[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.J. Res. 41 Introduced in House (IH)]

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117th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. J. RES. 41

 To establish a National Committee on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 16, 2021

 Mr. Kinzinger (for himself and Mr. Phillips) submitted the following 
     joint resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Rules

_______________________________________________________________________

                            JOINT RESOLUTION


 
 To establish a National Committee on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform.

    Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United 
States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This joint resolution may be cited as the ``National Committee on 
Fiscal Responsibility and Reform Act of 2021''.

SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF A JOINT SELECT COMMITTEE.

    (a) Establishment.--There is established a joint select committee 
of Congress to be known as the National Committee on Fiscal 
Responsibility and Reform (hereafter known as the ``Committee'').
    (b) Goal.--The goal of the Committee shall be to reduce the deficit 
by at least $3,250,000,000,000 over the period of fiscal years 2021 to 
2031.

SEC. 3. FUNCTIONS OF THE COMMITTEE.

    The functions of the Committee are to--
            (1) investigate policies to improve the fiscal situation in 
        the medium term;
            (2) achieve fiscal sustainability over the long run;
            (3) propose legislation designed to balance the budget, 
        excluding interest payments on the debt, by 2031; and
            (4) issue a final report to the appropriate congressional 
        committees.

SEC. 4. MEMBERSHIP.

    (a) In General.--The Committee shall be composed of 12 members 
appointed pursuant to subsection (b).
    (b) Appointment.--Members of the Committee shall be appointed as 
follows:
            (1) The majority leader of the Senate shall appoint three 
        members from among Members of the Senate.
            (2) The minority leader of the Senate shall appoint three 
        members from among Members of the Senate.
            (3) The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall 
        appoint three members from among Members of the House of 
        Representatives.
            (4) The Speaker, in consultation with the minority leader, 
        of the House of Representatives, shall appoint three members 
        from among Members of the House of Representatives.
    (c) Co-Chairs.--
            (1) In general.--There shall be four Co-Chairs of the 
        Committee. The Co-Chairs shall be appointed not later than 14 
        calendar days after the date of enactment of this joint 
        resolution. The Co-chairs shall be selected by:
                    (A) The majority leader of the Senate shall appoint 
                one Co-Chair from among Members of the Senate.
                    (B) The minority leader of the Senate shall appoint 
                one Co-Chair from among Members of the Senate.
                    (C) The Speaker of the House of Representatives 
                shall appoint one Co-Chair from among Members of the 
                House of Representatives.
                    (D) The minority leader of the House of 
                Representatives shall appoint one Co-Chair from among 
                Members of the House of Representatives.
            (2) Staff director.--The Co-Chairs, acting jointly, shall 
        hire the staff director of the Committee.
    (d) Date.--Members of the Committee shall be appointed not later 
than 14 calendar days after the date of enactment of this joint 
resolution.
    (e) Period of Appointment.--Members shall be appointed for the life 
of the Committee. Any vacancy in the Committee shall not affect its 
powers, but shall be filled not later than 14 calendar days after the 
date on which the vacancy occurs, in the same manner as the original 
designation was made. If a member of the Committee ceases to be a 
Member of the House of Representatives or the Senate, as the case may 
be, the member is no longer a member of the Committee and a vacancy 
shall exist.

SEC. 5. REPORTS.

    (a) Vote on Final Report.--No later than 360 days after the date of 
enactment of this joint resolution, the Committee shall vote on the 
approval of a final report containing a set of recommendations to 
achieve the mission set forth in this resolution.
    (b) Super Majority Requirement.--The issuance of a final report of 
the Committee shall require the approval of not less than 8 of the 12 
members of the Committee.
    (c) Transmission of Report and Legislative Language.--If the report 
and legislative language are approved by the Committee pursuant to 
subsection (b), the Committee shall submit the Committee report and 
legislative language described in section 3 to the President, the Vice 
President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the 
majority and minority leaders of each House of Congress.
    (d) Report and Legislative Language To Be Made Public.--Upon the 
approval or disapproval of the Committee report and legislative 
language pursuant to subsection (b), the Committee shall promptly make 
the full report and legislative language, and a record of the vote, 
available to the public.

SEC. 6. ADMINISTRATION.

    (a) In General.--To enable the Committee to exercise its powers, 
functions, and duties, there are authorized to be disbursed by the 
Senate the actual and necessary expenses of the Committee approved by 
the co-chairs, subject to the rules and regulations of the Senate and 
the House.
    (b) Expenses.--In carrying out its functions, the Committee is 
authorized to incur expenses in the same manner and under the same 
conditions as the Joint Economic Committee is authorized by section 11 
of Public Law 79-304 (15 U.S.C. 1024(d)).
    (c) Quorum.--Eight members of the Committee shall constitute a 
quorum for purposes of voting and issuing a final report. Four members 
of the Committee shall constitute a quorum for conducting a hearing or 
markup.
    (d) Voting.--
            (1) Proxy voting.--Proxy voting shall be allowed on behalf 
        of the members of the Committee pursuant to House and Senate 
        rules.
            (2) Congressional budget office estimates.--The 
        Congressional Budget Office shall provide estimates of the 
        legislation in accordance with sections 308(a) and 201(f) of 
        the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 639(a) and 
        601(f)) (including estimates of the effect of interest payment 
        on the debt). In addition, the Congressional Budget Office 
        shall provide information on the budgetary effect of the 
        legislation beyond the year 2031. The Committee may not vote on 
        any version of the report, recommendations, or legislative 
        language unless such estimates are available for consideration 
        by all members of the Committee at least 48 hours prior to the 
        vote as certified by the Co-Chairs.
    (e) Meetings.--
            (1) Initial meeting.--Not later than 21 calendar days after 
        the date of enactment of this joint resolution, the Committee 
        shall hold its first meeting. The Committee may adopt its rules 
        of procedure at this time, which shall be published in the 
        Congressional Record.
            (2) Agenda.--The Co-Chairs of the Committee shall provide 
        an agenda to its members not less than 48 hours in advance of 
        any meeting.
    (f) Hearings.--
            (1) In general.--The Committee may, for the purpose of 
        carrying out this section, hold such hearings, sit and act at 
        such times and places, require attendance of witnesses and 
        production of books, papers, and documents, take such 
        testimony, receive such evidence, and administer such oaths as 
        the Committee considers advisable.
            (2) Hearing procedures and responsibilities of co-chairs.--
                    (A) Announcement.--The Co-Chairs of the Committee 
                shall make a public announcement of the date, place, 
                time, and subject matter of any hearing to be 
                conducted, not less than 7 days in advance of such 
                hearing, unless all four Co-Chairs determine that there 
                is good cause to begin such hearing at an earlier date.
                    (B) Written statement.--A witness appearing before 
                the Committee shall file a written statement of 
                proposed testimony at least 24 hours before the 
                appearance of the witness, unless the requirement is 
                waived by the Co-Chairs, following their determination 
                that there is good cause for failure to comply with 
                such requirement.
    (g) Technical Assistance.--Upon written request of the four Co-
Chairs, a Federal agency shall provide technical assistance to the 
Committee in order for the Committee to carry out its duties.

SEC. 7. STAFF OF THE COMMITTEE.

    (a) In General.--The Co-Chairs of the Committee may jointly appoint 
and fix the compensation of staff as they deem necessary, within the 
guidelines for employees of the Senate and following all applicable 
rules and employment requirements of the Senate.
    (b) Ethical Standards.--Members on the Committee who serve in the 
House of Representatives shall be governed by the ethics rules and 
requirements of the House. Members of the Senate who serve on the 
Committee and staff of the Committee shall comply with the ethics rules 
of the Senate.

SEC. 8. EXPEDITED CONSIDERATION OF COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS.

    (a) In General.--If approved by the majority required by section 
5(b), the proposed legislative language submitted pursuant to section 3 
shall be introduced in the Senate (by request) on the next day on which 
the Senate is in session by the majority leader of the Senate or by a 
Member of the Senate designated by the majority leader of the Senate 
and shall be introduced in the House of Representatives (by request) on 
the next legislative day by the majority leader of the House or by a 
Member of the House designated by the majority leader of the House.
    (b) Consideration in the House of Representatives.--
            (1) Referral and reporting.--Any committee of the House of 
        Representatives to which the joint committee bill is referred 
        shall report it to the House without amendment not later than 7 
        session days. If a committee fails to report the joint 
        committee bill within that period, it shall be in order to move 
        that the House discharge the committee from further 
        consideration of the bill. Such a motion shall not be in order 
        after the last committee authorized to consider the bill 
        reports it to the House or after the House has disposed of a 
        motion to discharge the bill. The previous question shall be 
        considered as ordered on the motion to its adoption without 
        intervening motion except 20 minutes of debate equally divided 
        and controlled by the proponent and an opponent. If such a 
        motion is adopted, House shall proceed immediately to consider 
        the bill in accordance with this subsection. A motion to 
        reconsider the vote by which the motion is disposed of shall 
        not be in order.
            (2) Proceeding to consideration.--After the last committee 
        authorized to consider a joint committee bill reports it to the 
        House or has been discharged (other than by motion) from its 
        consideration, it shall be in order to move to proceed to 
        consider the joint committee bill in the House. Such a motion 
        shall not be in order after the House has disposed of a motion 
        to proceed with respect to the joint committee bill. The 
        previous question shall be considered as ordered on the motion 
        to its adoption without intervening motion. A motion to 
        reconsider the vote by which the motion is disposed of shall 
        not be in order.
            (3) Consideration.--The joint committee bill shall be 
        considered as read. All points of order against the joint 
        committee bill and against its consideration are waived. The 
        previous question shall be considered as ordered on the joint 
        committee bill to its passage without intervening motion except 
        2 hours of debate equally divided and controlled by the 
        proponent and an opponent and one motion to limit debate on the 
        joint committee bill. A motion to reconsider the vote on 
        passage of the joint committee bill shall not be in order.
            (4) Vote on passage.--The vote on passage of the joint 
        committee bill shall occur not later than 7 session days after 
        being reported.
    (c) Expedited Procedure in the Senate.--
            (1) Committee consideration.--A joint committee bill 
        introduced in the Senate under subsection (a) shall be referred 
        to the committee or committees of jurisdiction, which 
        committees shall report the bill without any revision and with 
        a favorable recommendation, an unfavorable recommendation, or 
        without recommendation, not later than 7 session days. 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) Motion to proceed.--Notwithstanding Rule XXII of the 
        Standing Rules of the Senate, it is in order, not later than 2 
        days of session after the date on which a joint committee bill 
        is reported or on which Committee(s) are discharged from their 
        consideration of the bill, for the majority leader of the 
        Senate or the majority leader's designee to move to proceed to 
        the consideration of the joint committee bill. It shall also be 
        in order for any Member of the Senate to move to proceed to the 
        consideration of the joint committee bill at any time after the 
        conclusion of such 2-day period. All points of order against 
        the motion to proceed to the joint committee bill are waived. 
        The motion to proceed is not debatable. The motion is not 
        subject to a motion to postpone. A motion to reconsider the 
        vote by which the motion is agreed to or disagreed to shall not 
        be in order. If a motion to proceed to the consideration of the 
        joint committee bill is agreed to, the joint committee bill 
        shall remain the unfinished business until disposed of.
            (3) Consideration.--All points of order against the joint 
        committee bill and against consideration of the joint committee 
        bill are waived. Consideration of the joint committee bill and 
        of all debatable motions and appeals in connection therewith 
        shall not exceed a total of 30 hours which shall be divided 
        equally between the majority and minority leaders or their 
        designees. A motion further to limit debate on the joint 
        committee bill is in order, shall require an affirmative vote 
        of three-fifths of the Members duly chosen and sworn, 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 joint committee bill, including time 
        used for quorum calls and voting, shall be counted against the 
        total 30 hours of consideration.
            (4) No amendments.--An amendment to the joint committee 
        bill, or a motion to postpone, or a motion to proceed to the 
        consideration of other business, or a motion to recommit the 
        joint committee bill, is not in order.
            (5) Vote on passage.--If the Senate has voted to proceed to 
        the joint committee bill, the vote on passage of the joint 
        committee bill shall occur immediately following the conclusion 
        of the debate on a joint committee bill, and a single quorum 
        call at the conclusion of the debate if requested. The vote on 
        passage of the committee bill shall occur not later than 7 
        session days.
            (6) Rulings of the chair on procedure.--Appeals from the 
        decisions of the Chair relating to the application of the rules 
        of the Senate, as the case may be, to the procedure relating to 
        a joint committee bill shall be decided without debate.
    (d) Amendment.--The joint committee bill shall not be subject to 
amendment in either the House of Representatives or the Senate.
    (e) Consideration by the Other House.--
            (1) In general.--If, before passing the Committee, one 
        House receives from the other a joint committee bill--
                    (A) the joint committee bill of the other House not 
                be referred to a committee; and
                    (B) the procedure in the receiving House shall be 
                the same as if no joint committee bill had been 
                received from the other House until the vote on 
                passage, when the joint committee bill received from 
                the other House shall supplant the joint committee bill 
                of the receiving House.
            (2) Revenue measure.--This subsection shall not apply to 
        the House of Representatives if the joint committee bill 
        received from the Senate is a revenue measure.
    (f) Rules To Coordinate Action With Other House.--
            (1) Treatment of joint committee bill of other house.--If 
        the Senate fails to introduce or consider a joint committee 
        bill under this section, the joint committee bill of the House 
        shall be entitled to expedited floor procedures under this 
        section.
            (2) Treatment of companion measures in the senate.--If 
        following passage of the joint committee bill in the Senate, 
        the Senate then receives the joint committee bill from the 
        House of Representatives, the House-passed joint committee bill 
        shall not be debatable. The vote on passage of the joint 
        committee bill in the Senate shall be considered to be the vote 
        on passage of the joint committee bill received from the House 
        of Representatives.
            (3) Vetoes.--If the President vetoes the joint committee 
        bill, debate on a veto message in the Senate under this section 
        shall be 1 hour equally divided between the majority and 
        minority leaders or their designees.
    (g) Loss of Privilege.--The provisions of this section shall cease 
to apply to the joint committee bill if--
            (1) the Committee fails to vote on the report or proposed 
        legislative language required under section 3 not later than 
        390 days after the date of enactment of this joint resolution; 
        or
            (2) the joint committee bill does not pass both Houses not 
        later than 180 days.

SEC. 9. TERMINATION.

    The Committee shall terminate 30 days after submitting its final 
report.

SEC. 10. DEFINITION.

    In this Act, the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' 
means--
            (1) the Committees on Appropriations, Ways and Means, 
        Energy and Commerce, and Budget of the House of 
        Representatives; and
            (2) the Committees on Appropriations, Finance, Commerce, 
        Science, and Transportation, and Budget of the Senate.
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