II 110th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 685 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES February 26, 2007 Mr. Feingold (for himself and Mr. Graham) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions A BILL To establish an expedited procedure for congressional consideration of health care reform legislation.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Reform Health Care Now Act.

2.

Senate consideration of health care reform legislation

(a)

Introduction

(1)

In general

Not later than 30 calendar days after the commencement of the session of Congress that follows the date of enactment of this Act, the chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, the Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, the Majority Leader of the Senate, and the Minority Leader of the Senate shall each introduce a bill to provide a significant increase in access to health care coverage for the people of the United States. (2)

Minority party

These bills may be introduced by request and only 1 qualified bill may be introduced by each individual referred to in paragraph (1) within a Congress. If either committee chair fails to introduce the bill within the 30-day period, the ranking minority party member of the respective committee may instead introduce a bill that will qualify for the expedited procedure provided in this section. (3)

Qualified bill

(A)

In general

In order to qualify as a qualified bill— (i)the title of the bill shall be To reform the health care system of the United States and to provide insurance coverage for Americans.; (ii)the bill shall reach the goal of providing health care coverage to 95 percent of Americans within 10 years; and (iii)the bill shall be deficit neutral. (B)

Determination

Whether or not a bill meets the criteria in subparagraph (A) shall be determined by the Chair of the Senate Budget Committee, relying on estimates of the Congressional Budget Office, subject to the final approval of the Senate. (b)

Referral

(1)

Committee bills

Upon introduction, the bill authored by the Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance shall be referred to that Committee and the bill introduced by the Chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions shall be referred to that committee. If either committee has not reported the bill referred to it (or another qualified bill) by the end of a 60 calendar-day period beginning on the date of referral, the committee is, as of that date, automatically discharged from further consideration of the bill, and the bill is placed directly on the chamber’s legislative calendar. In calculating the 60-day period, adjournments for more than 3 days are not counted. (2)

Leader bills

The bills introduced by the Senate Majority Leader and the Senate Minority Leader shall, on introduction, be placed directly on the Senate Calendar of Business. (c)

Motion to proceed

(1)

In general

On or after the third day following the committee report or discharge or upon a bill being placed on the calendar under subsection (b)(2), it shall be in order for any Member, after consultation with the Majority Leader, to move to proceed to the consideration of any qualified bill. Notice shall first be given before proceeding. This motion to proceed to the consideration of a bill can be offered by a Member only on the day after the calendar day on which the Member announces the Member’s intention to offer it. (2)

Consideration

The motion to proceed to a given qualified bill can be made even if a motion to the same effect has previously been rejected. No more than 3 such motions may be made, however, in any 1 congressional session. (3)

Privileged and nondebatable

The motion to proceed is privileged, and all points of order against the motion to proceed to consideration and its consideration are waived. The motion is not debatable, is not amendable, and is not subject to a motion to postpone. (4)

No other business or reconsideration

The motion is not subject to a motion to proceed to the consideration of other business. A motion to reconsider the vote by which the motion to proceed is agreed to or disagreed to is not in order. (d)

Consideration of qualified bill

(1)

In general

If the motion to proceed is adopted, the chamber shall immediately proceed to the consideration of a qualified bill without intervening motion, order, or other business, and the bill remains the unfinished business of the Senate until disposed of. A motion to limit debate is in order and is not debatable. (2)

Only business

The qualified bill is not subject to a motion to postpone or a motion to proceed to the consideration of other business before the bill is disposed of. (3)

Relevant amendments

Only relevant amendments may be offered to the bill.

3.

House consideration of health care reform legislation

(a)

Introduction

(1)

In general

Not later than 30 calendar days after the commencement of the session of Congress that follows the date of enactment of this Act, the chair of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, the chair of the House Committee on Ways and Means, the Majority Leader of the House, and the Minority Leader of the House shall each introduce a bill to provide a significant increase in access to health care coverage for the people of the United States. (2)

Minority party

These bills may be introduced by request and only 1 qualified bill may be introduced by each individual referred to in paragraph (1) within a Congress. If either committee chair fails to introduce the bill within the 30-day period, the ranking minority party member of the respective committee may, within the following 30 days, instead introduce a bill that will qualify for the expedited procedure provided in this section. (3)

Qualified bill

(A)

In general

To qualify for the expedited procedure under this section as a qualified bill, the bill shall— (i)reach the goal of providing healthcare coverage to 95 percent of Americans within 10 years; and (ii)be deficit neutral. (B)

Determination

Whether or not a bill meets the criteria in subparagraph (A) shall be determined by the Speaker’s ruling on a point of order based on a Congressional Budget Office estimate of the bill. (b)

Referral

(1)

Committee bills

Upon introduction, the bill authored by the Chair of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce shall be referred to that committee and the bill introduced by the Chair of the House Committee on Ways and Means shall be referred to that committee. If either committee has not reported the bill referred to it (or another qualified bill) by the end of 60 days of consideration beginning on the date of referral, the committee shall be automatically discharged from further consideration of the bill, and the bill shall be placed directly on the Calendar of the Whole House on the State of the Union. In calculating the 60-day period, adjournments for more than 3 days are not counted. (2)

Leader bills

The bills introduced by the House Majority Leader and House Minority Leader will, on introduction, be placed directly on the Calendar of the Whole House on the State of the Union. (c)

Motion to proceed

(1)

In general

On or after the third day following the committee report or discharge or upon a bill being placed on the calendar under subsection (b)(2), it shall be in order for any Member, after consultation with the Majority Leader, to move to proceed to the consideration of any qualified bill. Notice must first be given before proceeding. This motion to proceed to the consideration of a bill can be offered by a Member only on the day after the calendar day on which the Member announces the Member’s intention to offer it. (2)

Consideration

The motion to proceed to a given qualified bill can be made even if a motion to the same effect has previously been rejected. No more than 3 such motions may be made, however, in any 1 congressional session. (3)

Privileged and nondebatable

The motion to proceed is privileged, and all points of order against the motion to proceed to consideration and its consideration are waived. The motion is not debatable, is not amendable, and is not subject to a motion to postpone. (4)

No other business or reconsideration

The motion is not subject to a motion to proceed to the consideration of other business. A motion to reconsider the vote by which the motion to proceed is agreed to or disagreed to is not in order. (d)

Consideration of a qualified bill

(1)

In general

If the motion to proceed is adopted, the chamber will immediately proceed to the consideration of a qualified bill without intervening motion, order, or other business, and the bill remains the unfinished business of the House until disposed of. (2)

Committee of the whole

The bill will be considered in the Committee of the Whole under the 5-minute rule, and the bill shall be considered as read and open for amendment at any time. (3)

Limit debate

A motion to further limit debate is in order and is not debatable. (4)

Relevant amendments

Only relevant amendments may be offered to the bill.