Congressional Record, Volume 152 Issue 74 (Monday, June 12, 2006)

[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 74 (Monday, June 12, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5718-S5721]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS

By Mr. SANTORUM:
S. 3490. A bill to direct the Secretary of the Interior to initiate
and complete

[[Page S5719]]

an evaluation of land and water located in northeastern Pennsylvania
for future acquisition and inclusion in a potential Cherry Valley
National Wildlife Refuge, and for other purposes; to the Committee on
Environment and Public Works.
Mr. SANTORUM. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce legislation
requiring the Secretary of the Department of the Interior to conduct a
study evaluating a pristine area in the northeastern part of
Pennsylvania, called Cherry Valley, for its potential designation as a
national wildlife refuge. Known for its unspoiled wetlands and riparian
forests, Cherry Valley provides an important habitat for one of the
largest known populations of the threatened bog turtle, as well as for
a plethora of endangered and rare species. Also, due to its location
along the Kittatinny Ridge Migration Corridor, Cherry Valley is
centrally located along an important migration route for eagles and the
broad-winged hawk.
Recognized as an environmental treasure by local officials and
residents, there is widespread support for Cherry Valley's designation
as a wildlife refuge. Some landowners have, however, expressed private
property concerns with the proposed designation. It is my hope that by
requiring a study, during which the Secretary must consult with
landowners and other interested parties, we can fully understand the
value of the Cherry Valley area, as well as address any concerns
landowners may have.
Representative Paul Kanjorski introduced similar legislation in the
House. I ask for the support of my colleagues in authorizing this study
to determine whether beautiful Cherry Valley should be preserved and
designated a national wildlife refuge.
______

By Mr. VOINOVICH:
S. 3491. A bill to establish a commission to develop legislation
designed to reform tax policy and entitlement benefit programs and to
ensure a sound fiscal future for the United States, and for other
purposes; to the Committee on the Budget.
Mr. VOINOVICH. Mr. President, I rise to speak on the Securing
America's Future Economy Commission Act, which I am introducing today.
I ask unanimous consent that my statement and bill be printed in the
Record.
This legislation stems from the need to address our Nation's current
and future fiscal health. The fact is, we are in dire straits. In the
simplest terms, the Federal Government continues to spend more than it
takes in. In case anyone has forgotten, the deficit for fiscal year
2005 was $318 billion--the third largest deficit in our Nation's
history. If we were to take out the Social Security surplus, the
deficit would be nearly $500 billion. And if we were to use accrual
accounting, the accounting method used by American businesses, the
deficit would be approximately $760 billion.
These deficits only continue to add to our national debt. When I came
to the Senate in 1999, the national debt stood at $5.6 trillion. Since
then, it has increased 50 percent to $8.4 trillion. As a percentage of
Gross Domestic Product, GDP, our national debt has grown from being 58
percent of GDP at the end of 2000 to an estimated 66.1 percent of GDP
by the end of 2006.
In fact, the debt continues to grow so quickly that the House of
Representative's fiscal year 2007 budget resolution raises the Federal
debt ceiling to nearly $10 trillion. This is only a few months after
Congress was forced to raise the debt ceiling.
These ongoing deficits, coupled with the expected tidal wave of
entitlement spending, will soon put our Nation in a very unenviable
position if thoughtful action is not taken. Moreover, the trust funds
for Medicare and Social Security will be exhausted even earlier than
previously thought. According to the most recent trustees' report, the
cost of Social Security and Medicare will grow from nearly 7.4 percent
of the economy today to 12.7 percent by 2030, consuming approximately
70 percent of all Federal revenues, crowding out all other
discretionary spending and some other mandatory programs.
While entitlements are a major component of our Nation's future
fiscal health, it is not the only portion. Just as we must look at how
we must reform our entitlement programs to maintain our nation's
competitiveness, we must also review our arcane Tax Code.
What we should be doing is spending our time on tax reform. We all
know that fundamental tax reform is critical. Just as we know the
entitlement tidal wave is coming, we know that more and more middle
class American families are being swept up in the AMT. So I simply
cannot understand why some of my colleagues want to make so many
provisions of the current Tax Code permanent or add new tax cuts when
we very well may be eliminating precisely the same provisions as part
of fundamental tax reform. No homeowner would remodel their kitchen and
bathroom right before tearing down the house to build a newer and
better one.
Simplifying the code to make it more fair and honest could, by some
estimates, save taxpayers over $265 billion in costs associated with
preparing their taxes. That would be a real tax reduction, and it would
not cost the Treasury one dime. It would be a tax cut that would
guarantee that people are paying their fair share and would bring more
money into the Federal Treasury.

Anyone in the know who is watching us has got to wonder about our
character, our intellectual honesty, our concern about our national
security, our Nation's competitiveness in the global marketplace now
and in the future, and last but not least, our ``don't-give-a-dam''
attitude about the standard of living and quality of life of our
children and grandchildren. We know the long-term fiscal challenges
that are facing our nation. We know that if we continue to move forward
blindly, we will walk off a cliff.
The simple fact is that we can't have it all--we need to set
priorities and make hard choices--otherwise our children will end up
paying for it. Last week I voted against the repeal of the estate tax
and called on Congress to heed Americans' demand for fundamental tax
and entitlement reform. The SAFE Act shows that I am serious about
making this a priority for Congress.
The legislation will establish a commission comprised of 15 voting
members, 3 of which will be appointed by the President, 3 by the Senate
majority leader, 3 by the Senate minority leader, 3 by the Speaker of
the House and 3 by the House minority leader. The Director of the
Congressional Budget Office and the Comptroller General of the United
States will be appointed as nonvoting ex-officio members of the
Commission to lend their expertise.
The Commission will bring together the best minds associated with
budget and economic policies to examine the long-term fiscal challenges
facing the United States and recommend reforms. A minimum of six public
town hall meetings will be held throughout the country within year to
determine the scope of the problem and consider solutions.
At the conclusion of the town meetings, the Commission will present a
report to Congress detailing the fiscal problems facing future
generations as well as a framework of long-term solutions. Within 60
days of the presentation of their report to Congress, the Commission
will transmit to Congress a legislative proposal designed to: address
the imbalance between long-term Federal spending commitments and
projected revenues; increase net national savings to spur domestic
investment and economic growth; and improve the budget process to place
greater emphasis on long-term fiscal issues.
The administration and Congress will each have 120 days to review the
proposal and develop equivalent proposals if they deem necessary.
Congress would then be required to vote on the proposals.
America's fiscal situation is dire. Nothing is off the table when it
comes to ensuring our longterm prosperity and increasing our
competitiveness in the global marketplace. The task is daunting, but
now is the time to act. I am thinking not only about the present, but
about our children and grandchildren and the legacy--or burden--we will
leave them.
There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be
printed in the Record, as follows:

S. 3491

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,

[[Page S5720]]

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Securing America's Future
Economy Commission Act'' or ``SAFE Commission Act''.

SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT.

There is established a commission to be known as the
``Securing America's Future Economy Commission'' (hereinafter
in this Act referred to as the ``Commission'').

SEC. 3. DUTIES OF COMMISSION.

(a) Mandatory Legislation Development.--
(1) Issues to address.--The Commission shall examine the
long-term fiscal challenges facing the United States and
develop legislation designed to address the following issues:
(A) The unsustainable imbalance between long-term Federal
spending commitments and projected revenues.
(B) Increasing net national savings to provide for domestic
investment and economic growth.
(C) Improving the budget process to place greater emphasis
on long-term fiscal issues.
(2) Policy solutions.--Legislation developed to address the
issues described in paragraph (1) may include the following:
(A) Reforms that limit the growth of entitlement spending
to ensure that the programs are fiscally sustainable.
(B) Reforms that strengthen the safety net functions of
entitlement programs.
(C) Reforms that make United States tax laws more efficient
and more conducive to encouraging economic growth.
(D) Incentives to increase private savings.
(E) Automatic stabilizers or triggers to enforce spending
and revenue targets.
(F) Any other reforms designed to address the issues
described in paragraph (1).
(b) Optional Development of Cost Estimate Alternatives.--
The Commission shall by an affirmative vote of 5 members
develop not more than 2 methods for estimating the cost of
legislation as an alternative to the method currently used by
the Congressional Budget Office. Any such alternative method
must be designed to address any shortcomings in the method
currently used with regard to estimating the positive
economic effects of legislation.

SEC. 4. INITIAL TOWN-HALL STYLE PUBLIC HEARINGS.

(a) In General.--The Commission shall hold at least 1 town-
hall style public hearing within each Federal reserve
district, and shall, to the extent feasible, ensure that
there is broad public participation in the hearings.
(b) Hearing Format.--During each hearing, the Commission
shall present to the public, and generate comments and
suggestions regarding, the issues described in section 3,
policies designed to address those issues, and tradeoffs
between such policies.

SEC. 5. REPORT.

The Commission shall, not later than 1 year after the date
of enactment of this Act, submit a report to Congress and the
President containing the following:
(1) A detailed description of the long-term fiscal problems
faced by the United States.
(2) A list of policy options for addressing those problems.
(3) A summary of comments and suggestions generated from
the town-hall style public hearings.
(4) A detailed statement of any findings of the Commission
as to public preferences regarding the issues, policies, and
tradeoffs presented in the town-hall style public hearings.
(5) Criteria for the legislative proposal to be developed
by the Commission.
(6) A detailed description of the other activities of the
Commission.

SEC. 6. LEGISLATIVE PROPOSAL.

(a) In General.--Not later than 60 days after the date the
report is submitted under section 5 and by a vote of \2/3\ of
the members, the Commission shall submit a legislative
proposal to Congress and the President designed to address
the issues described section 3.
(b) Proposal Requirements.--The proposal must, to the
extent feasible, be designed--
(1) to achieve generational equity and long-term economic
stability;
(2) to address the comments and suggestions of the public;
and
(3) to meet the criteria set forth in the Commission
report.
(c) Inclusion of Cost Estimate.--The Commission shall
submit with the proposal--
(1) a long-term CBO cost estimate prepared under section 14
for the proposal; and
(2) if an alternative cost estimate method is developed by
the Commission, a 50-year cost estimate using such method.

SEC. 7. MEMBERSHIP AND MEETINGS.

(a) In General.--The Commission shall be composed of 15
voting members appointed pursuant to paragraph (1) and 2
nonvoting members described in paragraph (2).
(1) Voting members.--The 15 voting members of the
Commission shall be appointed as follows:
(A) The President shall appoint 3 members, one of whom the
President shall appoint as chairperson of the Commission.
(B) The Majority Leader of the Senate shall appoint 3
members.
(C) The Minority Leader of the Senate shall appoint 3
members.
(D) The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall
appoint 3 members.
(E) The Minority Leader of the House of Representatives
shall appoint 3 members.
(2) Nonvoting members.--The Comptroller General of the
United States and the Director of the Congressional Budget
Office shall each be nonvoting members of the Commission and
shall advise and assist at the request of the Commission.
(b) Limitation as to Members of Congress.--Each appointing
authority described in subsection (a)(1) who is a Member of
Congress may appoint not more than 1 Member of Congress to
the Commission.
(c) Date for Original Appointment.--The appointing
authorities described in subsection (a)(1) shall appoint the
initial members of the Commission not later than 30 days
after the date of enactment of this Act.
(d) Terms.--
(1) In general.--The term of each member is for the life of
the Commission.
(2) Vacancies.--A vacancy in the Commission shall be filled
not later than 30 days after the date on which the vacancy
occurs and in the manner in which the original appointment
was made.
(e) Pay and Reimbursement.--
(1) No compensation for members of commission.--Except as
provided in paragraph (2), a member of the Commission may not
receive pay, allowances, or benefits by reason of their
service on the Commission.
(2) Travel expenses.--Each member shall receive travel
expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence under
subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code.
(f) Meetings.--The Commission shall meet upon the call of
the chairperson or a majority of its voting members.
(g) Quorum.--Six voting members of the Commission shall
constitute a quorum, but a lesser number may hold hearings.

SEC. 8. DIRECTOR AND STAFF OF COMMISSION.

(a) Director.--
(1) In general.--Subject to subsection (c) and to the
extent provided in advance in appropriation Acts, the
Commission shall appoint and fix the pay of a director.
(2) Duties.--The director of the Commission shall be
responsible for the administration and coordination of the
duties of the Commission and shall perform other such duties
as the Commission may require.
(b) Staff.--In accordance with rules agreed upon by the
Commission, subject to subsection (c), and to the extent
provided in advance in appropriation Acts, the director may
appoint and fix the pay of additional personnel.
(c) Applicability of Certain Civil Service Laws.--The
director and staff of the Commission may be appointed without
regard to the provisions of title 5, United States Code,
governing appointments in the competitive service, and may be
paid without regard to the provisions of chapter 51 and
subchapter III of chapter 53 of that title relating to
classification and General Schedule pay rates, except that
pay fixed under subsection (a) may not exceed $150,000 per
year and pay fixed under subsection (b) may not exceed a rate
equal to the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay
for level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of
title 5, United States Code.
(d) Detailees.--Any Federal Government employee may be
detailed to the Commission without reimbursement from the
Commission, and such detailee shall retain the rights,
status, and privileges of their regular employment without
interruption.
(e) Experts and Consultants.--
(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), in accordance
with rules agreed upon by the Commission and to the extent
provided in advance in appropriation Acts, the director may
procure the services of experts and consultants under section
3109(b) of title 5, United States Code, but at rates not to
exceed the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay
for level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of
title 5, United States Code.
(2) Exclusion of lobbyists and agents of foreign
governments.--In no case may any individual who is a
registered lobbyist or an agent of a foreign government serve
as an expert or a consultant under this subsection.
(f) Resources.--The Commission shall have reasonable access
to materials, resources, statistical data, and other
information the Commission determines to be necessary to
carry out its duties from the Commissioner of the Social
Security Administration, the Administrator of the Centers for
Medicare & Medicaid Services, the Secretary of the Treasury,
and other agencies and representatives of the executive and
legislative branches of the Federal Government. The
Chairperson shall make requests for such access in writing
when necessary.

SEC. 9. POWERS OF COMMISSION.

(a) Hearings and Evidence.--The Commission may, for the
purpose of carrying out this Act, hold such hearings in
addition to the town-hall style public hearings, sit and act
at such times and places, take such testimony, and receive
such evidence as the Commission considers appropriate. The
Commission may administer oaths or affirmations to witnesses
appearing before it.
(b) Powers of Members and Agents.--Any member or agent of
the Commission may, if authorized by the Commission, take any
action which the Commission is authorized to take under this
section.
(c) Mails.--The Commission may use the United States mails
in the same manner and under the same conditions as other
departments and agencies of the United States.
(d) Administrative Support Services.--Upon the request of
the Commission, the Administrator of General Services shall
provide

[[Page S5721]]

to the Commission, on a reimbursable basis, the
administrative support services necessary for the Commission
to carry out its responsibilities under this Act.
(e) Contract Authority.--To the extent provided in advance
in appropriation Acts, the Commission may enter into
contracts to enable the Commission to discharge its duties
under this Act.
(f) Gifts.--The Commission may accept, use, and dispose of
gifts or donations of services or property.

SEC. 10. TERMINATION.

The Commission shall terminate 60 days after submitting its
legislative proposal.

SEC. 11. ALTERNATIVE LEGISLATIVE PROPOSAL OF THE PRESIDENT.

The President may, not later than 120 days after the
Commission submits its legislative proposal, submit to
Congress an alternative to the legislative proposal submitted
by the Commission.

SEC. 12. ALTERNATIVE LEGISLATIVE PROPOSAL OF THE COMMITTEE ON
THE BUDGET.

The Committee on the Budget of either House may, in
consultation with the relevant committees of their respective
House and not later than 120 days after the Commission
submits its legislative proposal, have published in the
Congressional Record an alternative to the legislative
proposal submitted by the Commission.

SEC. 13. CONSIDERATION OF LEGISLATION.

(a) Introduction.--On the first legislative day after the
Commission submits its legislative proposal, the Speaker of
the House of Representatives and the Majority Leader of the
Senate shall introduce (by request) the legislation submitted
by the Commission.
(b) In the House of Representatives.--
(1) Privileged consideration.--In the House of
Representatives, if a committee to which the legislation has
been referred has not reported the legislation before the
expiration of the 120-day period described in section 12,
then--
(A) that committee shall be discharged from consideration
of the legislation;
(B) the legislation shall be placed on the appropriate
calendar; and
(C) a motion to proceed to the consideration of the
legislation is highly privileged and is not debatable.
(2) Amendments limited.--
(A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph (B), an
amendment to the legislation may not be offered in the House
of Representatives.
(B) Permitted amendments.--(i) Any Member may offer, as an
amendment in the nature of a substitute, the alternative
legislative proposal submitted by the President.
(ii) Any Member may offer, as an amendment in the nature of
a substitute, the legislative proposal submitted by the
Commission.
(iii) The chairman of the House Committee on the Budget may
offer, as an amendment in the nature of a substitute, the
alternative legislative proposal published in the
Congressional Record by the House Committee on the Budget.
(C) Point of order.--
(i) In general.--An amendment offered under subparagraph
(B) is subject to a point of order if--

(I) the amendment is not accompanied by a long-term CBO
cost estimate of the amendment or a long-term revenue
estimate of the amendment by the Joint Committee of Taxation
(including the information described in paragraph (1) and (2)
of section 14(b)); or
(II) the long-term CBO cost estimate of the amendment is
greater than the long-term CBO cost estimate of the
legislative proposal submitted by the Commission.

(ii) Waiver of point of order.--A point of order raised in
accordance with clause (i) may only be waived or suspended in
the House of Representatives by a resolution devoted solely
to the subject of waiving that point of order.
(D) Multiple amendments.--If more than one amendment is
offered under this paragraph, then each amendment shall be
considered separately, and the amendment receiving both a
majority and the highest number of votes shall be the
amendment adopted.
(3) Transmittal to the senate.--If legislation passes the
House pursuant to subsection (b), the Clerk of the House of
Representatives shall cause the legislation to be engrossed,
certified, and transmitted to the Senate within one calendar
day of the day on which the legislation is passed. The
legislation shall be referred to the Senate Committee on the
Budget.
(c) In the Senate.--
(1) Automatic discharge of senate budget committee.--If the
Senate Committee on the Budget has not reported the
legislation before the expiration of the 120-day period
described in section 12, then--
(A) the committee shall be discharged from consideration of
the legislation; and
(B) a motion to proceed to the consideration of the
legislation is highly privileged and is not debatable.
(2) Consideration.--Consideration of such legislation shall
be pursuant to the procedures set forth in section 305 of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974.
(3) Amendments limited.--
(A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph (B), an
amendment to the legislation may not be offered in the
Senate.
(B) Permitted amendments.--(i) Any Member may offer, as an
amendment in the nature of a substitute, the alternative
legislative proposal submitted by the President.
(ii) Any Member may offer, as an amendment in the nature of
a substitute, the legislative proposal submitted by the
Commission.
(iii) The chairman of the Senate Committee on the Budget
may offer, as an amendment in the nature of a substitute, the
alternative legislative proposal published in the
Congressional Record by the Senate Committee on the Budget.
(C) Point of order.--
(i) In general.--An amendment offered under subparagraph
(B) is subject to a point of order if--

(ii) Waiver of point of order.--A point of order raised in
accordance with clause (i) may only be waived or suspended in
the Senate by an affirmative vote of \3/5\ of the Members
duly chosen and sworn.
(D) Multiple amendments.--If more than one amendment is
offered under this paragraph, then each amendment shall be
considered separately, and the amendment receiving both a
majority and the highest number of votes shall be the
amendment adopted.
(d) Application of Congressional Budget Act.--To the extent
that they are relevant and not inconsistent with this Act,
the provisions of title III of the Congressional Budget Act
of 1974 shall apply in the House of Representatives and the
Senate to legislation considered under this section.
(e) Rules of the Senate and the House of Representatives.--
This section is enacted by Congress--
(1) as an exercise of the rulemaking power of the Senate
and the House of Representatives, respectively, and is deemed
to be part of the rules of each House, respectively, but
applicable only with respect to the procedure to be followed
in that House in the case of a bill introduced pursuant to
this section, and it supersedes other rules only to the
extent that it is inconsistent with such rules; and
(2) with full recognition of the constitutional right of
either House to change the rules (so far as they relate to
the procedure of 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.

SEC. 14. LONG-TERM CBO COST ESTIMATE.

(a) Preparation and Submission.--When the Commission, the
President, or the chairman of the Committee on the Budget of
either House submits a written request to the Director of the
Congressional Budget Office for a long-term cost estimate by
the Congressional Budget Office (referred to in this Act as a
``long-term CBO cost estimate'') of legislation proposed
under this Act or an amendment referred to in section
13(b)(2)(B), the Director shall prepare the estimate and have
it published in the Congressional Record as expeditiously as
possible.
(b) Content.--A long-term CBO cost estimate shall include--
(1) an estimate of the cost of each provision of the
legislation or amendment for the first fiscal year it would
take effect and for each of the 50 fiscal years thereafter;
and
(2) a statement of any estimated future costs not reflected
by the estimate described in paragraph (1).

____________________