Establishment of task force

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 new section:

316.

Establishment of task force for responsible fiscal action

(a)

Definitions

In this section: (1)

Task Force

The term Task Force means the Bipartisan Task Force for Responsible Fiscal Action established under subsection (b)(1). (2)

Task Force bill

The term Task Force bill means a bill consisting of the proposed legislative language of the Task Force introduced under subsection (c)(1). (3)

Fiscal imbalance

The term fiscal imbalance means the gap between the projected revenues and expenditures of the Federal Government. (4)

Medicare

The term Medicare means the program established under title XVIII of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq.). (5)

Social Security

The term Social Security means the program of old-age, survivors, and disability insurance benefits established under title II of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 401 et seq.). (b)

Establishment of Task Force

(1)

Establishment

There is established a task force to be known as the Bipartisan Task Force for Responsible Fiscal Action. (2)

Purposes

(A)

Review

The Task Force shall review— (i)analyses of the current and long-term actuarial financial condition of the Federal Government, including the Social Security and Medicare programs; and (ii)the gap between the projected revenues and expenditures of the Federal Government, including the revenues and expenditures attributable to the Social Security and Medicare programs. (B)

Identify factors

The Task Force shall identify factors that affect the long-term fiscal balance of the Federal Government, including the fiscal balance of the Social Security and Medicare programs. (C)

Analyze potential courses of action

The Task Force shall analyze potential courses of action to address factors that affect the long-term fiscal balance of the Federal Government, including the fiscal balance of the Social Security and Medicare programs. (D)

Provide recommendations and legislative language

The Task Force shall provide recommendations and legislative language that will significantly improve the long-term fiscal balance of the Federal Government, including the fiscal balance of the Social Security and Medicare programs. (3)

Duties

(A)

In general

The Task Force shall address the Nation’s long-term fiscal imbalances, including such imbalances attributable to the Medicare and Social Security programs and the gap between projected revenues and expenditures under such programs, consistent with the purposes described in paragraph (2) and shall submit the report and recommendations required under subparagraph (B). (B)

Report, recommendations, and legislative language

(i)

In general

On December 9, 2008, the Task Force shall submit to the President and Congress a report on the long-term fiscal imbalances of the Federal Government, including such imbalances attributable to the Social Security and Medicare programs, that contains— (I)a detailed statement of the findings, conclusions, and recommendations of the Task Force (including proposed legislative language to carry out such recommendations); and (II)the assumptions, scenarios, and alternatives considered in reaching such findings, conclusions, and recommendations. (ii)

Approval of report

The report of the Task Force submitted under clause (i) shall require the approval of not less than ¾ of the 16 members of the Task Force. (4)

Membership

(A)

In general

The Task Force shall be composed of 16 members designated pursuant to subparagraph (B). (B)

Designation

Members of the Task Force shall be designated as follows: (i)The President shall designate 2 members, one of whom shall be the Secretary of the Treasury, who shall be the Chairperson of the Task Force, and the other of whom shall be an officer or employee of the executive branch. (ii)The majority leader of the Senate shall designate 4 members from among Members of the Senate. (iii)The minority leader of the Senate shall designate 3 members from among Members of the Senate. (iv)The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall designate 4 members from among Members of the House of Representatives. (v)The minority leader of the House of Representatives shall designate 3 members from among Members of the House of Representatives. (C)

Date

Members of the Task Force shall be designated by not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this section. (D)

Period of designation

Members shall be designated for the life of the Task Force. Any vacancy in the Task Force shall not affect its powers, but shall be filled not later than 14 days after the date on which the vacancy occurs in the same manner as the original designation. (E)

Termination

The Task Force shall terminate on the date that is 90 days after the Task Force submits the report required under paragraph (3)(B). (5)

Administration

(A)

Quorum

Twelve members of the Task Force shall constitute a quorum for purposes of voting, but a lesser number may meet and hold hearings. (B)

Voting

(i)

Proxy voting

No proxy voting shall be allowed on behalf of members of the Task Force. (ii)

Policy matters

The Task Force may not vote on policy matters until after November 4, 2008. (C)

Meetings

(i)

Initial meeting

Not later than 30 days after the date on which all members of the Task Force have been designated, the Task Force shall hold its first meeting. (ii)

Meetings

The Task Force shall meet at the call of the Chairperson or a majority of its members. (D)

Hearings

Subject to subparagraph (G), the Task Force may, for the purpose of carrying out this section, hold such hearings, sit and act at such times and places, take such testimony, receive such evidence, and administer such oaths the Task Force considers advisable. (E)

Compensation

Members of the Task Force shall serve without any additional compensation for their work on the Task Force. However, members may be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in accordance with sections 5702 and 5703 of title 5, United States Code, while away from their homes or regular places of business in performance of services for the Task Force. (F)

Technical assistance

Upon the request of any member of the Task Force, a Federal agency shall provide technical assistance to all members of the Task Force in order for the Task Force to carry out its duties. (G)

Information

(i)

Resources

Any member of the Task Force shall have authority to access materials, resources, statistical data, and other information the Task Force determines to be necessary to carry out its duties from the Library of Congress, the Chief Actuary of the Social Security Administration, the Chief Actuary of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the Congressional Budget Office, and other agencies and instrumentalities of the executive and legislative branches of the Federal Government (including the Department of the Treasury, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Office of Management and Budget, the Government Accountability Office, and the Joint Committee on Taxation). Each agency or instrumentality shall, to the extent permitted by law, furnish such information to the Task Force upon written request by a member of the Task Force. (ii)

Receipt, handling, storage, and dissemination of information

Information shall only be received, handled, stored, and disseminated by members of the Task Force and its staff consistent with all applicable statutes, regulations, and Executive orders. (iii)

Limitation of access to tax information

Information accessed under this subparagraph shall not include tax data from the United States Internal Revenue Service, the release of which would otherwise be in violation of law. (H)

Postal services

The Task Force may use the United States mails in the same manner and under the same conditions as other departments and agencies of the Federal Government. (6)

Funding

There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out the purposes of the Task Force. (c)

Expedited consideration of Task Force recommendations

(1)

Introduction

(A)

In general

The proposed legislative language contained in the report submitted pursuant to subsection (b)(3)(B) shall be introduced within the first 10 calendar days of the 111th Congress (or on the first session day thereafter) in the House of Representatives and in the Senate by the majority leader of each House of Congress, for himself, the minority leader of each House of Congress, for himself, or any member of the House designated by the majority leader or minority leader. If the Task Force bill is not introduced in accordance with the preceding sentence in either House of Congress, then any Member of that House may introduce the Task Force bill on any day thereafter. Upon introduction, the Task Force bill shall be referred to the appropriate committees under subparagraph (B). (B)

Committee consideration

A Task Force bill introduced in either House of Congress shall be jointly referred to the committee or committees of jurisdiction and the Committee on the Budget of that House, which committees shall report the bill without any revision and with a favorable recommendation, an unfavorable recommendation, or without recommendation, not later than 10 calendar days after the date of introduction of the bill in that House. If any committee fails to report the bill within that period, that committee shall be automatically discharged from consideration of the bill, and the bill shall be placed on the appropriate calendar. (2)

Expedited procedure

(A)

In the house of representatives

(i)

In general

Not later than 5 days of session after the date on which a Task Force bill is reported or discharged from all committees to which it was referred, the majority leader of the House of Representatives or the majority leader’s designee shall move to proceed to the consideration of the Task Force bill. It shall also be in order for any Member of the House of Representatives to move to proceed to the consideration of the Task Force bill at any time after the conclusion of such 5-day period. (ii)

Motion to proceed

A motion to proceed to the consideration of the Task Force bill is highly privileged in the House of Representatives and is not debatable. The motion is not subject to amendment or to a motion to postpone consideration of the Task Force bill. A motion to proceed to the consideration of other business shall not be in order. A motion to reconsider the vote by which the motion to proceed is agreed to or not agreed to shall not be in order. If the motion to proceed is agreed to, the House of Representatives shall immediately proceed to consideration of the Task Force bill without intervening motion, order, or other business, and the Task Force bill shall remain the unfinished business of the House of Representatives until disposed of. (iii)

Limits on debate

Debate in the House of Representatives on a Task Force bill under this paragraph shall not exceed a total of 100 hours, which shall be divided equally between those favoring and those opposing the bill. A motion further to limit debate is in order and shall not be debatable. It shall not be in order to move to recommit a Task Force bill under this paragraph or to move to reconsider the vote by which the bill is agreed to or disagreed to. (iv)

Appeals

Appeals from decisions of the chair relating to the application of the Rules of the House of Representatives to the procedure relating to a Task Force bill shall be decided without debate. (v)

Application of house rules

Except to the extent specifically provided in this paragraph, consideration of a Task Force bill shall be governed by the Rules of the House of Representatives. It shall not be in order in the House of Representatives to consider any Task Force bill introduced pursuant to the provisions of this subsection under a suspension of the rules or under a special rule. (vi)

No amendments

No amendment to the Task Force bill shall be in order in the House of Representatives. (vii)

Vote on final passage

In the House of Representatives, immediately following the conclusion of consideration of the Task Force bill, the vote on final passage of the Task Force bill shall occur without any intervening action or motion, requiring an affirmative vote of 3/5 of the Members, duly chosen and sworn. If the Task Force bill is passed, the Clerk of the House of Representatives shall cause the bill to be transmitted to the Senate before the close of the next day of session of the House. (B)

In the Senate

(i)

In general

Not later than 5 days of session after the date on which a Task Force bill is reported or discharged from all committees to which it was referred, the majority leader of the Senate or the majority leader’s designee shall move to proceed to the consideration of the Task Force bill. It shall also be in order for any Member of the Senate to move to proceed to the consideration of the Task Force bill at any time after the conclusion of such 5-day period. (ii)

Motion to proceed

A motion to proceed to the consideration of the Task Force bill is privileged in the Senate and is not debatable. The motion is not subject to amendment or to a motion to postpone consideration of the Task Force bill. A motion to proceed to consideration of the Task Force bill may be made even though a previous motion to the same effect has been disagreed to. A motion to proceed to the consideration of other business shall not be in order. A motion to reconsider the vote by which the motion to proceed is agreed to or not agreed to shall not be in order. If the motion to proceed is agreed to, the Senate shall immediately proceed to consideration of the Task Force bill without intervening motion, order, or other business, and the Task Force bill shall remain the unfinished business of the Senate until disposed of. (iii)

Limits on debate

In the Senate, consideration of the Task Force bill and on all debatable motions and appeals in connection therewith shall not exceed a total of 100 hours, which shall be divided equally between those favoring and those opposing the Task Force bill. A motion further to limit debate on the Task Force bill is in order and is not debatable. Any debatable motion or appeal is debatable for not to exceed 1 hour, to be divided equally between those favoring and those opposing the motion or appeal. All time used for consideration of the Task Force bill, including time used for quorum calls and voting, shall be counted against the total 100 hours of consideration. (iv)

No amendments

No amendment to the Task Force bill shall be in order in the Senate. (v)

Motion to recommit

A motion to recommit a Task Force bill shall not be in order under this paragraph. (vi)

Vote on final passage

In the Senate, immediately following the conclusion of consideration of the Task Force bill and a request to establish the presence of a quorum, the vote on final passage of the Task Force bill shall occur and shall require an affirmative vote of 3/5 of the Members, duly chosen and sworn. (vii)

Other motions not in order

A motion to postpone or a motion to proceed to the consideration of other business is not in order in the Senate. A motion to reconsider the vote by which the Task Force bill is agreed to or not agreed to is not in order in the Senate. (viii)

Consideration of the house bill

(I)

In general

If the Senate has received the House companion bill to the Task Force bill introduced in the Senate prior to the vote required under clause (vi) and the House companion bill is identical to the Task Force bill introduced in the Senate, then the Senate shall consider, and the vote under clause (vi) shall occur on, the House companion bill. (II)

Procedure after vote on senate bill

If the Senate votes, pursuant to clause (vi), on the bill introduced in the Senate, the Senate bill shall be held pending receipt of the House message on the bill. Upon receipt of the House companion bill, if the House bill is identical to the Senate bill, the House bill shall be deemed to be considered, read for the third time, and the vote on passage of the Senate bill shall be considered to be the vote on the bill received from the House. (C)

No suspension

No motion to suspend the application of this paragraph shall be in order in the Senate or in the House of Representatives.