph (B) 
                for the amount of new budget authority in that measure 
                (if that measure meets the requirements set forth in 
                paragraph (2)) and the outlays flowing from that budget 
                authority.
                    (B) Matters to be adjusted.--The adjustments 
                referred to in subparagraph (A) are to be made to--
                            (i) the discretionary spending limits, if 
                        any, set forth in the appropriate concurrent 
                        resolution on the budget;
                            (ii) the allocations made pursuant to the 
                        appropriate concurrent resolution on the budget 
                        pursuant to section 302(a) of the Congressional 
                        Budget Act of 1974; and
                            (iii) the budgetary aggregates as set forth 
                        in the appropriate concurrent resolution on the 
                        budget.
            (2) Amounts of adjustments.--The adjustment referred to in 
        paragraph (1) shall be--
                    (A) an amount provided for transportation under 
                section 311;
                    (B) an amount provided for the fiscal year 2005 
                supplemental appropriation pursuant to section 312; and
                    (C) an amount provided for fire suppression 
                pursuant to section 313.
            (3) Reporting revised suballocations.--Following any 
        adjustment made under paragraph (1), the Committee on 
        Appropriations of the Senate shall report appropriately revised 
        suballocations under section 302(b) to carry out this 
        subsection.

SEC. 404. SCORING RULES.

    (a) Scoring of Budget Authority for Federal Pell Grants.--
            (1) Purpose.--In order to prevent the accumulation of 
        shortfalls of new budget authority with respect to 
        discretionary Pell Grant Awards, the Senate adopts the 
        following scoring rule.
            (2) Statement of budgetary scoring rule.--For purposes of 
        points of order under any concurrent resolution on the budget 
        and the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the cost of the 
        Federal Pell Grant Program shall be the estimated full cost 
        associated with the maximum award provided for an award year 
        (beginning with award year 2005-2006) in an Appropriation Act, 
        notwithstanding the amount of new budget authority provided in 
        the text of the appropriation for that purpose.
    (b) Funding for Bioshield.--In the Senate, for purposes of points 
of order under any concurrent resolution on the budget and the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, provisions contained in any bill, 
resolution, amendment, motion, or conference report that change the 
availability of any amounts appropriated for Project Bioshield pursuant 
to Public Law 108-90 shall not be scored with respect to the level of 
budget authority or outlays contained in such bill, resolution, 
amendment, motion, or conference report.

SEC. 405. ADJUSTMENTS TO REFLECT CHANGES IN CONCEPTS AND DEFINITIONS.

    (a) In the Senate, upon the enactment of a bill or joint resolution 
providing for a change in concepts or definitions, the chairman of the 
Committee on the Budget shall make adjustments to the levels and 
allocations in this resolution in accordance with section 251(b) of the 
Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (as in effect 
prior to September 30, 2002).
    (b) If the Committee on Appropriations reports a bill or 
resolution, or if an amendment thereto is offered or a conference 
report thereon is submitted, that changes the nature of offsetting 
receipts collected from the Power Marketing Administration from 
mandatory to discretionary, the chairman of the Committee on the Budget 
may revise the appropriate allocations for such committee and other 
appropriate levels in this resolution.

SEC. 406. APPLICATION AND EFFECT OF CHANGES IN ALLOCATIONS AND 
              AGGREGATES.

    (a) Application.--Any adjustments of allocations and aggregates 
made pursuant to this resolution shall--
            (1) apply while that measure is under consideration;
            (2) take effect upon the enactment of that measure; and
            (3) be published in the Congressional Record as soon as 
        practicable.
    (b) Effect of Changed Allocations and Aggregates.--Revised 
allocations and aggregates resulting from these adjustments shall be 
considered for the purposes of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 as 
allocations and aggregates contained in this resolution.
    (c) Budget Committee Determinations.--For purposes of this 
resolution--
            (1) the levels of new budget authority, outlays, direct 
        spending, new entitlement authority, revenues, deficits, and 
        surpluses for a fiscal year or period of fiscal years shall be 
        determined on the basis of estimates made by the appropriate 
        Committee on the Budget; and
            (2) such chairman may make any other necessary adjustments 
        to such levels to carry out this resolution.

SEC. 407. EXERCISE OF RULEMAKING POWERS.

    Congress adopts the provisions of this title--
            (1) as an exercise of the rulemaking power of the Senate 
        and the House of Representatives, respectively, and as such 
        they shall be considered as part of the rules of each House, or 
        of that House to which they specifically apply, and such rules 
        shall supersede other rules only to the extent that they are 
        inconsistent therewith; and
            (2) with full recognition of the constitutional right of 
        either House to change those rules (so far as they relate to 
        that House) at any time, in the same manner, and to the same 
        extent as in the case of any other rule of that House.

                      TITLE V--SENSE OF THE SENATE

SEC. 501. SENSE OF THE SENATE ON BUDGET PROCESS REFORM.

    It is the sense of the Senate that Congress and the President 
should work together to enact budget process reform legislation that 
would include mechanisms to restrain Government spending. Such 
legislation may include--
            (1) deficit targets that, when exceeded, would result in 
        across-the-board reductions in Federal spending except Social 
        Security, Medicare, and Veterans' benefits;
            (2) revision of the content of budget resolutions to 
        increase their focus on aggregate levels, and to include easily 
        understood enforcement tools such as--
                    (A) discretionary spending limits;
                    (B) pay-as-you-go; and
                    (C) explicit committee allocations;
            (3) emergency spending procedures which budget for 
        emergency needs;
            (4) pay-as-you-go limitations which apply to non-budget 
        expenditures;
            (5) limitations on unauthorized appropriations; and
            (6) enhanced rescission or constitutional line-item veto 
        authority for the President.

SEC. 502. SENSE OF THE SENATE ON BUDGET PROCESS REFORM WITH REGARD TO 
              THE CREATION OF BIPARTISAN COMMISSIONS TO COMBAT WASTE, 
              FRAUD, AND ABUSE AND TO PROMOTE SPENDING EFFICIENCY.

    (a) Waste, Fraud, and Abuse.--It is the sense of the Senate that 
legislation should be enacted that would create a bipartisan commission 
for the purpose of--
            (1) submitting recommendations on ways to eliminate waste, 
        fraud, and abuse; and
            (2) to provide recommendations on ways in which to achieve 
        cost savings through enhancing program efficiencies in all 
        discretionary and entitlement programs.
The findings of the commission should be made on an annual basis, and 
should be presented in conjunction with the submission of the 
President's budget request to Congress.
    (b) Efficiency.--It is the sense of the Senate that a bipartisan 
commission should be established to--
            (1) audit Federal domestic agencies, and programs within 
        such agencies, with the express purpose of providing Congress 
        with recommendations, and legislation;
            (2) implement those recommendations; and
            (3) realign or eliminate government agencies and programs 
        that are duplicative, inefficient, outdated, irrelevant, or 
        have failed to accomplish their intended purpose.
The findings of the commission should be made on an annual basis, and 
should be presented in conjunction with the submission of the 
President's budget request to Congress.

SEC. 503. SENSE OF THE SENATE ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ANNUAL 
              DEFICIT SPENDING AND INCREASES IN DEBT SERVICE COSTS.

    It is the sense of the Senate that the Congressional Budget Office 
shall consult with the Committee on the Budget of the Senate in order 
to prepare a report containing a discussion of--
            (1) the relationship between annual deficit spending and 
        increases in debt service costs;
            (2) the relationship between incremental increases in 
        discretionary spending and debt service costs; and
            (3) the feasibility of providing estimates of debt service 
        costs in the cost estimates prepared pursuant to section 308 of 
        the Congressional Budget Act of 1974.

SEC. 504. SENSE OF THE SENATE REGARDING THE COSTS OF THE MEDICARE 
              PRESCRIPTION DRUG PROGRAM.

    It is the sense of the Senate that the Committee on Finance of the 
Senate should report a bill that consists of changes in laws within its 
jurisdiction sufficient to ensure that spending within part D of the 
Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit program in fiscal years 2005 through 
2013 does not exceed the total of $409,000,000,000 as estimated by the 
Congressional Budget Office.

SEC. 505. SENSE OF THE SENATE REGARDING PAY PARITY.

    It is the sense of the Senate that--
            (1) compensation for civilian and military employees of the 
        United States, without whom we cannot successfully serve and 
        protect our citizens and taxpayers, must be sufficient to 
        support our critical efforts to recruit, retain, and reward 
        quality people effectively and responsibly; and
            (2) to achieve this objective, the rate of increase in the 
        compensation of civilian employees should be equal to that 
        proposed for the military in the President's Fiscal Year 2005 
        Budget.

SEC. 506. SENSE OF THE SENATE ON RETURNING STABILITY TO PAYMENTS UNDER 
              MEDICARE PHYSICIAN FEE SCHEDULE.

    (a) Findings.--The Senate finds that--
            (1) the fees Medicare pays physicians and other health 
        professionals were reduced by 5.4 percent across-the-board in 
        2002.
            (2) action by Congress in early 2003 narrowly averted a 
        4.4-percent across-the-board reduction in such fees that year;
            (3) in the fall of 2003, congressional action was once 
        again needed to prevent an across-the-board reduction of 4.5 
        percent in such fees for 2004, as well as an anticipated 
        further reduction in 2005;
            (4) based on current projections, estimates suggest that, 
        absent any action, fees will be significantly reduced across-
        the-board in 2006 and each year thereafter until at least 2010;
            (5) the prospect of continued payment reductions under the 
        Medicare physician fee schedule for the foreseeable future 
        threatens to destabilize an important element of the program, 
        namely physician participation and willingness to accept 
        Medicare patients;
            (6) there are major flaws in the formula Medicare uses to 
        reimburse physicians which result in steep cuts that adversely 
        impact Medicare beneficiaries' access to care; and
            (7) CMS should use its authority to exclude Medicare-
        covered drugs and biologics from the physician formula and 
        accurately reflect in the formula the direct and indirect cost 
        of increases due to coverage decisions, administrative actions, 
        and rules and regulations.
    (b) Sense of the Senate.--It is the sense of the Senate that, while 
recent actions by Congress have helped address the immediate reductions 
in reimbursement, further action by Congress is urgently needed to put 
in place a new formula or mechanism for updating Medicare physician 
fees in 2006 and thereafter, in order to ensure--
            (1) the long-term stability of the Medicare payment system 
        for physicians and other health care professionals, such that 
        payment rates keep pace with practice cost increases; and
            (2) future access to physicians' services for Medicare 
        beneficiaries.

SEC. 507. SENSE OF THE SENATE REGARDING THE USE OF FEDERAL FUNDS TO 
              SUPPORT AMERICAN COMPANIES AND AMERICAN WORKERS.

    (a) Findings.--The Senate finds that--
            (1) the United States has lost more than 2,200,000 
        manufacturing jobs since 2000;
            (2) the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that 239,454 
        workers in a variety of sectors of the United States economy 
        lost their jobs as a result of mass layoffs in January 2004;
            (3) there are millions of long-term unemployed Americans 
        who have been unable to find work; and
            (4) the Buy American Act requires the Federal Government to 
        support American companies and American workers by buying 
        American-made goods.
    (b) Sense of the Senate.--It is the sense of the Senate that the 
functional totals in this resolution assume that--
            (1) Federal departments and agencies will, to the maximum 
        extent possible, purchase goods and services from American 
        companies; and
            (2) Federal departments and agencies will ensure that, to 
        the maximum extent possible, the work required by Federal 
        contracts for goods and services will be performed in the 
        United States.

SEC. 508. SENSE OF THE SENATE REGARDING CLOSING THE ``TAX GAP''.

    (a) Findings.--The Senate finds that--
            (1) the Internal Revenue Service estimates that the gross 
        tax gap (the difference between the amount of taxes owed by 
        taxpayers and the amount actually collected) is now estimated 
        to be in excess of $300,000,000,000 annually;
            (2) the Internal Revenue Service reports that the rate of 
        voluntary and timely compliance from taxpayers in paying what 
        they owe is approximately 85 percent;
            (3) this overwhelming majority of honest and hardworking 
        taxpayers are forced to make up the shortfall that results from 
        taxpayers who fail to pay what they owe voluntarily;
            (4) a former Commissioner of Internal Revenue has estimated 
        that honest taxpayers are paying ``15 percent more'' than 
        necessary if the tax gap were closed;
            (5) the current Commissioner of Internal Revenue is 
        concerned that increasing numbers of taxpayers believe that 
        people are less likely to report their income taxes accurately 
        and more inclined to take a chance that they will not be 
        audited; and
            (6) that an increase in enforcement efforts on taxes 
        already due and owing can generate significant additional 
        revenues without raising taxes.
    (b) Sense of the Senate.--It is the sense of the Senate that the 
Internal Revenue Service should be provided the resources necessary to 
increase enforcement activities that would be concentrated on efforts 
to reduce the tax gap substantially by the end of fiscal year 2009.

SEC. 509. SENSE OF THE SENATE AMENDMENT ON DRUG COMPARATIVENESS 
              STUDIES.

    It is the sense of the Senate that the overall discretionary levels 
set in this resolution assume $75,000,000 in new budget authority in 
fiscal year 2005 and new outlays that flow from this budget authority 
in fiscal year 2005 and subsequent years, to fund new research and 
ongoing literature surveys in the Agency for Health Care Research and 
Quality. These activities will be designed to improve scientific 
evidence related to the comparative effectiveness and safety of 
prescription drugs and other treatments and to disseminate the findings 
and underlying data from such research to health care practitioners, 
consumers, and health care purchasers.
                                                       Calendar No. 437

108th CONGRESS

  2d Session

                            S. CON. RES. 95

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Setting forth the congressional budget for the United States Government 
for fiscal year 2005 and including the appropriate budgetary levels for 
                    fiscal years 2006 through 2009.

_______________________________________________________________________

                             March 5, 2004

Reported under authority of the Senate of March 4, 2004, and placed on 
                              the calendar