[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6996 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






116th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 6996

 To establish the Joint Select Committee on Fiscal Responsibility and 
                      Long-Term Economic Security.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 22, 2020

  Mr. Rouda introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Rules, and in addition to the Committee on the Budget, 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 establish the Joint Select Committee on Fiscal Responsibility and 
                      Long-Term Economic Security.

    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 ``Fiscal Responsibility and Long-Term 
Economic Security Act''.

SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF JOINT SELECT COMMITTEE.

    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:

``establishment of joint select committee on fiscal responsibility and 
                      long-term economic security

    ``Sec. 316.  (a) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Joint select committee.--The term `joint select 
        committee' means the Joint Select Committee on Fiscal 
        Responsibility and Long-Term Economic Security established 
        under subsection (b)(1).
            ``(2) Joint select committee bill.--The term `joint select 
        committee bill' means a bill consisting of the proposed 
        legislative language of the joint select committee recommended 
        under subsection (b)(3)(B) and introduced under subsection 
        (e)(1).
            ``(3) Fiscal imbalance.--The term `fiscal imbalance' means 
        the gap between the projected revenues and expenditures of the 
        Government.
    ``(b) Establishment of Joint Select Committee.--
            ``(1) Establishment.--There is established in the 
        legislative branch a joint select committee to be known as the 
        `Joint Select Committee on Fiscal Responsibility and Long-Term 
        Economic Security'.
            ``(2) Purposes.--
                    ``(A) Review.--The joint select committee shall 
                review the fiscal imbalance of the Government, 
                including--
                            ``(i) analyses of projected expenditures;
                            ``(ii) analyses of projected revenues; and
                            ``(iii) analyses of the current and long-
                        term actuarial financial condition of the 
                        Government.
                    ``(B) Identify factors.--The joint select committee 
                shall identify factors that affect the long-term fiscal 
                imbalance of the Government.
                    ``(C) Analyze potential courses of action.--The 
                joint select committee shall analyze potential courses 
                of action to address factors that affect the long-term 
                fiscal imbalance of the Government.
                    ``(D) Provide recommendations and legislative 
                language.--In consultation with the applicable 
                committees of subject-matter jurisdiction, the joint 
                select committee shall provide recommendations and 
                legislative language that will significantly improve 
                the long-term fiscal imbalance of the Government, 
                including recommendations addressing--
                            ``(i) expenditures;
                            ``(ii) revenues; and
                            ``(iii) the current and long-term actuarial 
                        financial condition of the Government.
            ``(3) Duties.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The joint select committee shall 
                address the Nation's long-term fiscal imbalances, 
                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.--Not later than 18 months 
                        after the date of enactment of the Fiscal 
                        Responsibility and Long-Term Economic Security 
                        Act, the joint select committee shall vote on a 
                        report that contains--
                                    ``(I) a detailed statement of the 
                                findings, conclusions, and 
                                recommendations of the joint select 
                                committee;
                                    ``(II) the assumptions, scenarios, 
                                and alternatives considered in reaching 
                                such findings, conclusions, and 
                                recommendations; and
                                    ``(III) proposed legislative 
                                language to carry out such 
                                recommendations as described in 
                                paragraph (2)(D).
                            ``(ii) Approval of report.--The report of 
                        the joint select committee submitted under 
                        clause (i) shall require the approval of not 
                        fewer than 10 out of 16 members that includes 
                        not fewer than 5 members from the political 
                        party of the Speaker of the House and not fewer 
                        than 5 members of the opposing political party.
                            ``(iii) Additional views.--A member of the 
                        joint select committee who gives notice of an 
                        intention to file supplemental, minority, or 
                        additional views at the time of final joint 
                        select committee approval of the report under 
                        clause (ii), shall be entitled to not less than 
                        3 calendar days in which to file such views in 
                        writing with the staff director of the joint 
                        select committee. Such views shall then be 
                        included in the joint select committee report 
                        and printed in the same volume, or part 
                        thereof, and their inclusion shall be noted on 
                        the cover of the report. In the absence of 
                        timely notice, the joint select committee 
                        report may be printed and transmitted 
                        immediately without such views.
                            ``(iv) Transmission of report.--Not later 
                        than 7 days after the vote of the joint select 
                        committee under clause (i), the joint select 
                        committee shall submit its bill and final 
                        report to the Speaker of the House and the 
                        majority and minority leaders of both Houses.
                            ``(v) Report to be made public.--Upon the 
                        approval or disapproval of the joint select 
                        committee report pursuant to clause (ii), the 
                        joint select committee shall promptly make the 
                        full report, and a record of the vote, 
                        available to the public.
            ``(4) Membership.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The joint select committee shall 
                be composed of 16 members designated pursuant to 
                subparagraph (B).
                    ``(B) Designation.--Members of the joint select 
                committee shall be designated as follows:
                            ``(i) The majority leader of the Senate 
                        shall designate 4 members from among Members of 
                        the Senate.
                            ``(ii) The minority leader of the Senate 
                        shall designate 4 members from among Members of 
                        the Senate.
                            ``(iii) The Speaker of the House of 
                        Representatives shall designate 8 members from 
                        among Members of the House of Representatives 
                        of whom 4 shall be upon the recommendation of 
                        the minority leader.
                    ``(C) Co-chairs.--
                            ``(i) In general.--There shall be 2 Co-
                        Chairs of the joint select committee. The 
                        Speaker of the House in coordination with the 
                        minority leader of the Senate shall designate 
                        one Co-Chair among the voting members of the 
                        joint select committee. The majority leader of 
                        the Senate in coordination with the minority 
                        leader of the House shall designate the second 
                        Co-Chair among the members of the joint select 
                        committee. The Co-Chairs shall be appointed not 
                        later than 30 days after the date of enactment 
                        of this section.
                            ``(ii) Staff director.--The Co-Chairs, 
                        acting jointly, shall hire the staff director 
                        of the joint select committee.
                    ``(D) Date.--Members of the joint select committee 
                shall be designated by not later than 90 days after the 
                date of enactment of this section.
                    ``(E) Period of designation.--Members shall be 
                designated for the life of the joint select committee. 
                Any vacancy in the joint select committee shall not 
                affect its powers, but shall be filled not later than 
                15 days after the date on which the vacancy occurs in 
                the same manner as the original designation.
            ``(5) Administration.--
                    ``(A) Authority to establish rules and 
                regulations.--The Co-Chairs, in consultation with the 
                other members of the joint select committee, may 
                establish rules and regulations for the conduct of 
                joint select committee business, if such rules and 
                regulations are not inconsistent with this section or 
                the Rules of the House of Representatives or the 
                Standing Rules of the Senate.
                    ``(B) Quorum.--Nine members of the joint select 
                committee shall constitute a quorum for purposes of 
                voting, meeting, and holding hearings.
                    ``(C) Voting.--
                            ``(i) Proxy voting.--No proxy voting shall 
                        be allowed on behalf of the members of the 
                        joint select committee.
                            ``(ii) Congressional budget office and 
                        joint committee on taxation estimates.--The 
                        Congressional Budget Office and Joint Committee 
                        on Taxation shall provide estimates of the 
                        joint select committee report and 
                        recommendations (as described in paragraph 
                        (2)(D)) in accordance with section 308(a) and 
                        201(f) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974. 
                        The joint select committee may not vote on any 
                        version of the report, recommendations, or 
                        legislative language unless a final estimate is 
                        available for consideration by all the members 
                        at least 72 hours prior to the vote.
                    ``(D) Meetings.--
                            ``(i) Initial meeting.--Not later than 45 
                        days after the appointment of the Co-Chairs, 
                        the joint select committee shall hold its first 
                        meeting.
                            ``(ii) Meetings.--The joint select 
                        committee shall meet at the call of the Co-
                        Chairs or at least 10 of its members.
                            ``(iii) Agenda.--An agenda shall be 
                        provided to the joint select committee members 
                        at least 3 legislative days in advance of any 
                        meeting. Joint select committee members who 
                        want to have items placed on the agenda for 
                        consideration shall notify the staff director 
                        as early as possible, but not less than 48 
                        hours in advance of a scheduled meeting.
                    ``(E) Hearings.--
                            ``(i) In general.--The joint select 
                        committee 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 joint select committee considers 
                        advisable.
                            ``(ii) Hearing procedures and 
                        responsibilities of co-chairs.--
                                    ``(I) Announcement.--The joint 
                                select committee Co-Chairs shall make 
                                public announcement of the date, place, 
                                time, and subject matter of any hearing 
                                to be conducted at least 3 legislative 
                                days in advance of such hearing, unless 
                                the Co-Chairs determine that there is 
                                good cause to begin such hearing at an 
                                earlier date.
                                    ``(II) Written statement.--A 
                                witness appearing before the joint 
                                select committee, including the 
                                Secretary of the Treasury, shall file a 
                                written statement of proposed testimony 
                                at least 2 days prior to appearance, 
                                unless the requirement is waived by the 
                                Co-Chairs, following their 
                                determination that there is good cause 
                                for failure of compliance.
                    ``(F) Technical assistance.--Upon written request 
                of the Co-Chairs, a Federal agency shall provide 
                technical assistance to the joint select committee in 
                order for the joint select committee to carry out its 
                duties.
    ``(c) Staff of Joint Select Committee.--
            ``(1) Appointment and compensation of shared staff.--The 
        Co-Chairs may appoint and fix the compensation of a staff 
        director and such other personnel as may be necessary to enable 
        the joint select committee to carry out its functions, without 
        regard to the provisions of title 5, United States Code, 
        governing appointments in the competitive service, but at rates 
        not to exceed the daily rate paid a person occupying a position 
        at level III of the Executive Schedule under section 5314 of 
        title 5, United States Code.
            ``(2) Additional staff for joint select committee 
        members.--Each member of the joint select committee may appoint 
        1 additional dedicated staff and fix the compensation of such 
        dedicated personnel without regard to the provisions of title 
        5, United States Code, governing appointments in the 
        competitive service, but at rates not to exceed the daily rate 
        paid a person occupying a position at level III of the 
        Executive Schedule under section 5314 of title 5, United States 
        Code. Dedicated staff shall report to each appointing member.
            ``(3) Advisory panel.--The joint select committee may 
        establish an advisory panel consisting of volunteers with 
        knowledge and expertise relevant to the joint select 
        committee's purpose. Membership of the Advisory Panel, and the 
        scope of the Panel's activities, shall be decided by the Co-
        Chairs in consultation with the other members of the joint 
        select committee.
    ``(d) Termination.--
            ``(1) In general.--The joint select committee shall 
        terminate 90 days after the joint select committee submits the 
        report required under subsection (b)(3)(B).
            ``(2) Concluding activities.--The joint select committee 
        may use the 90-day period referred to in paragraph (1) for the 
        purpose of concluding its activities, including providing 
        testimony to committees of Congress concerning its report and 
        disseminating the final report.
    ``(e) Expedited Procedures.--
            ``(1) Introduction of joint select committee bill.--The 
        joint select committee bill--
                    ``(A) shall be introduced in the Senate (by 
                request), with any technical changes necessary to carry 
                out the intent of the bill, by the majority leader of 
                the Senate or by a Member of the Senate designated by 
                the majority leader of the Senate not later than 5 
                legislative days after the date on which the bill is 
                submitted to Congress under subsection (b)(3)(B); and
                    ``(B) shall be introduced in the House of 
                Representatives (by request), with any technical 
                changes necessary to carry out the intent of the bill, 
                by the Speaker of the House of Representatives or by a 
                Member of the House of Representatives designated by 
                the Speaker of the House of Representatives not later 
                than 5 legislative days after the date on which the 
                bill is submitted to Congress under subsection 
                (b)(3)(B).
            ``(2) Expedited consideration in house of 
        representatives.--
                    ``(A) Placement on calendar.--Upon introduction in 
                the House of Representatives, the joint select 
                committee bill shall be placed immediately on the 
                appropriate calendar.
                    ``(B) Proceeding to consideration.--
                            ``(i) In general.--It shall be in order, 
                        not later than 30 legislative days after the 
                        date the joint select committee bill is 
                        introduced in the House of Representatives, to 
                        move to proceed to consider the joint select 
                        committee bill in the House of Representatives.
                            ``(ii) Procedure.--For a motion to proceed 
                        to consider the joint select committee bill--
                                    ``(I) all points of order against 
                                the motion are waived;
                                    ``(II) such a motion shall not be 
                                in order after the House of 
                                Representatives has disposed of a 
                                motion to proceed on the joint select 
                                committee bill;
                                    ``(III) the previous question shall 
                                be considered as ordered on the motion 
                                to its adoption without intervening 
                                motion;
                                    ``(IV) the motion shall not be 
                                debatable; and
                                    ``(V) a motion to reconsider the 
                                vote by which the motion is disposed of 
                                shall not be in order.
                    ``(C) Consideration.--When the House of 
                Representatives proceeds to consideration of the joint 
                select committee bill--
                            ``(i) the joint select committee bill shall 
                        be considered as read;
                            ``(ii) all points of order against the 
                        joint select committee bill and against its 
                        consideration are waived;
                            ``(iii) the previous question shall be 
                        considered as ordered on the joint select 
                        committee bill to its passage without 
                        intervening motion except 10 hours of debate 
                        equally divided and controlled by the proponent 
                        and an opponent;
                            ``(iv) an amendment to the joint select 
                        committee bill shall not be in order; and
                            ``(v) a motion to reconsider the vote on 
                        passage of the joint select committee bill 
                        shall not be in order.
                    ``(D) Vote on passage.--In the House of 
                Representatives, the joint select committee bill shall 
                be agreed to upon a vote of a majority of the Members 
                present and voting, a quorum being present.
            ``(3) Expedited consideration in senate.--
                    ``(A) Placement on calendar.--Upon introduction in 
                the Senate, the joint select committee bill shall be 
                placed immediately on the calendar.
                    ``(B) Proceeding to consideration.--
                            ``(i) In general.--Notwithstanding rule 
                        XXII of the Standing Rules of the Senate, it is 
                        in order, not later than 30 legislative days 
                        after the date the joint select committee bill 
                        is introduced in the Senate (even though a 
                        previous motion to the same effect has been 
                        disagreed to) to move to proceed to the 
                        consideration of the joint select committee 
                        bill.
                            ``(ii) Procedure.--For a motion to proceed 
                        to the consideration of the joint select 
                        committee bill--
                                    ``(I) all points of order against 
                                the motion are waived;
                                    ``(II) the motion is not debatable;
                                    ``(III) the motion is not subject 
                                to a motion to postpone;
                                    ``(IV) a motion to reconsider the 
                                vote by which the motion is agreed to 
                                or disagreed to shall not be in order; 
                                and
                                    ``(V) if the motion is agreed to, 
                                the joint select committee bill shall 
                                remain the unfinished business until 
                                disposed of.
                    ``(C) Floor consideration.--
                            ``(i) In general.--If the Senate proceeds 
                        to consideration of the joint select committee 
                        bill--
                                    ``(I) all points of order against 
                                the joint select committee bill (and 
                                against consideration of the joint 
                                select committee bill) are waived;
                                    ``(II) consideration of the joint 
                                select committee bill, and all 
                                debatable motions and appeals in 
                                connection therewith, shall be limited 
                                to not more than 30 hours, which shall 
                                be divided equally between the majority 
                                and minority leaders or their 
                                designees;
                                    ``(III) a motion further to limit 
                                debate is in order and not debatable;
                                    ``(IV) an amendment to, a motion to 
                                postpone, or a motion to commit the 
                                joint select committee bill is not in 
                                order; and
                                    ``(V) a motion to proceed to the 
                                consideration of other business is not 
                                in order.
                            ``(ii) Vote on passage.--In the Senate--
                                    ``(I) the vote on passage shall 
                                occur immediately following the 
                                conclusion of the consideration of the 
                                joint select committee bill, and a 
                                single quorum call at the conclusion of 
                                the debate if requested in accordance 
                                with the rules of the Senate; and
                                    ``(II) the joint select committee 
                                bill shall be agreed to upon a vote of 
                                a majority of the Members present and 
                                voting, a quorum being present.
                            ``(iii) Rulings of the chair on 
                        procedure.--Appeals from the decisions of the 
                        Chair relating to the application of this 
                        subsection or the rules of the Senate, as the 
                        case may be, to the procedure relating to the 
                        joint select committee bill shall be decided 
                        without debate.
            ``(4) Rules relating to senate and house of 
        representatives.--
                    ``(A) Coordination with action by other house.--If, 
                before the passage by one House of the joint select 
                committee bill of that House, that House receives from 
                the other House the joint select committee bill--
                            ``(i) the joint select committee bill of 
                        the other House shall not be referred to a 
                        committee; and
                            ``(ii) with respect to the joint select 
                        committee bill of the House receiving the 
                        resolution--
                                    ``(I) the procedure in that House 
                                shall be the same as if no joint select 
                                committee bill had been received from 
                                the other House; and
                                    ``(II) the vote on passage shall be 
                                on the joint select committee bill of 
                                the other House.
                    ``(B) Treatment of joint select committee bill of 
                other house.--If one House fails to introduce or 
                consider the joint select committee bill under this 
                subsection, the joint select committee bill of the 
                other House shall be entitled to expedited floor 
                procedures under this subsection.
                    ``(C) Treatment of companion measures.--If, 
                following passage of the joint select committee bill in 
                the Senate, the Senate receives the companion measure 
                from the House of Representatives, the companion 
                measure shall not be debatable.
                    ``(D) Vetoes.--If the President vetoes the joint 
                select committee bill, consideration of a veto message 
                in the Senate under this subsection shall be not more 
                than 10 hours equally divided between the majority and 
                minority leaders or their designees.''.
                                 <all>