[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 75 (Tuesday, May 8, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H4568-H4592]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ON THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2008
Mr. SPRATT. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 370, I call up
the Senate Concurrent Resolution (S. Con. Res. 21) setting forth the
congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year
2008 and including the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years
2007 and 2009 through 2012, and ask for its immediate consideration.
The Clerk read the title of the Senate concurrent resolution.
The text of the Senate concurrent resolution is as follows:
S. Con. Res. 21
Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives
concurring),
SECTION 1. CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ON THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL
YEAR 2008.
(a) Declaration.--The Congress declares that this
resolution is the concurrent resolution on the budget for
fiscal year 2008 and that the appropriate budgetary levels
for fiscal years 2007 and 2009 through 2012 are set forth.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this
concurrent resolution is as follows:
Sec. 1. Concurrent Resolution on the Budget for Fiscal Year 2008.
TITLE I--RECOMMENDED LEVELS AND AMOUNTS
Sec. 101. Recommended levels and amounts.
Sec. 102. Social Security.
Sec. 103. Major functional categories.
TITLE II--BUDGET PROCESS
Sec. 201. Pay-as-you-go point of order in the Senate.
Sec. 202. Point of order against reconciliation legislation that would
increase the deficit or reduce a surplus.
Sec. 203. Point of order against legislation increasing long-term
deficits.
Sec. 204. Emergency legislation.
Sec. 205. Extension of enforcement of budgetary points of order.
Sec. 206. Point of order against advance appropriations.
Sec. 207. Discretionary spending limits.
Sec. 208. Application of previous allocations in the Senate.
Sec. 209. Point of order to Save Social Security First.
Sec. 210. Point of order against legislation that raises income tax
rates.
Sec. 211. Circuit breaker to protect Social Security.
Sec. 212. Point of order--20% limit on new direct spending in
reconciliation legislation.
Sec. 213. Point of order against legislation that raises income tax
rates for small businesses, family farms, or family
ranches.
Sec. 214. Point of order against provisions of appropriations
legislation that constitutes changes in mandatory
programs with net costs.
Sec. 215. Disclosure of interest costs.
TITLE III--RESERVE FUNDS AND ADJUSTMENTS
Sec. 301. Deficit-neutral reserve fund for SCHIP legislation.
Sec. 302. Deficit-neutral reserve fund for care of wounded service
members.
Sec. 303. Deficit-neutral reserve fund for tax relief.
Sec. 304. Deficit-neutral reserve fund for comparative effectiveness
research.
Sec. 305. Deficit-neutral reserve fund for higher education.
Sec. 306. Deficit-neutral reserve fund for the Farm Bill.
Sec. 307. Deficit-neutral reserve fund for energy legislation.
Sec. 308. Deficit-neutral reserve fund for Medicare.
Sec. 309. Deficit-neutral reserve fund for small business health
insurance.
Sec. 310. Deficit-neutral reserve fund for county payments for Secure
Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of
2000 reauthorization.
Sec. 311. Deficit-neutral reserve fund for terrorism risk insurance
reauthorization.
Sec. 312. Deficit-neutral reserve fund for affordable housing.
Sec. 313. Deficit-neutral reserve fund for receipts from Bonneville
Power Administration.
Sec. 314. Deficit-neutral reserve fund for Indian claims settlement.
Sec. 315. Deficit-neutral reserve fund for Food and Drug
Administration.
Sec. 316. Deficit-neutral reserve fund for health care reform.
Sec. 317. Deficit-neutral reserve fund for enhancement of veterans'
benefits.
Sec. 318. Deficit-neutral reserve fund for long-term care.
Sec. 319. Deficit-neutral reserve fund for health information
technology.
Sec. 320. Deficit-neutral reserve fund for child care.
Sec. 321. Deficit-neutral reserve fund for comprehensive immigration
reform.
Sec. 322. Deficit-neutral reserve fund for mental health parity.
Sec. 323. Deficit-neutral reserve fund for preschool opportunities.
Sec. 324. Deficit-neutral reserve fund for the safe importation of FDA-
approved prescription drugs.
Sec. 325. Application and effect of changes in allocations and
aggregates.
Sec. 326. Adjustments to reflect changes in concepts and definitions.
Sec. 327. Exercise of rulemaking powers.
Sec. 328. Deficit-neutral reserve fund for expansion of above-the-line
deduction for teacher classroom supplies.
Sec. 329. Adjustment for Smithsonian Institution salaries and expenses.
Sec. 330. Deficit-reduction reserve fund for reduction of improper
payments.
Sec. 331. Deficit-neutral reserve fund for extension of the deduction
for State and local sales taxes.
Sec. 332. Deficit-neutral reserve fund for extension of certain energy
tax incentives.
Sec. 333. Reserve fund to provide additional training for physicians
and attract more physicians in States that face a
shortage of physicians in training.
Sec. 334. Deficit-neutral reserve fund for repeal of the 1993 increase
in the income tax on Social Security Benefits.
Sec. 335. Sense of Congress on the State Criminal Alien Assistance
Program.
Sec. 336. Deficit-neutral reserve fund for eliminating military
retirement and disability offset.
Sec. 337. Deficit-neutral reserve for asbestos reform legislation.
Sec. 338. Deficit-neutral reserve fund for manufacturing initiatives.
Sec. 339. Deficit-reduction reserve fund for increased use of recovery
audits.
Sec. 340. Deficit-neutral reserve fund for a delay in the
implementation of a proposed rule relating to the
Federal-State Financial Partnerships under Medicaid and
SCHIP.
Sec. 341. Reserve fund to improve the health care system.
Sec. 342. Reserve fund to improve Medicare hospital payment accuracy.
Sec. 343. Deficit-neutral reserve fund to improve health insurance.
TITLE I--RECOMMENDED LEVELS AND AMOUNTS
SEC. 101. RECOMMENDED LEVELS AND AMOUNTS.
The following budgetary levels are appropriate for each of
fiscal years 2007 through 2012:
(1) Federal revenues.--For purposes of the enforcement of
this resolution:
(A) The recommended levels of Federal revenues are as
follows:
Fiscal year 2007: $1,900,706,000,000.
Fiscal year 2008: $2,008,975,000,000.
Fiscal year 2009: $2,122,544,000,000.
Fiscal year 2010: $2,221,229,000,000.
Fiscal year 2011: $2,357,776,000,000.
Fiscal year 2012: $2,426,691,000,000.
(B) The amounts by which the aggregate levels of Federal
revenues should be changed are as follows:
Fiscal year 2007: -$4,000,000,000.
Fiscal year 2008: -$41,821,000,000.
Fiscal year 2009: $15,618,000,000.
Fiscal year 2010: $57,508,000,000.
Fiscal year 2011: -$36,774,000,000.
Fiscal year 2012: -$170,405,000,000.
(2) New budget authority.--For purposes of the enforcement
of this resolution, the appropriate levels of total new
budget authority are as follows:
Fiscal year 2007: $2,364,566,000,000.
Fiscal year 2008: $2,490,185,000,000.
Fiscal year 2009: $2,506,314,000,000.
Fiscal year 2010: $2,555,623,000,000.
Fiscal year 2011: $2,669,264,000,000.
Fiscal year 2012: $2,696,288,000,000.
(3) Budget outlays.--For purposes of the enforcement of
this resolution, the appropriate levels of total budget
outlays are as follows:
Fiscal year 2007: $2,298,846,000,000.
Fiscal year 2008: $2,460,251,000,000.
Fiscal year 2009: $2,555,575,000,000.
Fiscal year 2010: $2,587,173,000,000.
Fiscal year 2011: $2,675,133,000,000.
Fiscal year 2012: $2,682,375,000,000.
(4) Deficits.--For purposes of the enforcement of this
resolution, the amounts of the deficits are as follows:
Fiscal year 2007: $398,140,000,000.
Fiscal year 2008: $451,276,000,000.
Fiscal year 2009: $433,031,000,000.
Fiscal year 2010: $365,944,000,000.
Fiscal year 2011: $317,357,000,000.
Fiscal year 2012: $255,684,000,000.
(5) Public debt.--The appropriate levels of the public debt
are as follows:
Fiscal year 2007: $8,960,830,000,000.
Fiscal year 2008: $9,529,811,000,000.
Fiscal year 2009: $10,079,488,000,000.
Fiscal year 2010: $10,562,973,000,000.
Fiscal year 2011: $10,993,669,000,000.
Fiscal year 2012: $11,375,583,000,000.
(6) Debt held by the public.--The appropriate levels of
debt held by the public are as follows:
[[Page H4569]]
Fiscal year 2007: $5,045,226,000,000.
Fiscal year 2008: $5,308,213,000,000.
Fiscal year 2009: $5,537,687,000,000.
Fiscal year 2010: $5,686,479,000,000.
Fiscal year 2011: $5,769,579,000,000.
Fiscal year 2012: $5,779,399,000,000.
SEC. 102. SOCIAL SECURITY.
(a) Social Security Revenues.--The amounts of revenues of
the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and
the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund are as follows:
Fiscal year 2007: $637,586,000,000.
Fiscal year 2008: $668,998,000,000.
Fiscal year 2009: $702,851,000,000.
Fiscal year 2010: $737,589,000,000.
Fiscal year 2011: $772,605,000,000.
Fiscal year 2012: $807,928,000,000.
(b) Social Security Outlays.--The amounts of outlays of the
Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the
Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund are as follows:
Fiscal year 2007: $441,676,000,000.
Fiscal year 2008: $460,224,000,000.
Fiscal year 2009: $478,578,000,000.
Fiscal year 2010: $499,655,000,000.
Fiscal year 2011: $520,743,000,000.
Fiscal year 2012: $546,082,000,000.
(c) Social Security Administrative Expenses.--In the
Senate, the amounts of new budget authority and budget
outlays of the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust
Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund for
administrative expenses are as follows:
Fiscal year 2007:
(A) New budget authority, $4,692,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $4,727,000,000.
Fiscal year 2008:
(A) New budget authority, $5,130,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $5,105,000,000.
Fiscal year 2009:
(A) New budget authority, $5,284,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $5,244,000,000.
Fiscal year 2010:
(A) New budget authority, $5,444,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $5,417,000,000.
Fiscal year 2011:
(A) New budget authority, $5,612,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $5,583,000,000.
Fiscal year 2012:
(A) New budget authority, $5,783,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $5,753,000,000.
SEC. 103. MAJOR FUNCTIONAL CATEGORIES.
The Congress determines and declares that the appropriate
levels of new budget authority and outlays for fiscal years
2007 through 2012 for each major functional category are:
(1) National Defense (050):
Fiscal year 2007:
(A) New budget authority, $619,363,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $560,462,000,000.
Fiscal year 2008:
(A) New budget authority, $648,820,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $617,842,000,000.
Fiscal year 2009:
(A) New budget authority, $584,775,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $626,962,000,000.
Fiscal year 2010:
(A) New budget authority, $545,251,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $572,856,000,000.
Fiscal year 2011:
(A) New budget authority, $551,054,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $558,381,000,000.
Fiscal year 2012:
(A) New budget authority, $559,899,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $551,763,000,000.
(2) International Affairs (150):
Fiscal year 2007:
(A) New budget authority, $34,790,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $32,015,000,000.
Fiscal year 2008:
(A) New budget authority, $39,214,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $36,944,400,000.
Fiscal year 2009:
(A) New budget authority, $34,555,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $35,101,600,000.
Fiscal year 2010:
(A) New budget authority, $34,859,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $33,497,400,000.
Fiscal year 2011:
(A) New budget authority, $35,432,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $33,376,600,000.
Fiscal year 2012:
(A) New budget authority, $35,984,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $33,335,000,000.
(3) General Science, Space, and Technology (250):
Fiscal year 2007:
(A) New budget authority, $25,079,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $24,516,000,000.
Fiscal year 2008:
(A) New budget authority, $27,583,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $26,353,000,000.
Fiscal year 2009:
(A) New budget authority, $26,925,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $27,529,000,000.
Fiscal year 2010:
(A) New budget authority, $27,289,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $27,651,000,000.
Fiscal year 2011:
(A) New budget authority, $27,654,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $27,267,000,000.
Fiscal year 2012:
(A) New budget authority, $28,020,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $27,593,000,000.
(4) Energy (270):
Fiscal year 2007:
(A) New budget authority, $2,958,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $1,384,000,000.
Fiscal year 2008:
(A) New budget authority, $3,662,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $1,256,000,000.
Fiscal year 2009:
(A) New budget authority, $3,142,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $1,659,000,000.
Fiscal year 2010:
(A) New budget authority, $3,198,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $1,778,000,000.
Fiscal year 2011:
(A) New budget authority, $3,258,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $1,766,000,000.
Fiscal year 2012:
(A) New budget authority, $3,306,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $2,032,000,000.
(5) Natural Resources and Environment (300):
Fiscal year 2007:
(A) New budget authority, $31,332,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $32,905,000,000.
Fiscal year 2008:
(A) New budget authority, $32,933,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $34,927,000,000.
Fiscal year 2009:
(A) New budget authority, $33,331,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $35,250,000,000.
Fiscal year 2010:
(A) New budget authority, $33,999,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $35,264,000,000.
Fiscal year 2011:
(A) New budget authority, $34,365,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $35,337,000,000.
Fiscal year 2012:
(A) New budget authority, $35,098,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $35,624,000,000.
(6) Agriculture (350):
Fiscal year 2007:
(A) New budget authority, $26,207,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $22,580,000,000.
Fiscal year 2008:
(A) New budget authority, $20,481,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $21,497,000,000.
Fiscal year 2009:
(A) New budget authority, $20,984,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $20,108,000,000.
Fiscal year 2010:
(A) New budget authority, $21,137,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $20,118,000,000.
Fiscal year 2011:
(A) New budget authority, $21,099,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $20,390,000,000.
Fiscal year 2012:
(A) New budget authority, $21,288,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $20,763,000,000.
(7) Commerce and Housing Credit (370):
Fiscal year 2007:
(A) New budget authority, $5,515,000,000.
(B) Outlays, -$3,522,000,000.
Fiscal year 2008:
(A) New budget authority, $8,915,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $1,882,000,000.
Fiscal year 2009:
(A) New budget authority, $8,602,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $159,000,000.
Fiscal year 2010:
(A) New budget authority, $8,566,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $178,000,000.
Fiscal year 2011:
(A) New budget authority, $8,591,000,000.
(B) Outlays, -$27,000,000.
Fiscal year 2012:
(A) New budget authority, $8,772,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $507,000,000.
(8) Transportation (400):
Fiscal year 2007:
(A) New budget authority, $81,282,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $74,739,000,000.
Fiscal year 2008:
(A) New budget authority, $83,872,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $81,383,000,000.
Fiscal year 2009:
(A) New budget authority, $75,700,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $84,032,000,000.
Fiscal year 2010:
(A) New budget authority, $76,253,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $85,893,000,000.
Fiscal year 2011:
(A) New budget authority, $76,887,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $86,307,000,000.
Fiscal year 2012:
(A) New budget authority, $77,476,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $87,721,000,000.
(9) Community and Regional Development (450):
Fiscal year 2007:
(A) New budget authority, $19,117,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $28,281,000,000.
Fiscal year 2008:
(A) New budget authority, $15,415,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $22,461,500,000.
Fiscal year 2009:
(A) New budget authority, $13,561,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $21,264,000,000.
Fiscal year 2010:
(A) New budget authority, $13,742,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $20,059,000,000.
Fiscal year 2011:
(A) New budget authority, $13,921,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $18,076,000,000.
Fiscal year 2012:
(A) New budget authority, $14,098,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $15,084,000,000.
(10) Education, Training, Employment, and Social Services
(500):
Fiscal year 2007:
(A) New budget authority, $92,780,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $92,224,000,000.
Fiscal year 2008:
(A) New budget authority, $93,889,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $90,399,000,000.
Fiscal year 2009:
(A) New budget authority, $97,592,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $93,948,000,000.
Fiscal year 2010:
(A) New budget authority, $99,366,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $96,896,000,000.
Fiscal year 2011:
(A) New budget authority, $99,650,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $98,473,000,000.
Fiscal year 2012:
(A) New budget authority, $100,104,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $98,307,000,000.
(11) Health (550):
Fiscal year 2007:
(A) New budget authority, $268,340,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $268,645,000,000.
Fiscal year 2008:
(A) New budget authority, $291,266,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $290,234,000,000.
Fiscal year 2009:
(A) New budget authority, $310,068,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $308,329,000,000.
[[Page H4570]]
Fiscal year 2010:
(A) New budget authority, $333,219,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $333,355,000,000.
Fiscal year 2011:
(A) New budget authority, $356,057,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $355,356,000,000.
Fiscal year 2012:
(A) New budget authority, $379,814,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $379,151,000,000.
(12) Medicare (570):
Fiscal year 2007:
(A) New budget authority, $365,152,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $370,180,000,000.
Fiscal year 2008:
(A) New budget authority, $389,969,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $390,035,000,000.
Fiscal year 2009:
(A) New budget authority, $414,779,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $414,440,000,000.
Fiscal year 2010:
(A) New budget authority, $439,862,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $440,092,000,000.
Fiscal year 2011:
(A) New budget authority, $484,792,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $484,811,000,000.
Fiscal year 2012:
(A) New budget authority, $481,008,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $480,632,000,000.
(13) Income Security (600):
Fiscal year 2007:
(A) New budget authority, $360,365,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $364,204,000,000.
Fiscal year 2008:
(A) New budget authority, $379,759,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $383,609,000,000.
Fiscal year 2009:
(A) New budget authority, $390,801,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $393,118,000,000.
Fiscal year 2010:
(A) New budget authority, $400,706,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $401,774,000,000.
Fiscal year 2011:
(A) New budget authority, $415,851,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $415,874,000,000.
Fiscal year 2012:
(A) New budget authority, $401,275,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $400,684,000,000.
(14) Social Security (650):
Fiscal year 2007:
(A) New budget authority, $19,089,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $19,089,000,000.
Fiscal year 2008:
(A) New budget authority, $19,644,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $19,644,000,000.
Fiscal year 2009:
(A) New budget authority, $21,518,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $21,518,000,000.
Fiscal year 2010:
(A) New budget authority, $23,701,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $23,701,000,000.
Fiscal year 2011:
(A) New budget authority, $27,009,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $27,009,000,000.
Fiscal year 2012:
(A) New budget authority, $29,898,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $29,898,000,000.
(15) Veterans Benefits and Services (700):
Fiscal year 2007:
(A) New budget authority, $73,896,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $72,342,000,000.
Fiscal year 2008:
(A) New budget authority, $85,262,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $84,424,000,000.
Fiscal year 2009:
(A) New budget authority, $87,372,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $87,943,000,000.
Fiscal year 2010:
(A) New budget authority, $89,559,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $89,210,000,000.
Fiscal year 2011:
(A) New budget authority, $94,707,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $94,314,000,000.
Fiscal year 2012:
(A) New budget authority, $91,513,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $90,957,000,000.
(16) Administration of Justice (750):
Fiscal year 2007:
(A) New budget authority, $45,559,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $44,709,000,000.
Fiscal year 2008:
(A) New budget authority, $48,796,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $47,090,500,000.
Fiscal year 2009:
(A) New budget authority, $47,333,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $48,622,900,000.
Fiscal year 2010:
(A) New budget authority, $48,106,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $48,669,000,000.
Fiscal year 2011:
(A) New budget authority, $48,895,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $48,976,000,000.
Fiscal year 2012:
(A) New budget authority, $49,686,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $49,583,000,000.
(17) General Government (800):
Fiscal year 2007:
(A) New budget authority, $18,196,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $18,577,000,000.
Fiscal year 2008:
(A) New budget authority, $18,758,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $19,118,000,000.
Fiscal year 2009:
(A) New budget authority, $19,214,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $19,313,000,000.
Fiscal year 2010:
(A) New budget authority, $19,657,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $19,573,000,000.
Fiscal year 2011:
(A) New budget authority, $20,222,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $19,987,000,000.
Fiscal year 2012:
(A) New budget authority, $20,725,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $20,606,000,000.
(18) Net Interest (900):
Fiscal year 2007:
(A) New budget authority, $344,475,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $344,475,000,000.
Fiscal year 2008:
(A) New budget authority, $370,425,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $370,425,000,000.
Fiscal year 2009:
(A) New budget authority, $390,393,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $390,393,000,000.
Fiscal year 2010:
(A) New budget authority, $412,002,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $412,002,000,000.
Fiscal year 2011:
(A) New budget authority, $427,476,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $427,476,000,000.
Fiscal year 2012:
(A) New budget authority, $438,455,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $438,455,000,000.
(19) Allowances (920):
Fiscal year 2007:
(A) New budget authority, $785,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $755,000,000.
Fiscal year 2008:
(A) New budget authority,
-$16,724,000,000.
(B) Outlays, -$7,519,400,000.
Fiscal year 2009:
(A) New budget authority,
-$7,296,000,000.
(B) Outlays, -$7,068,500,000.
Fiscal year 2010:
(A) New budget authority,
-$7,390,000,000.
(B) Outlays, -$7,935,400,000.
Fiscal year 2011:
(A) New budget authority,
-$7,481,000,000.
(B) Outlays, -$7,823,600,000.
Fiscal year 2012:
(A) New budget authority,
-$7,574,000,000.
(B) Outlays, -$7,761,000,000.
(20) Undistributed Offsetting Receipts (950):
Fiscal year 2007:
(A) New budget authority,
-$69,714,000,000.
(B) Outlays, -$69,714,000,000.
Fiscal year 2008:
(A) New budget authority,
-$71,754,000,000.
(B) Outlays, -$71,754,000,000.
Fiscal year 2009:
(A) New budget authority,
-$67,035,000,000.
(B) Outlays, -$67,044,000,000.
Fiscal year 2010:
(A) New budget authority,
-$67,458,000,000.
(B) Outlays, -$67,458,000,000.
Fiscal year 2011:
(A) New budget authority,
-$70,175,000,000.
(B) Outlays, -$70,195,000,000.
Fiscal year 2012:
(A) New budget authority,
-$72,557,000,000.
(B) Outlays, -$72,560,000,000.
TITLE II--BUDGET PROCESS
SEC. 201. PAY-AS-YOU-GO POINT OF ORDER IN THE SENATE.
(a) Point of Order.--
(1) In general.--It shall not be in order in the Senate to
consider any direct spending or revenue legislation that
would increase the on-budget deficit or cause an on-budget
deficit for any 1 of 4 applicable time periods as measured in
paragraphs (5) and (6).
(2) Applicable time periods.--For purposes of this
subsection, the term ``applicable time period'' means any 1
of the 4 following periods:
(A) The current fiscal year.
(B) The budget year.
(C) The period of the 5 fiscal years following the current
fiscal year.
(D) The period of the 5 fiscal years following the 5 fiscal
years referred to in subparagraph (C).
(3) Direct spending legislation.--For purposes of this
subsection and except as provided in paragraph (4), the term
``direct spending legislation'' means any bill, joint
resolution, amendment, motion, or conference report that
affects direct spending as that term is defined by, and
interpreted for purposes of, the Balanced Budget and
Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.
(4) Exclusion.--For purposes of this subsection, the terms
``direct spending legislation'' and ``revenue legislation''
do not include--
(A) any concurrent resolution on the budget; or
(B) any provision of legislation that affects the full
funding of, and continuation of, the deposit insurance
guarantee commitment in effect on the date of enactment of
the Budget Enforcement Act of 1990.
(5) Baseline.--Estimates prepared pursuant to this
subsection shall--
(A) use the baseline surplus or deficit used for the most
recently adopted concurrent resolution on the budget; and
(B) be calculated under the requirements of subsections (b)
through (d) of section 257 of the Balanced Budget and
Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 for fiscal years beyond
those covered by that concurrent resolution on the budget.
(6) Prior surplus.--If direct spending or revenue
legislation increases the on-budget deficit or causes an on-
budget deficit when taken individually, it must also increase
the on-budget deficit or cause an on-budget deficit when
taken together with all direct spending and revenue
legislation enacted since the beginning of the calendar year
not accounted for in the baseline under paragraph (5)(A),
except that direct spending or revenue effects resulting in
net deficit reduction enacted in any bill pursuant to a
reconciliation instruction since the beginning of that same
calendar year shall never be made available on the pay-as-
you-go ledger and shall be dedicated only for deficit
reduction.
(b) Supermajority Waiver and Appeals.--
[[Page H4571]]
(1) Waiver.--This section may be waived or suspended in the
Senate only by the affirmative vote of three-fifths of the
Members, duly chosen and sworn.
(2) Appeals.--Appeals in the Senate from the decisions of
the Chair relating to any provision of this section shall be
limited to 1 hour, to be equally divided between, and
controlled by, the appellant and the manager of the bill or
joint resolution, as the case may be. An affirmative vote of
three-fifths of the Members of the Senate, duly chosen and
sworn, shall be required to sustain an appeal of the ruling
of the Chair on a point of order raised under this section.
(c) Determination of Budget Levels.--For purposes of this
section, the levels of new budget authority, outlays, and
revenues for a fiscal year shall be determined on the basis
of estimates made by the Senate Committee on the Budget.
(d) Sunset.--This section shall expire on September 30,
2017.
(e) Repeal.--In the Senate, section 505 of H. Con. Res. 95
(108th Congress), the fiscal year 2004 concurrent resolution
on the budget, shall no longer apply.
SEC. 202. POINT OF ORDER AGAINST RECONCILIATION LEGISLATION
THAT WOULD INCREASE THE DEFICIT OR REDUCE A
SURPLUS.
(a) In General.--It shall not be in order in the Senate to
consider any reconciliation bill, resolution, amendment,
amendment between Houses, motion, or conference report
pursuant to section 310 of the Congressional Budget Act of
1974 that would cause or increase a deficit or reduce a
surplus in the current fiscal year, the budget year, the
period of the first 5 fiscal years following the current
fiscal year, or the period of the second 5 fiscal years
following the current fiscal year.
(b) Supermajority Waiver and Appeal.--
(1) Waiver.--This section may be waived or suspended in the
Senate only by an affirmative vote of three-fifths of the
Members, duly chosen and sworn.
(2) Appeal.--An affirmative vote of three-fifths of the
Members of the Senate, duly chosen and sworn, shall be
required in the Senate to sustain an appeal of the ruling of
the Chair on a point of order raised under this section.
SEC. 203. POINT OF ORDER AGAINST LEGISLATION INCREASING LONG-
TERM DEFICITS.
(a) Congressional Budget Office Analysis of Proposals.--The
Director of the Congressional Budget Office shall, to the
extent practicable, prepare for each bill and joint
resolution reported from committee (except measures within
the jurisdiction of the Committee on Appropriations), and
amendments thereto and conference reports thereon, an
estimate of whether the measure would cause, relative to
current law, a net increase in deficits in excess of
$5,000,000,000 in any of the four 10-year periods beginning
in fiscal year 2018 through fiscal year 2057.
(b) Point of Order.--In the Senate, it shall not be in
order to consider any bill, joint resolution, amendment,
motion, or conference report that would cause a net increase
in deficits in excess of $5,000,000,000 in any of the four
10-year periods beginning in 2018 through 2057.
(c) Supermajority Waiver and Appeal.--
(1) Waiver.--This section may be waived or suspended only
by the affirmative vote of three-fifths of the Members, duly
chosen and sworn.
(2) Appeal.--An affirmative vote of three-fifths of the
Members, duly chosen and sworn, shall be required to sustain
an appeal of the ruling of the Chair on a point of order
raised under this section.
(d) Determinations of Budget Levels.--For purposes of this
section, the levels of net deficit increases shall be
determined on the basis of estimates provided by the
Committee on the Budget of the Senate.
(e) Repeal.--In the Senate, section 407 of H. Con. Res. 95
(109th Congress), the concurrent resolution on the budget for
fiscal year 2006, shall no longer apply.
(f) Sunset.--This section shall expire on September 30,
2017.
SEC. 204. EMERGENCY LEGISLATION.
(a) Authority to Designate.--With respect to a provision of
direct spending or receipts legislation or appropriations for
discretionary accounts that the Congress designates as an
emergency requirement in such measure, the amounts of new
budget authority, outlays, and receipts in all fiscal years
resulting from that provision shall be treated as an
emergency requirement for the purpose of this section, except
that the authority to designate shall not apply to funding
for spinach producers on a supplemental appropriations bill
pursuant to subsection (f)(1) that is designated to
supplement funding for ongoing combat operations.
(b) Exemption of Emergency Provisions.--Any new budget
authority, outlays, and receipts resulting from any provision
designated as an emergency requirement, pursuant to this
section, in any bill, joint resolution, amendment, or
conference report shall not count for purposes of sections
302 and 311 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 and
sections 201 and 207 of this resolution (relating to pay-as-
you-go in the Senate and discretionary spending limits).
(c) Designations.--If a provision of legislation is
designated as an emergency requirement under this section,
the committee report and any statement of managers
accompanying that legislation shall include an explanation of
the manner in which the provision meets the criteria in
subsection (f).
(d) Definitions.--In this section, the terms ``direct
spending'', ``receipts'', and ``appropriations for
discretionary accounts'' means any provision of a bill, joint
resolution, amendment, motion, or conference report that
affects direct spending, receipts, or appropriations as those
terms have been defined and interpreted for purposes of the
Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.
(e) Point of Order.--
(1) In general.--When the Senate is considering a bill,
resolution, amendment, motion, or conference report, if a
point of order is made by a Senator against an emergency
designation in that measure, that provision making such a
designation shall be stricken from the measure and may not be
offered as an amendment from the floor.
(2) Supermajority waiver and appeals.--
(A) Waiver.--Paragraph (1) may be waived or suspended in
the Senate only by an affirmative vote of three-fifths of the
Members, duly chosen and sworn.
(B) Appeals.--Appeals in the Senate from the decisions of
the Chair relating to any provision of this subsection shall
be limited to 1 hour, to be equally divided between, and
controlled by, the appellant and the manager of the bill or
joint resolution, as the case may be. An affirmative vote of
three-fifths of the Members of the Senate, duly chosen and
sworn, shall be required to sustain an appeal of the ruling
of the Chair on a point of order raised under this
subsection.
(3) Definition of an emergency designation.--For purposes
of paragraph (1), a provision shall be considered an
emergency designation if it designates any item as an
emergency requirement pursuant to this subsection.
(4) Form of the point of order.--A point of order under
paragraph (1) may be raised by a Senator as provided in
section 313(e) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974.
(5) Conference reports.--When the Senate is considering a
conference report on, or an amendment between the Houses in
relation to, a bill, upon a point of order being made by any
Senator pursuant to this section, and such point of order
being sustained, such material contained in such conference
report shall be deemed stricken, and the Senate shall proceed
to consider the question of whether the Senate shall recede
from its amendment and concur with a further amendment, or
concur in the House amendment with a further amendment, as
the case may be, which further amendment shall consist of
only that portion of the conference report or House
amendment, as the case may be, not so stricken. Any such
motion in the Senate shall be debatable. In any case in which
such point of order is sustained against a conference report
(or Senate amendment derived from such conference report by
operation of this subsection), no further amendment shall be
in order.
(f) Criteria.--
(1) In general.--For purposes of this section, any
provision is an emergency requirement if the situation
addressed by such provision is--
(A) necessary, essential, or vital (not merely useful or
beneficial);
(B) sudden, quickly coming into being, and not building up
over time;
(C) an urgent, pressing, and compelling need requiring
immediate action;
(D) subject to paragraph (2), unforeseen, unpredictable,
and unanticipated; and
(E) not permanent, temporary in nature.
(2) Unforeseen.--An emergency that is part of an aggregate
level of anticipated emergencies, particularly when normally
estimated in advance, is not unforeseen.
(g) Repeal.--In the Senate, section 402 of H. Con. Res. 95
(109th Congress), the concurrent resolution on the budget for
fiscal year 2006, shall no longer apply.
SEC. 205. EXTENSION OF ENFORCEMENT OF BUDGETARY POINTS OF
ORDER.
Notwithstanding any provision of the Congressional Budget
Act of 1974 and section 403 of H. Con. Res. 95 (109th
Congress), the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal
year 2006, subsections (c)(2) and (d)(3) of section 904 of
the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 and section 403 of H.
Con. Res. 95 (109th Congress) shall remain in effect for
purposes of Senate enforcement through September 30, 2017.
SEC. 206. POINT OF ORDER AGAINST ADVANCE APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) In General.--
(1) Point of order.--Except as provided in subsection (b),
it shall not be in order in the Senate to consider any bill,
joint resolution, motion, amendment, or conference report
that would provide an advance appropriation.
(2) Definition.--In this section, the term ``advance
appropriation'' means any new budget authority provided in a
bill or joint resolution making general appropriations or
continuing appropriations for fiscal year 2008 that first
becomes available for any fiscal year after 2008, or any new
budget authority provided in a bill or joint resolution
making general appropriations or continuing appropriations
for fiscal year 2009, that first becomes available for any
fiscal year after 2009.
(b) Exceptions.--Advance appropriations may be provided--
(1) for fiscal years 2009 and 2010 for programs, projects,
activities, or accounts identified in the joint explanatory
statement of managers accompanying this resolution under the
heading ``Accounts Identified for Advance Appropriations'' in
an aggregate amount not to exceed $25,158,000,000 in new
budget authority in each year; and
[[Page H4572]]
(2) for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
(c) Supermajority Waiver and Appeal.--
(1) Waiver.--In the Senate, subsection (a) may be waived or
suspended only by an affirmative vote of three-fifths of the
Members, duly chosen and sworn.
(2) Appeal.--An affirmative vote of three-fifths of the
Members of the Senate, duly chosen and sworn, shall be
required to sustain an appeal of the ruling of the Chair on a
point of order raised under paragraph (a).
(d) Form of Point of Order.--A point of order under
subsection (a) may be raised by a Senator as provided in
section 313(e) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974.
(e) Conference Reports.--When the Senate is considering a
conference report on, or an amendment between the Houses in
relation to, a bill, upon a point of order being made by any
Senator pursuant to this section, and such point of order
being sustained, such material contained in such conference
report shall be deemed stricken, and the Senate shall proceed
to consider the question of whether the Senate shall recede
from its amendment and concur with a further amendment, or
concur in the House amendment with a further amendment, as
the case may be, which further amendment shall consist of
only that portion of the conference report or House
amendment, as the case may be, not so stricken. Any such
motion in the Senate shall be debatable. In any case in which
such point of order is sustained against a conference report
(or Senate amendment derived from such conference report by
operation of this subsection), no further amendment shall be
in order.
(f) Repeal.--In the Senate, section 401 of H. Con. Res. 95
(109th Congress), the concurrent resolution on the budget for
fiscal year 2006, shall no longer apply.
SEC. 207. DISCRETIONARY SPENDING LIMITS.
(a) Point of Order.--
(1) In general.--Except as otherwise provided in this
section, it shall not be in order in the Senate to consider
any bill or joint resolution (or amendment, motion, or
conference report on that bill or joint resolution) that
would cause the discretionary spending limits in this section
to be exceeded.
(2) Supermajority waiver and appeals.--
(A) Waiver.--This subsection may be waived or suspended in
the Senate only by the affirmative vote of three-fifths of
the Members, duly chosen and sworn.
(B) Appeals.--Appeals in the Senate from the decisions of
the Chair relating to any provision of this subsection shall
be limited to 1 hour, to be equally divided between, and
controlled by, the appellant and the manager of the bill or
joint resolution. An affirmative vote of three-fifths of the
Members of the Senate, duly chosen and sworn, shall be
required to sustain an appeal of the ruling of the Chair on a
point of order raised under this subsection.
(b) Discretionary Spending Limits.--In the Senate and as
used in this section, the term ``discretionary spending
limit'' means--
(1) for fiscal year 2007, $951,140,000,000 in new budget
authority and $1,029,456,000,000 in outlays; and
(2) for fiscal year 2008, $942,295,000,000 in new budget
authority and $1,021,392,000,000 in outlays;
as adjusted in conformance with the adjustment procedures in
subsection (c).
(c) Adjustments.--
(1) In general.--After the reporting of a bill or joint
resolution relating to any matter described in paragraph (2),
or the offering of an amendment thereto or the submission of
a conference report thereon--
(A) the chairman of the Senate Committee on the Budget may
adjust the discretionary spending limits, budgetary
aggregates, and allocations pursuant to section 302(a) of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, by the amount of new budget
authority in that measure for that purpose and the outlays
flowing therefrom; and
(B) following any adjustment under subparagraph (A), the
Senate Committee on Appropriations may report appropriately
revised suballocations pursuant to section 302(b) of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to carry out this
subsection.
(2) Matters described.--Matters referred to in paragraph
(1) are as follows:
(A) Continuing disability reviews and ssi
redeterminations.--If a bill or joint resolution is reported
making appropriations for fiscal year 2008 that appropriates
$264,000,000 for continuing disability reviews and
Supplemental Security Income redeterminations for the Social
Security Administration, and provides an additional
appropriation of up to $213,000,000 for continuing disability
reviews and Supplemental Security Income redeterminations for
the Social Security Administration, then the discretionary
spending limits, allocation to the Senate Committee on
Appropriations, and aggregates may be adjusted by the amounts
provided in such legislation for that purpose, but not to
exceed $213,000,000 in budget authority and outlays flowing
therefrom for fiscal year 2008.
(B) Internal revenue service tax enforcement.--If a bill or
joint resolution is reported making appropriations for fiscal
year 2008 that appropriates $6,822,000,000 for the Internal
Revenue Service for enhanced tax enforcement to address the
Federal tax gap (taxes owed but not paid) and provides an
additional appropriation of up to $406,000,000 for the
Internal Revenue Service for enhanced tax enforcement to
address the Federal tax gap, then the discretionary spending
limits, allocation to the Senate Committee on Appropriations,
and aggregates may be adjusted by the amounts provided in
such legislation for that purpose, but not to exceed
$406,000,000 in budget authority and outlays flowing
therefrom for fiscal year 2008.
(C) Health care fraud and abuse control.--If a bill or
joint resolution is reported making appropriations for fiscal
year 2008 that appropriates up to $383,000,000 to the health
care fraud and abuse control program at the Department of
Health and Human Services, then the discretionary spending
limits, allocation to the Senate Committee on Appropriations,
and aggregates may be adjusted by the amounts provided in
such legislation for that purpose, but not to exceed
$383,000,000 in budget authority and outlays flowing
therefrom for fiscal year 2008.
(D) Unemployment insurance improper payments reviews.--If a
bill or joint resolution is reported making appropriations
for fiscal year 2008 that appropriates $10,000,000 for
unemployment insurance improper payments reviews for the
Department of Labor, and provides an additional appropriation
of up to $40,000,000 for unemployment insurance improper
payments reviews for the Department of Labor, then the
discretionary spending limits, allocation to the Senate
Committee on Appropriations, and aggregates may be adjusted
by the amounts provided in such legislation for that purpose,
but not to exceed $40,000,000 in budget authority and outlays
flowing therefrom for fiscal year 2008.
(E) Wildland fire suppression.--
(i) Definition.--For this subparagraph, the term ``base
amount'' refers to the average of the obligations of the
preceding 10 years for wildfire suppression in the Forest
Service and the Department of the Interior, calculated as of
the date of the applicable year's budget request is submitted
by the President to Congress.
(ii) Adjustments for fiscal year 2008.--If the amount
appropriated for Wildland Fire Suppression in fiscal year
2008 is not less than the base amount, then the chairman of
the Senate Committee on the Budget may adjust the appropriate
allocations, aggregates, discretionary spending limits, and
other budgetary levels in this resolution for any bill, joint
resolution, amendment, motion, or conference report that
provides additional funding for wildland fire suppression, by
the amounts provided in such legislation for such purpose,
but not to exceed the following amounts in budget authority
and the outlays flowing therefrom:
(I) for the Forest Service, for fiscal year 2008,
$400,000,000; and
(II) for the Department of the Interior, for fiscal year
2008, $100,000,000.
(F) Costs of global war on terror.--The Chairman of the
Senate Committee on the Budget may revise the allocations,
aggregates, and discretionary spending limits for one or more
bills, joint resolutions, motions, amendments, or conference
reports that make discretionary appropriations for fiscal
year 2008 or 2009 in excess of the levels assumed in this
resolution for expenses related to the global war on terror,
but not to exceed the following amounts:
(i) For fiscal year 2008, $145,162,000,000 in budget
authority and the outlays flowing therefrom.
(ii) For fiscal year 2009, $50,000,000,000 in budget
authority and the outlays flowing therefrom.
(G) Adjustment for united states forces in the global war
on terrorism.--The Chairman of the Senate Committee on the
Budget may revise the allocations, aggregates, and
discretionary spending limits for one or more bills, joint
resolutions, motions, amendments, or conference reports that
make discretionary appropriations for fiscal year 2008 for an
amount appropriated, but not to exceed $5,000,000,000 in
budgetary authority and outlays flowing therefrom, to--
(i) address training, equipment, force protection,
logistics, or other matters necessary for the protection of
United States forces; or
(ii) address deficiencies at Walter Reed Army Medical
Center and other facilities within the military medical
system providing treatment to service members injured while
performing their duties in the Global War on Terrorism.
SEC. 208. APPLICATION OF PREVIOUS ALLOCATIONS IN THE SENATE.
Section 7035 of Public Law 109-234 shall no longer apply in
the Senate.
SEC. 209. POINT OF ORDER TO SAVE SOCIAL SECURITY FIRST.
(a) Point of Order in the Senate.--It shall not be in order
in the Senate to consider any legislation that would increase
the on-budget deficit in any fiscal year until the President
submits legislation to Congress and Congress enacts
legislation which would restore 75-year solvency to the Old-
Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance Trust Funds as
certified by the Social Security Administration actuaries.
(b) Supermajority Waiver and Appeal.--This section may be
waived or suspended in the Senate only by an affirmative vote
of three-fifths of the Members, duly chosen and sworn. An
affirmative vote of three-fifths of the Members of the
Senate, duly chosen and sworn, shall be required in the
Senate to sustain an appeal of the ruling of the Chair on a
point of order raised under this section.
[[Page H4573]]
SEC. 210. POINT OF ORDER AGAINST LEGISLATION THAT RAISES
INCOME TAX RATES.
(a) In General.--It shall not be in order in the Senate to
consider any bill, resolution, amendment, amendment between
Houses, motion, or conference report that includes a Federal
income tax rate increase. In this subsection, the term
``Federal income tax rate increase'' means any amendment to
subsection (a), (b), (c), (d), or (e) of section 1, or to
section 11(b) or 55(b), of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
that imposes a new percentage as a rate of tax and thereby
increases the amount of tax imposed by any such section.
(b) Supermajority Waiver and Appeal.--
(1) Waiver.--This section may be waived or suspended in the
Senate only by an affirmative vote of three-fifths of the
Members, duly chosen and sworn.
(2) Appeal.--An affirmative vote of three-fifths of the
Members of the Senate, duly chosen and sworn, shall be
required in the Senate to sustain an appeal of the ruling of
the Chair on a point of order raised under this section.
SEC. 211. CIRCUIT BREAKER TO PROTECT SOCIAL SECURITY.
(a) Circuit Breaker.--If in any year the Congressional
Budget Office, in its report pursuant to section 202(e)(1) of
the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 projects an on-budget
deficit (excluding Social Security) for the budget year or
any subsequent fiscal year covered by those projections, then
the concurrent resolution on the budget for the budget year
shall reduce on-budget deficits relative to the projections
of Congressional Budget Office and put the budget on a path
to achieve on-budget balance within 5 years, and shall
include such provisions as are necessary to protect Social
Security and facilitate deficit reduction, except it shall
not contain any reduction in Social Security benefits.
(b) Point of Order.--If in any year the Congressional
Budget Office, in its report pursuant to section 202(e)(1) of
the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 projects an on-budget
deficit for the budget year or any subsequent fiscal year
covered by those projections, it shall not be in order in the
Senate to consider a concurrent resolution on the budget for
the budget year or any conference report thereon that fails
to reduce on-budget deficits relative to the projections of
Congressional Budget Office and put the budget on a path to
achieve on-budget balance within 5 years.
(c) Amendments to Budget Resolution.--If in any year the
Congressional Budget Office, in its report pursuant to
section 202(e)(1) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974
projects an on-budget deficit for the budget year or any
subsequent fiscal year covered by those projections, it shall
not be in order in the Senate to consider an amendment to a
concurrent resolution on the budget that would increase on-
budget deficits relative to the concurrent resolution on the
budget in any fiscal year covered by that concurrent
resolution on the budget or cause the budget to fail to
achieve on-budget balance within 5 years.
(d) Suspension of Requirement During War or Low Economic
Growth.--
(1) Low growth.--If the most recent of the Department of
Commerce's advance, preliminary, or final reports of actual
real economic growth indicate that the rate of real economic
growth (as measured by real GDP) for each of the most
recently reported quarter and the immediately preceding
quarter is less than 1 percent, this section is suspended.
(2) War.--If a declaration of war is in effect, this
section is suspended.
(e) Supermajority Waiver and Appeals.--
(1) Waiver.--Subsections (b) and (c) may be waived or
suspended in the Senate only by an affirmative vote of three-
fifths of the Members, duly chosen and sworn.
(2) Appeals.--Appeals in the Senate from the decisions of
the Chair relating to any provision of this subsection shall
be limited to 1 hour, to be equally divided between, and
controlled by, the appellant and the manager of the bill or
joint resolution, as the case may be. An affirmative vote of
three-fifths of the Members of the Senate, duly chosen and
sworn, shall be required to sustain an appeal of the ruling
of the Chair on a point of order raised under this
subsection.
(f) Budget Year.--In this section, the term ``budget year''
shall have the same meaning as in section 250(c)(12) of the
Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.
SEC. 212. POINT OF ORDER--20% LIMIT ON NEW DIRECT SPENDING IN
RECONCILIATION LEGISLATION.
(1) In the Senate.--It shall not be in order to consider
any reconciliation bill, joint resolution, motion, amendment,
or any conference report on, or an amendment between the
Houses in relation to a reconciliation bill pursuant to
section 310 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 that
produces an increase in outlays, if--
(A) the effect of all the provisions in the jurisdiction of
any committee is to create gross new direct spending that
exceeds 20% of the total savings instruction to the
committee; or
(B) the effect of the adoption of an amendment would result
in gross new direct spending that exceeds 20% of the total
savings instruction to the committee.
(2)(A) A point of order under paragraph (1) may be raised
by a Senator as provided in section 313(e) of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974.
(B) Paragraph (1) may be waived or suspended only by an
affirmative vote of three-fifths of the Members, duly chosen
and sworn. An affirmative vote of three-fifths of the Members
of the Senate, duly chosen and sworn, shall be required to
sustain an appeal of the ruling of the Chair on a point of
order raised under paragraph (1).
(C) If a point of order is sustained under paragraph (1)
against a conference report in the Senate, the report shall
be disposed of as provided in section 313(d) of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974.
SEC. 213. POINT OF ORDER AGAINST LEGISLATION THAT RAISES
INCOME TAX RATES FOR SMALL BUSINESSES, FAMILY
FARMS, OR FAMILY RANCHES.
(a) In General.--It shall not be in order in the Senate to
consider any bill, resolution, amendment, amendment between
Houses, motion, or conference report that includes a Federal
income tax rate increase on incomes generated by small
businesses (within the meaning of section 474(c) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986) or family farms or family
ranches (within the meaning of section 2032A of such Code)
(regardless of the manner by which such businesses, farms and
ranches are organized). In this subsection, the term
``Federal income tax rate increase'' means any amendment to
subsection (a), (b), (c), (d), or (e) of section 1, or to
section 11(b) or 55(b), of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
that imposes a new percentage as a rate of tax and thereby
increases the amount of tax imposed by any such section.
(b) Supermajority Waiver and Appeal.--
(1) Waiver.--This section may be waived or suspended in the
Senate only by an affirmative vote of three-fifths of the
Members, duly chosen and sworn.
(2) Appeal.--An affirmative vote of three-fifths of the
Members of the Senate, duly chosen and sworn, shall be
required in the Senate to sustain an appeal of the ruling of
the Chair on a point of order raised under this section.
SEC. 214. POINT OF ORDER AGAINST PROVISIONS OF APPROPRIATIONS
LEGISLATION THAT CONSTITUTES CHANGES IN
MANDATORY PROGRAMS WITH NET COSTS.
(a) In General.--It shall not be in order in the Senate to
consider any appropriations legislation, including any
amendment thereto, motion in relation thereto, or conference
report thereon, which includes one or more provisions that
would have been estimated as affecting direct spending or
receipts under section 252 of the Balanced Budget and
Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (as in effect prior to
September 30, 2002) were they included in legislation other
than appropriations legislation, if such provision has a net
cost over the total of the period of the current year, the
budget year, and all fiscal years covered under the most
recently adopted concurrent resolution on the budget.
(b) Determination.--For purposes of this section, the
determination of whether a provision violates paragraph (a)
shall be made by the Committee on the Budget of the Senate.
(c) Supermajority Waiver and Appeal.--This section may be
waived or suspended only by an affirmative vote of three-
fifths of the Members, duly chosen and sworn. An affirmative
vote of three-fifths of the Members of the Senate, duly
chosen and sworn, shall be required to sustain an appeal of
the ruling of the Chair on a point of order raised under this
section.
(d) General Point of Order.--It shall be in order for a
Senator to raise a single point of order that several
provisions of a bill, resolution, amendment, motion, or
conference report violate this section. The Presiding Officer
may sustain the point of order as to some or all of the
provisions against which the Senator raised the point of
order. If the Presiding Officer so sustains the point of
order as to some of the provisions (including provisions of
an amendment, motion, or conference report) against which the
Senator raised the point of order, then only those provisions
(including provision of an amendment, motion, or conference
report) against which the Presiding Officer sustains the
point of order shall be deemed stricken pursuant to this
section. Before the Presiding Officer rules on such a point
of order, any Senator may move to waive such a point of order
as it applies to some or all of the provisions against which
the point of order was raised. Such a motion to waive is
amendable in accordance with rules and precedents of the
Senate. After the Presiding Officer rules on such a point of
order, any Senator may appeal the ruling of the Presiding
Officer on such a point of order as it applies to some or all
of the provisions on which the Presiding Officer ruled.
(e) Form of the Point of Order.--When the Senate is
considering a conference report on, or an amendment between
the Houses in relation to, a bill, upon a point of order
being made by any Senator pursuant to this section, and such
point of order being sustained, such material contained in
such conference report or amendment shall be deemed stricken,
and the Senate shall proceed to consider the question of
whether the Senate shall recede from its amendment and concur
with a further amendment, or concur in the House amendment
with a further amendment, as the case may be, which further
amendment shall consist of only that portion of the
conference report or House amendment, as the case may be, not
so stricken. Any such motion shall be debatable. In any case
in which such point of order
[[Page H4574]]
is sustained against a conference report (or Senate amendment
derived from such conference report by operation of this
subsection), no further amendment shall be in order.
SEC. 215. DISCLOSURE OF INTEREST COSTS.
(a) Point of Order.--It shall not be in order in the Senate
to consider any direct spending or revenue legislation that
is required to contain the statement described in section
308(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, unless such
statement contains a projection by the Congressional Budget
Office of the cost of the debt servicing that would be caused
by such legislation for such fiscal year (or fiscal years)
and each of the 4 ensuing fiscal years.
(b) Supermajority Waiver and Appeal.--
(1) Waiver.--In the Senate, subsection (a) may be waived or
suspended only by an affirmative vote of three-fifths of the
Members, duly chosen and sworn.
(2) Appeal.--An affirmative vote of three-fifths of the
Members of the Senate, duly chosen and sworn, shall be
required to sustain an appeal of the ruling of the Chair on a
point of order raised under subsection (a).
TITLE III--RESERVE FUNDS AND ADJUSTMENTS
SEC. 301. DEFICIT-NEUTRAL RESERVE FUND FOR SCHIP LEGISLATION.
(a) Priority.--The Senate establishes the following
priorities and makes the following findings:
(1) The Senate shall make the enactment of legislation to
reauthorize the State Children's Health Insurance Program
(SCHIP) a top priority for the remainder of fiscal year 2007,
during the first session of the 110th Congress.
(2) Extending health care coverage to the Nation's
vulnerable uninsured children is an urgent priority for the
Senate.
(3) SCHIP has proven itself a successful program for
covering previously uninsured children.
(4) More than 6 million children are enrolled in this
landmark program, which has enjoyed broad bipartisan support
in Congress, among our Nation's governors, and within state
and local governments.
(5) SCHIP reduces the percentage of children with unmet
health care needs.
(6) Since SCHIP was created, enormous progress has been
made in reducing disparities in children's coverage rates.
(7) Uninsured children who gain coverage through SCHIP
receive more preventive care and their parents report better
access to providers and improved communications with their
children's doctors.
(8) Congress has a responsibility to reauthorize SCHIP
before the expiration of its current authorization.
(b) Reserve Fund.--The Chairman of the Senate Committee on
the Budget may revise the allocations, aggregates, and other
appropriate levels in this resolution for a bill, joint
resolution, amendment, motion, or conference report that
provides up to $50,000,000,000 for reauthorization of the
State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), if such
legislation maintains coverage for those currently enrolled
in SCHIP, continues efforts to reach uninsured children who
are already eligible for SCHIP or Medicaid but are not
enrolled, and supports States in their efforts to move
forward in covering more children, by the amounts provided in
that legislation for those purposes up to $20,000,000,000
over the total of fiscal years 2007 through 2012, provided
that such legislation would not increase the deficit over the
total of the period of fiscal years 2007 through 2012. Among
the policy changes that could be considered to achieve
offsets to the cost of reauthorizing the State Children's
Health Insurance Program and expanding coverage for children
is an increase in the tobacco products user fee rate with all
revenue generated by such increase dedicated to such
reauthorization and expansion.
SEC. 302. DEFICIT-NEUTRAL RESERVE FUND FOR CARE OF WOUNDED
SERVICE MEMBERS.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Budget may
revise the allocations, aggregates, and other appropriate
levels in this resolution for a bill, joint resolution,
amendment, motion, or conference report which improves the
medical care of or disability benefits for wounded or
disabled military personnel or veterans (including the
elimination of the offset between Survivor Benefit Plan
annuities and veterans' dependency and indemnity
compensation) or improves the disability evaluations of
military personnel or veterans to expedite the claims
process, by the amounts provided in that legislation for that
purpose, provided that such legislation would not increase
the deficit over the total of the period of fiscal years 2007
through 2012.
SEC. 303. DEFICIT-NEUTRAL RESERVE FUND FOR TAX RELIEF.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Budget may
revise the aggregates, allocations, and other appropriate
levels in this resolution for one or more bills, joint
resolutions, amendments, motions, or conference reports that
would provide tax relief, including extensions of expiring
tax relief, such as enhanced charitable giving from
individual retirement accounts, and refundable tax relief and
including the reauthorization of the new markets tax credit
under section 45D of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 for an
additional 5 years, by the amounts provided in that
legislation for those purposes, provided that such
legislation would not increase the deficit over the total of
the period of fiscal years 2007 through 2012.
SEC. 304. DEFICIT-NEUTRAL RESERVE FUND FOR COMPARATIVE
EFFECTIVENESS RESEARCH.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Budget may
revise the aggregates, allocations, and other appropriate
levels in this resolution for a bill, joint resolution,
amendment, motion, or conference report that establishes a
new federal or public-private initiative for comparative
effectiveness research, by the amounts provided in such
legislation for that purpose, provided that such legislation
would not increase the deficit over the total of fiscal years
2007 through 2012.
SEC. 305. DEFICIT-NEUTRAL RESERVE FUND FOR HIGHER EDUCATION.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Budget may
revise the aggregates, allocations, and other appropriate
levels in this resolution for a bill, joint resolution,
amendment, motion, or conference report, including tax
legislation, that would make higher education more accessible
and more affordable, by the amounts provided in such
legislation for that purpose, provided that such legislation
would not increase the deficit over the total of the period
of fiscal years 2007 through 2012.
SEC. 306. DEFICIT-NEUTRAL RESERVE FUND FOR THE FARM BILL.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Budget may
revise the allocations, aggregates, and other appropriate
levels and limits in this resolution for a bill, joint
resolution, amendment, motion, or conference report that--
(1) reauthorizes the Food Security and Rural Investment Act
of 2002;
(2) strengthens our agriculture and rural economies and
critical nutrition programs;
(3) provides agriculture-related tax relief;
(4) improves our environment by reducing our Nation's
dependence on foreign sources of energy through expanded
production and use of alternative fuels; or
(5) combines any of the purposes provided in paragraphs (1)
through (4);
by the amounts provided in that legislation for those
purposes up to $15,000,000,000 over the total of fiscal years
2007 through 2012, provided that such legislation would not
increase the deficit over the total of the period of fiscal
years 2007 through 2012.
SEC. 307. DEFICIT-NEUTRAL RESERVE FUND FOR ENERGY
LEGISLATION.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Budget may
revise the allocations, aggregates, and other appropriate
levels and limits in this resolution for one or more bills,
joint resolutions, amendments, motions, or conference
reports, including tax legislation, that would reduce our
Nation's dependence on foreign sources of energy, expand
production and use of alternative fuels and alternative fuel
vehicles, promote renewable energy development, improve
electricity transmission, encourage responsible development
of domestic oil and natural gas resources, or reward
conservation and efficiency, by the amounts provided in that
legislation for those purposes, provided that such
legislation would not increase the deficit over the total of
the period of fiscal years 2007 through 2012.
SEC. 308. DEFICIT-NEUTRAL RESERVE FUND FOR MEDICARE.
(a) Prescription Drugs.--The Chairman of the Senate
Committee on the Budget may revise the aggregates,
allocations, and other appropriate levels in this resolution
for a bill, joint resolution, amendment, motion, or
conference report that repeals the prohibition in section
1860D-11(i)(1) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w-
111(i)(1)) while preserving access to prescription drugs and
price competition without requiring a particular formulary or
instituting a price structure for reimbursement of covered
Part D drugs, provided that such legislation would not
increase the deficit over the total of fiscal years 2007
through 2012 and provided further that any savings from the
measure are to be used either to improve the Medicare Part D
benefit or for deficit reduction.
(b) Physician Payments.--The Chairman of the Senate Budget
Committee may revise the aggregates, allocations, and other
appropriate levels in this resolution for a bill, joint
resolution, amendment, motion, or conference report that
increases the reimbursement rate for physician services under
section 1848(d) of the Social Security Act and that includes
financial incentives for physicians to improve the quality
and efficiency of items and services furnished to Medicare
beneficiaries through the use of consensus-based quality
measures, by the amounts provided in such legislation for
that purpose, provided that the legislation would not
increase the deficit over the total of fiscal years 2007
through 2012.
(c) Improvements to Medicare Part D.--The Chairman of the
Senate Budget Committee may revise the aggregates,
allocations, and other appropriate levels in this resolution
for a bill, joint resolution, amendment, motion, or
conference report that makes improvements to the prescription
drug benefit under Medicare Part D, by the amounts provided
in such legislation for that purpose up to $5,000,000,000,
provided that the legislation would not increase the deficit
over the total of fiscal years 2007 through 2012.
SEC. 309. DEFICIT-NEUTRAL RESERVE FUND FOR SMALL BUSINESS
HEALTH INSURANCE.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Budget may
revise the allocations, aggregates, and other appropriate
levels in this
[[Page H4575]]
resolution for a bill, joint resolution, motion, amendment,
or conference report that makes health insurance coverage
more affordable or available to small businesses and their
employees without weakening rating rules or reducing covered
benefits, by the amounts provided in such legislation for
that purpose, provided that the legislation would not
increase the deficit over the total of fiscal years 2007
through 2012.
SEC. 310. DEFICIT-NEUTRAL RESERVE FUND FOR COUNTY PAYMENTS
FOR SECURE RURAL SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY SELF-
DETERMINATION ACT OF 2000 REAUTHORIZATION.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Budget may
revise the allocations, aggregates, and other appropriate
levels in this resolution for a bill, joint resolution,
amendment, motion, or conference report that provides for the
reauthorization of the Secure Rural Schools and Community
Self-Determination Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-393), by the
amounts provided by that legislation for that purpose, but
not to exceed $440,000,000 in new budget authority for fiscal
year 2008 and the outlays flowing from that budget authority
and $2,240,000,000 in new budget authority for the period of
fiscal years 2008 through 2012 and the outlays flowing from
that budget authority, provided that such legislation would
not increase the deficit over the total of the period of
fiscal years 2007 through 2012.
SEC. 311. DEFICIT-NEUTRAL RESERVE FUND FOR TERRORISM RISK
INSURANCE REAUTHORIZATION.
The Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee may revise the
aggregates, allocations, and other levels in this resolution
for a bill, joint resolution, motion, amendment, or
conference report that provides for a continued Federal role
in ensuring the availability of terrorism insurance after the
expiration of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Extension Act, by
the amounts provided in such legislation for that purpose,
provided that such legislation is deficit-neutral over the
total of fiscal years 2007 through 2012.
SEC. 312. DEFICIT-NEUTRAL RESERVE FUND FOR AFFORDABLE
HOUSING.
The Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee may revise the
aggregates, allocations, and other levels in this resolution
for a bill, joint resolution, motion, amendment, or
conference report that would establish an affordable housing
fund financed by the housing government-sponsored
enterprises, by the amounts provided in such legislation for
that purpose, provided that the legislation is deficit-
neutral over the total of fiscal years 2007 through 2012.
SEC. 313. DEFICIT-NEUTRAL RESERVE FUND FOR RECEIPTS FROM
BONNEVILLE POWER ADMINISTRATION.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Budget may
adjust the allocations, aggregates, and other appropriate
levels in this resolution for a bill, joint resolution,
motion, amendment, or conference report that prohibits the
Bonneville Power Administration from making early payments on
its Federal Bond Debt to the United States Treasury, by the
amounts provided by that legislation for that purpose,
provided that such legislation would not increase the deficit
over the total of the period of fiscal years 2007 through
2012.
SEC. 314. DEFICIT-NEUTRAL RESERVE FUND FOR INDIAN CLAIMS
SETTLEMENT.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Budget may
revise the aggregates, allocations, and other appropriate
levels in this resolution for a bill, joint resolution,
amendment, motion, or conference report that--
(1) creates an Indian claims settlement fund for trust
accounting and management deficiencies related to Individual
Indian Moneys and assets; and
(2) extinguishes all claims arising before the date of
enactment for losses resulting from accounting errors,
mismanagement of assets, or interest owed in connection with
Individual Indian Moneys accounts;
by the amounts provided in such legislation for those
purposes up to $8,000,000,000, provided that such legislation
does not increase the deficit over the total of the period of
fiscal years 2007 through 2012.
SEC. 315. DEFICIT-NEUTRAL RESERVE FUND FOR FOOD AND DRUG
ADMINISTRATION.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Budget may
revise the allocations, aggregates, and other appropriate
levels and limits in this resolution for a bill, joint
resolution, motion, amendment, or conference report that
authorizes the Food and Drug Administration to regulate
tobacco products and assess user fees on tobacco
manufacturers and importers to cover the cost of the Food and
Drug Administration's regulatory activities, by the amounts
provided in that legislation for that purpose, provided that
such legislation is deficit-neutral over the total of fiscal
years 2007 through 2012.
SEC. 316. DEFICIT-NEUTRAL RESERVE FUND FOR HEALTH CARE
REFORM.
If an SCHIP reauthorization bill is enacted, then the
Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Budget may revise the
allocations, aggregates, and other appropriate levels in this
resolution for a bill, joint resolution, motion, amendment,
or conference report to improve health care, and provide
quality health insurance for the uninsured and underinsured,
and protect individuals with current health coverage, by the
amounts provided in that legislation for that purpose,
provided that such legislation would not increase the deficit
over the total of the period of fiscal years 2007 through
2012.
SEC. 317. DEFICIT-NEUTRAL RESERVE FUND FOR ENHANCEMENT OF
VETERANS' BENEFITS.
The Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee may revise the
aggregates, allocations, and other levels in this resolution
for a bill, joint resolution, motion, amendment, or
conference report that would enhance benefits for veterans,
including services for low-vision and blinded veterans,
including GI educational benefits, by the amounts provided in
such legislation for that purpose, provided that such
legislation is deficit-neutral over the total of fiscal years
2007 through 2012.
SEC. 318. DEFICIT-NEUTRAL RESERVE FUND FOR LONG-TERM CARE.
The Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee may revise the
allocations, aggregates, and other levels in this resolution
for a bill, joint resolution, motion, amendment, or
conference report that would improve long-term care, enhance
the safety and dignity of patients, encourage appropriate use
of institutional and non-institutional care, promote quality
care, and provide for the cost-effective use of public
resources, by the amounts provided in such legislation for
that purpose, provided that the legislation would not
increase the deficit over the total of fiscal years 2007
through 2012.
SEC. 319. DEFICIT-NEUTRAL RESERVE FUND FOR HEALTH INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY.
(a) The Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee may revise
the aggregates, allocations, and other appropriate levels in
this resolution for a bill, joint resolution, amendment,
motion, or conference report that provides incentives or
other support for adoption of modern information technology
to improve quality and protect privacy in health care, by the
amounts provided in such legislation for that purpose,
provided that the legislation would not increase the deficit
over the total of fiscal years 2007 through 2012.
(b) The Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee may revise
the aggregates, allocations, and other appropriate levels in
this resolution for a bill, joint resolution, amendment,
motion, or conference report that provides for payments that
are based on adherence to accepted clinical protocols
identified as best practices, by the amounts provided in such
legislation for that purpose, provided that the legislation
would not increase the deficit over the total of fiscal years
2007 through 2012.
SEC. 320. DEFICIT-NEUTRAL RESERVE FUND FOR CHILD CARE.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Budget may
revise the allocations, aggregates, and other levels in this
resolution for a bill, joint resolution, amendment, motion,
or conference report that provides up to $5,000,000,000 for
the child care entitlement to States, by the amounts provided
by such legislation for that purpose, provided that the
legislation would not increase the deficit over the total of
fiscal years 2007 through 2012.
SEC. 321. DEFICIT-NEUTRAL RESERVE FUND FOR COMPREHENSIVE
IMMIGRATION REFORM.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Budget may
revise the allocations, aggregates, and other appropriate
levels in this resolution for a bill, joint resolution,
amendment, motion or conference report that--
(1) provides for comprehensive immigration reform;
(2) provides for increased interior enforcement, through an
effective electronic employment verification system which
accurately establishes the employment authorization of
individuals; and
(3) provides for increased border security and enhanced
information technology systems;
provided that such legislation would not increase the deficit
for the fiscal year 2008 and for the period of fiscal years
2008 through 2012.
SEC. 322. DEFICIT-NEUTRAL RESERVE FUND FOR MENTAL HEALTH
PARITY.
If the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and
Pensions reports a bill or joint resolution, or an amendment
is offered thereto, or a conference report is submitted
thereon, that provides parity between health insurance
coverage of mental health benefits and benefits for medical
and surgical services, the chairman of the Committee on the
Budget of the Senate may make the appropriate adjustments in
allocations and aggregates to the extent that such
legislation would not increase the deficit for fiscal year
2008 and for the period of fiscal years 2008 through 2012.
SEC. 323. DEFICIT-NEUTRAL RESERVE FUND FOR PRESCHOOL
OPPORTUNITIES.
If the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
of the Senate, reports a bill or a joint resolution, or an
amendment is offered in the Senate to such a bill or joint
resolution, or a conference report is submitted to the Senate
on a such a bill or joint resolution, that augments or
establishes a Federal program that provides assistance to
States that offer or expand preschool to children of low-
income families, the Chairman of the Committee on the Budget
of the Senate may revisit the aggregates, allocations, and
other appropriate levels in this resolution by amounts
provided in such measure for that purpose, provided that such
legislation would not increase the deficit for the total of
the period of fiscal years 2007 through 2012.
[[Page H4576]]
SEC. 324. DEFICIT-NEUTRAL RESERVE FUND FOR THE SAFE
IMPORTATION OF FDA-APPROVED PRESCRIPTION DRUGS.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Budget may
revise the aggregates, allocations, and other levels in this
resolution for a bill, joint resolution, motion, amendment,
or conference report that permits the safe importation of
prescription drugs approved by the Food and Drug
Administration from a specified list of countries, by the
amounts provided in such legislation for that purpose,
provided that such legislation would not increase the deficit
over the total of the period of fiscal years 2007 through
2012.
SEC. 325. APPLICATION AND EFFECT OF CHANGES IN ALLOCATIONS
AND AGGREGATES.
(a) Application.--Any adjustments of allocations and
aggregates made pursuant to this resolution shall--
(1) apply while that measure is under consideration;
(2) take effect upon the enactment of that measure; and
(3) be published in the Congressional Record as soon as
practicable.
(b) Effect of Changed Allocations and Aggregates.--Revised
allocations and aggregates resulting from these adjustments
shall be considered for the purposes of the Congressional
Budget Act of 1974 as allocations and aggregates contained in
this resolution.
(c) Budget Committee Determinations.--For purposes of this
resolution the levels of new budget authority, outlays,
direct spending, new entitlement authority, revenues,
deficits, and surpluses for a fiscal year or period of fiscal
years shall be determined on the basis of estimates made by
the Senate Committee on the Budget.
SEC. 326. ADJUSTMENTS TO REFLECT CHANGES IN CONCEPTS AND
DEFINITIONS.
Upon the enactment of a bill or joint resolution providing
for a change in concepts or definitions, the chairman of the
Senate Committee on the Budget may make adjustments to the
levels and allocations in this resolution in accordance with
section 251(b) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit
Control Act of 1985 (as in effect prior to September 30,
2002).
SEC. 327. EXERCISE OF RULEMAKING POWERS.
Congress adopts the provisions of this title--
(1) as an exercise of the rulemaking power of the Senate,
and as such they shall be considered as part of the rules of
the Senate and such rules shall supersede other rules only to
the extent that they are inconsistent with such other rules;
and
(2) with full recognition of the constitutional right of
the Senate to change those rules (so far as they relate to
that house) at any time, in the same manner, and to the same
extent as is the case of any other rule of the Senate.
SEC. 328. DEFICIT-NEUTRAL RESERVE FUND FOR EXPANSION OF
ABOVE-THE-LINE DEDUCTION FOR TEACHER CLASSROOM
SUPPLIES.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Budget may
revise the allocations, aggregates, and other levels in this
resolution by the amounts provided by a bill, joint
resolution, amendment, motion, or conference report that
would permanently extend and increase to $400 the above-the-
line deduction for teacher classroom supplies and expand such
deduction to include qualified professional development
expenses, provided that such legislation would not increase
the deficit over the total of the period of fiscal years 2007
through 2012.
SEC. 329. ADJUSTMENT FOR SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION SALARIES AND
EXPENSES.
(a) In General.--The Chairman of the Senate Committee on
the Budget may revise the allocations, aggregates, and
discretionary spending limits for one or more bills, joint
resolutions, motions, amendments, or conference reports that
make discretionary appropriations for fiscal year 2008 for an
amount appropriated, but not to exceed $17,000,000 in
budgetary authority and outlays flowing therefrom, once the
Comptroller General of the United States has submitted a
certification to Congress that since April 1, 2007--
(1) the Smithsonian Institution does not provide total
annual compensation for any officer or employee of the
Smithsonian Institution greater than the total annual
compensation of the President of the United States;
(2) the Smithsonian Institution does not provide deferred
compensation for any such officer or employee greater than
the deferred compensation of the President of the United
States;
(3) all Smithsonian Institution travel expenditures conform
with Federal Government guidelines and limitations applicable
to the Smithsonian Institution; and,
(4) all Smithsonian Institution officers and employees are
subject to ethics rules similar to the ethics rules widely
applicable to Federal Government employees.
(b) Criteria for Certification.--In making the
certification described in subsection (a), the Comptroller
General of the United States should take into account the
following:
(1) The Smithsonian Institution is a premier educational,
historical, artistic, research, and cultural organization for
the American people.
(2) The Inspector General for the Smithsonian Institution
recently issued a report regarding an investigation of
unauthorized and excessive authorized compensation, benefits,
and expenditures by the Secretary of the Smithsonian
Institution.
(3) The Inspector General's findings indicate that the
actions of the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution are
not in keeping with the public trust of the office of the
Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution.
(4) Priority should be given to funding for necessary
repairs to maintain and repair Smithsonian Institution
buildings and infrastructure and protect America's treasures.
(5) Priority should be given to full funding for the Office
of the Inspector General for the Smithsonian Institution so
that the American people and Congress have renewed confidence
that tax-preferred donations and Federal funds are being
spent appropriately and in keeping with the best practices of
the charitable sector.
SEC. 330. DEFICIT-REDUCTION RESERVE FUND FOR REDUCTION OF
IMPROPER PAYMENTS.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Budget may
revise the aggregates, allocations, functional totals, and
other appropriate levels and limits in this resolution upon
enactment of legislation that achieves savings by eliminating
or reducing improper payments made by agencies reporting
improper payments estimates under the Improper Payments
Information Act of 2002 and uses such savings to reduce the
deficit, provided that the legislation would not increase the
deficit over the total of fiscal years 2007 through 2012.
SEC. 331. DEFICIT-NEUTRAL RESERVE FUND FOR EXTENSION OF THE
DEDUCTION FOR STATE AND LOCAL SALES TAXES.
The Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee may revise the
aggregates, allocations, and other levels in this resolution
for a bill, joint resolution, motion, amendment, or
conference report that would provide for extension of the
deduction for State and local sales taxes, provided that such
legislation would not increase the deficit over the total of
fiscal years 2007 through 2012.
SEC. 332. DEFICIT-NEUTRAL RESERVE FUND FOR EXTENSION OF
CERTAIN ENERGY TAX INCENTIVES.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Budget may
revise the aggregates, allocations, and other levels in this
resolution for a bill, joint resolution, motion, amendment,
or conference report that would extend through 2015 energy
tax incentives, including the production tax credit for
electricity produced from renewable resources, the Clean
Renewable Energy Bond program, and the provisions to
encourage energy efficient buildings, products and power
plants, provided that such legislation would not increase the
deficit over the total of fiscal years 2007 through 2012.
SEC. 333. RESERVE FUND TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL TRAINING FOR
PHYSICIANS AND ATTRACT MORE PHYSICIANS IN
STATES THAT FACE A SHORTAGE OF PHYSICIANS IN
TRAINING.
The Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee may revise the
aggregates, allocations, and other appropriate levels in this
resolution for a bill, joint resolution, amendment, motion,
or conference report that provides additional training for
physicians and attracts more physicians in States that face a
shortage of physicians in training, provided that the
legislation would not increase the deficit over the total of
fiscal years 2007 through 2012.
SEC. 334. DEFICIT-NEUTRAL RESERVE FUND FOR REPEAL OF THE 1993
INCREASE IN THE INCOME TAX ON SOCIAL SECURITY
BENEFITS.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Budget may
revise the allocations, aggregates, and other levels in this
resolution by the amounts provided by a bill, joint
resolution, amendment, motion, or conference report that
would repeal the 1993 increase in the income tax on Social
Security benefits, provided that such legislation would not
increase the deficit over the total of the period of fiscal
years 2007 through 2012.
SEC. 335. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON THE STATE CRIMINAL ALIEN
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
(a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Control of illegal immigration is a Federal
responsibility.
(2) The State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (referred
to in this section as ``SCAAP'') carried out pursuant to
section 241(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8
U.S.C. 1231(i)) provides critical funding to States and
localities for reimbursement of costs incurred as a result of
housing undocumented criminal aliens.
(3) Congress appropriated $300,000,000 for SCAAP to
reimburse State and local governments for those costs in
fiscal year 2004.
(4) Congress appropriated $305,000,000 for SCAAP to
reimburse State and local governments for those costs in
fiscal year 2005.
(5) Congress appropriated $405,000,000 for SCAAP to
reimburse State and local governments for those costs in
fiscal year 2006.
(6) Congress appropriated $399,000,000 for SCAAP to
reimburse State and local governments for those costs in
fiscal year 2007.
(7) Congress has authorized to be appropriated $950,000,000
to carry out SCAAP for each of the fiscal years 2008 through
2011.
(b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that
the budgetary totals in this resolution assume that
$950,000,000 should be made available for SCAAP for fiscal
year 2008.
[[Page H4577]]
SEC. 336. DEFICIT-NEUTRAL RESERVE FUND FOR ELIMINATING
MILITARY RETIREMENT AND DISABILITY OFFSET.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Budget may
revise the allocations, aggregates, and other levels in this
resolution for a bill, joint resolution, amendment, motion,
or conference report that would expand eligibility for
Combat-Related Special Compensation to permit additional
disabled retirees to receive both disability compensation and
retired pay, by the amounts provided by such legislation for
that purpose, provided that the legislation would not
increase the deficit over the total of fiscal years 2007
through 2012.
SEC. 337. DEFICIT-NEUTRAL RESERVE FOR ASBESTOS REFORM
LEGISLATION.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Budget may
revise the aggregates, allocations, and other appropriate
levels in this resolution for a bill, joint resolution,
amendment, motion, or conference report regarding asbestos
reform, that--
(i) either provides monetary compensation to impaired
victims of mesothelioma or provides monetary compensation to
impaired victims of asbestos-related disease who can
establish that asbestos exposure is a substantial
contributing factor in causing their condition,
(ii) does not provide monetary compensation to unimpaired
claimants or those suffering from a disease who cannot
establish that asbestos exposure was a substantial
contributing factor in causing their condition, and
(iii) is estimated to remain funded from nontaxpayer
sources for the life of the fund, by the amounts provided in
such legislation for that purpose, provided that such
legislation would not increase the deficit over the total of
the period of fiscal years 2007 through 2057.
SEC. 338. DEFICIT-NEUTRAL RESERVE FUND FOR MANUFACTURING
INITIATIVES.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Budget may
revise the allocations, aggregates, and other appropriate
levels in this resolution for one or more bills, joint
resolutions, amendments, motions, or conference reports,
including tax legislation, that would revitalize the United
States domestic manufacturing sector by increasing Federal
research and development, by expanding the scope and
effectiveness of manufacturing programs across the Federal
government, by increasing support for development of
alternative fuels and leap-ahead automotive and energy
technologies, and by establishing tax incentives to encourage
the continued production in the United States of advanced
technologies and the infrastructure to support such
technologies, by the amounts provided in that legislation for
those purposes, provided that such legislation would not
increase the deficit over the total of the period of fiscal
years 2007 through 2012.
SEC. 339. DEFICIT-REDUCTION RESERVE FUND FOR INCREASED USE OF
RECOVERY AUDITS.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Budget may
revise the aggregates, allocations, functional totals, and
other appropriate levels and limits in this resolution upon
enactment of legislation that achieves savings by requiring
that agencies increase their use of the recovery audits
authorized by the Erroneous Payments Recovery Act of 2001
(section 831 of the National Defense Authorization Act for
fiscal year 2002) and uses such savings to reduce the
deficit, provided that the legislation would not increase the
deficit over the total of fiscal years 2007 through 2012.
SEC. 340. DEFICIT-NEUTRAL RESERVE FUND FOR A DELAY IN THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF A PROPOSED RULE RELATING TO
THE FEDERAL-STATE FINANCIAL PARTNERSHIPS UNDER
MEDICAID AND SCHIP.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Budget may
revise the allocations, aggregates, and other appropriate
levels in this resolution for a bill, joint resolution,
amendment, motion, or conference report that provides for a
delay in the implementation of the proposed rule published on
January 18, 2007, on pages 2236 through 2248 of volume 72,
Federal Register (relating to parts 433, 447, and 457 of
title 42, Code of Federal Regulations) or any other rule that
would affect the Medicaid program and SCHIP in a similar
manner, by the amounts provided in that legislation for that
purpose, provided that such legislation would not increase
the deficit over the total of the period of fiscal years 2007
through 2012.
SEC. 341. RESERVE FUND TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM.
If the Senate Committee on Finance--
(1) reports a bill, or if an amendment is offered thereto,
or if a conference report is submitted thereon, that--
(A) creates a framework and parameters for the use of
Medicare data for the purpose of conducting research, public
reporting, and other activities to evaluate health care
safety, effectiveness, efficiency, quality, and resource
utilization in Federal programs and the private health care
system; and
(B) includes provisions to protect beneficiary privacy and
to prevent disclosure of proprietary or trade secret
information with respect to the transfer and use of such
data; and
(2) is within its allocation as provided under section
302(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974,
the Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Budget may revise
allocations of new budget authority and outlays, the revenue
aggregates, and other appropriate measures to reflect such
legislation provided that such legislation would not increase
the deficit for fiscal year 2008, and for the period of
fiscal years 2008 through 2012.
SEC. 342. RESERVE FUND TO IMPROVE MEDICARE HOSPITAL PAYMENT
ACCURACY.
If the Senate Committee on Finance--
(1) reports a bill, or if an amendment is offered thereto,
or if a conference report is submitted thereon, that--
(A) addresses the wide and inequitable disparity in the
reimbursement of hospitals under the Medicare program;
(B) includes provisions to reform the area wage index used
to adjust payments to hospitals under the Medicare hospital
inpatient prospective payment system under section 1886(d) of
the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395ww(d)); and
(C) includes a transition to the reform described in
subparagraph (B); and
(2) is within its allocation as provided under section
302(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974,
the Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Budget may revise
allocations of new budget authority and outlays, the revenue
aggregates, and other appropriate measures to reflect such
legislation provided that such legislation would not increase
the deficit for the period of fiscal years 2008 through 2012.
SEC. 343. DEFICIT-NEUTRAL RESERVE FUND TO IMPROVE HEALTH
INSURANCE.
If a Senate committee reports a bill or joint resolution,
or if an amendment is offered thereto, or if a conference
report is submitted thereon, that, with appropriate
protections for consumers, reduces growth in the number of
uninsured Americans, improves access to affordable and
meaningful health insurance coverage, improves health care
quality, or reduces growth in the cost of private health
insurance by facilitating market-based pooling, including
across State lines, and a bill or joint resolution, or if an
amendment is offered thereto, or if a conference report is
submitted thereon, that, with appropriate protections for
consumers, provides funding for State high risk pools or
financial assistance, whether directly, or through grants to
States to enhance the effectiveness of such pooling or to
provide other assistance to small businesses or individuals,
including financial assistance, for the purchase of private
insurance coverage, the Chairman of the Committee on the
Budget may make appropriate adjustments in allocations and
aggregates for fiscal year 2007 and for the period of fiscal
years 2008 through 2012, provided that such legislation would
not increase the deficit over the total of the period of
fiscal years 2007 through 2012.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to House Resolution 370, the
amendment in the nature of a substitute consisting of the text of House
Concurrent Resolution 99, as adopted by the House, is adopted and the
Senate concurrent resolution, as amended, is considered read.
The text of the Senate concurrent resolution, as amended, is as
follows:
S. Con. Res. 21
SECTION 1. CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ON THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL
YEAR 2008.
(a) Declaration.--The Congress determines and declares that
the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2007
is revised and replaced and that this is the concurrent
resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2008, including
appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2009 through
2012.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this
resolution is as follows:
Sec. 1. Concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2008.
TITLE I--RECOMMENDED LEVELS AND AMOUNTS
Sec. 101. Recommended levels and amounts.
Sec. 102. Major functional categories.
TITLE II--RESERVE FUNDS
Sec. 201. Reserve fund for the State Children's Health Insurance
Program.
Sec. 202. Reserve fund for reform of the alternative minimum tax.
Sec. 203. Reserve fund to provide for middle-income tax relief and
economic equity.
Sec. 204. Reserve fund for agriculture.
Sec. 205. Reserve fund for higher education.
Sec. 206. Reserve fund for improvements in medicare.
Sec. 207. Reserve fund for creating long-term energy alternatives.
Sec. 208. Reserve fund for affordable housing.
Sec. 209. Reserve fund for equitable benefits for Filipino veterans of
World War II.
Sec. 210. Reserve fund for Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-
Determination Act reauthorization.
Sec. 211. Reserve fund for receipts from the Bonneville Power
Administration.
Sec. 212. Reserve fund for Transitional Medical Assistance.
TITLE III--BUDGET ENFORCEMENT
Sec. 301. Program integrity initiatives.
Sec. 302. Advance appropriations.
Sec. 303. Overseas deployments and emergency needs.
[[Page H4578]]
Sec. 304. Application and effect of changes in allocations and
aggregates.
Sec. 305. Adjustments to reflect changes in concepts and definitions.
Sec. 306. Compliance with section 13301 of the Budget Enforcement Act
of 1990.
Sec. 307. Exercise of rulemaking powers.
TITLE IV--POLICY
Sec. 401. Policy on middle-income tax relief.
Sec. 402. Policy on defense priorities.
Sec. 403. Policy on college affordability.
TITLE V--SENSE OF THE HOUSE
Sec. 501. Sense of the House on servicemembers' and veterans' health
care and other priorities.
Sec. 502. Sense of the House on the Innovation Agenda: A commitment to
competitiveness to keep America #1.
Sec. 503. Sense of the House on homeland security.
Sec. 504. Sense of the House regarding the ongoing need to respond to
Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
Sec. 505. Sense of the House regarding long-term sustainability of
entitlements.
Sec. 506. Sense of the House regarding the need to maintain and build
upon efforts to fight hunger.
Sec. 507. Sense of the House regarding affordable health coverage.
Sec. 508. Sense of the House regarding extension of the statutory pay-
as-you-go rule.
Sec. 509. Sense of the House on long-term budgeting.
Sec. 510. Sense of the House regarding pay parity.
Sec. 511. Sense of the House regarding waste, fraud, and abuse.
Sec. 512. Sense of the House regarding the importance of child support
enforcement.
Sec. 513. Sense of the House on State veterans cemeteries.
TITLE VI--RECONCILIATION
Sec. 601. Reconciliation.
TITLE I--RECOMMENDED LEVELS AND AMOUNTS
SEC. 101. RECOMMENDED LEVELS AND AMOUNTS.
The following budgetary levels are appropriate for each of
fiscal years 2007 through 2012:
(1) Federal revenues.--For purposes of the enforcement of
this resolution:
(A) The recommended levels of Federal revenues are as
follows:
Fiscal year 2007: $1,904,706,000,000.
Fiscal year 2008: $2,050,797,000,000.
Fiscal year 2009: $2,106,926,000,000.
Fiscal year 2010: $2,163,721,000,000.
Fiscal year 2011: $2,394,551,000,000.
Fiscal year 2012: $2,597,096,000,000.
(B) The amounts by which the aggregate levels of Federal
revenues should be adjusted are as follows:
Fiscal year 2007: $0.
Fiscal year 2008: $0.
Fiscal year 2009: $0.
Fiscal year 2010: $0.
Fiscal year 2011: $0.
Fiscal year 2012: $0.
(2) New budget authority.--For purposes of the enforcement
of this resolution, the appropriate levels of total new
budget authority are as follows:
Fiscal year 2007: $2,380,614,000,000.
Fiscal year 2008: $2,495,291,000,000.
Fiscal year 2009: $2,516,301,000,000.
Fiscal year 2010: $2,569,952,000,000.
Fiscal year 2011: $2,684,936,000,000.
Fiscal year 2012: $2,716,188,000,000.
(3) Budget outlays.--For purposes of the enforcement of
this resolution, the appropriate levels of total budget
outlays are as follows:
Fiscal year 2007: $2,300,065,000,000.
Fiscal year 2008: $2,465,888,000,000.
Fiscal year 2009: $2,565,305,000,000.
Fiscal year 2010: $2,600,718,000,000.
Fiscal year 2011: $2,691,358,000,000.
Fiscal year 2012: $2,700,809,000,000.
(4) Deficits (on-budget).--For purposes of the enforcement
of this resolution, the amounts of the deficits (on-budget)
are as follows:
Fiscal year 2007: $395,359,000,000.
Fiscal year 2008: $415,091,000,000.
Fiscal year 2009: $458,379,000,000.
Fiscal year 2010: $436,997,000,000.
Fiscal year 2011: $296,807,000,000.
Fiscal year 2012: $103,713,000,000.
(5) Debt subject to limit.--Pursuant to section 301(a)(5)
of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the appropriate
levels of the debt subject to limit are as follows:
Fiscal year 2007: $8,927,000,000,000.
Fiscal year 2008: $9,461,000,000,000.
Fiscal year 2009: $10,036,000,000,000.
Fiscal year 2010: $10,591,000,000,000.
Fiscal year 2011: $11,001,000,000,000.
Fiscal year 2012: $11,231,000,000,000.
(6) Debt held by the public.--The appropriate levels of
debt held by the public are as follows:
Fiscal year 2007: $5,042,000,000,000.
Fiscal year 2008: $5,269,000,000,000.
Fiscal year 2009: $5,524,000,000,000.
Fiscal year 2010: $5,743,000,000,000.
Fiscal year 2011: $5,805,000,000,000.
Fiscal year 2012: $5,663,000,000,000.
SEC. 102. MAJOR FUNCTIONAL CATEGORIES.
The Congress determines and declares that the appropriate
levels of new budget authority and outlays for fiscal years
2007 through 2012 for each major functional category are:
(1) National Defense (050):
Fiscal year 2007:
(A) New budget authority, $525,797,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $534,270,000,000.
Fiscal year 2008:
(A) New budget authority, $506,995,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $514,401,000,000.
Fiscal year 2009:
(A) New budget authority, $534,705,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $524,384,000,000.
Fiscal year 2010:
(A) New budget authority, $545,171,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $536,433,000,000.
Fiscal year 2011:
(A) New budget authority, $550,944,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $547,624,000,000.
Fiscal year 2012:
(A) New budget authority, $559,799,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $548,169,000,000.
(2) International Affairs (150):
Fiscal year 2007:
(A) New budget authority, $28,795,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $31,308,000,000.
Fiscal year 2008:
(A) New budget authority, $34,675,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $33,096,000,000.
Fiscal year 2009:
(A) New budget authority, $35,428,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $32,557,000,000.
Fiscal year 2010:
(A) New budget authority, $35,623,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $32,687,000,000.
Fiscal year 2011:
(A) New budget authority, $36,083,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $33,006,000,000.
Fiscal year 2012:
(A) New budget authority, $36,530,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $33,613,000,000.
(3) General Science, Space, and Technology (250):
Fiscal year 2007:
(A) New budget authority, $25,079,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $24,516,000,000.
Fiscal year 2008:
(A) New budget authority, $27,611,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $26,472,000,000.
Fiscal year 2009:
(A) New budget authority, $28,641,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $28,411,000,000.
Fiscal year 2010:
(A) New budget authority, $29,844,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $29,485,000,000.
Fiscal year 2011:
(A) New budget authority, $31,103,00,000.
(B) Outlays, $30,089,000,000.
Fiscal year 2012:
(A) New budget authority, $32,438,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $31,367,000,000.
(4) Energy (270):
Fiscal year 2007:
(A) New budget authority, $2,943,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $1,369,000,000.
Fiscal year 2008:
(A) New budget authority, $3,240,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $1,092,000,000.
Fiscal year 2009:
(A) New budget authority, $3,051,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $1,454,000,000.
Fiscal year 2010:
(A) New budget authority, $3,136,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $1,641,000,000.
Fiscal year 2011:
(A) New budget authority, $3,228,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $1,697,000,000.
Fiscal year 2012:
(A) New budget authority, $3,307,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $1,997,000,000.
(5) Natural Resources and Environment (300):
Fiscal year 2007:
(A) New budget authority, $31,332,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $32,919,000,000.
Fiscal year 2008:
(A) New budget authority, $32,813,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $34,864,000,000.
Fiscal year 2009:
(A) New budget authority, $33,529,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $35,332,000,000.
Fiscal year 2010:
(A) New budget authority, $34,483,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $35,574,000,000.
Fiscal year 2011:
(A) New budget authority, $35,152,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $35,952,000,000.
Fiscal year 2012:
(A) New budget authority, $36,194,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $36,543,000,000.
(6) Agriculture (350):
Fiscal year 2007:
(A) New budget authority, $21,471,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $19,738,000,000.
Fiscal year 2008:
(A) New budget authority, $20,381,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $19,549,000,000.
Fiscal year 2009:
(A) New budget authority, $20,933,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $20,059,000,000.
Fiscal year 2010:
(A) New budget authority, $21,138,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $20,112,000,000.
Fiscal year 2011:
(A) New budget authority, $21,156,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $20,436,000,000.
Fiscal year 2012:
(A) New budget authority, $21,402,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $20,863,000,000.
(7) Commerce and Housing Credit (370):
Fiscal year 2007:
(A) New budget authority, $5,515,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $3,522,000,000.
Fiscal year 2008:
(A) New budget authority, $9,158,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $1,985,000,000.
Fiscal year 2009:
(A) New budget authority, $9,973,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $996,000,000.
Fiscal year 2010:
(A) New budget authority, $13,775,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $3,460,000,000.
Fiscal year 2011:
(A) New budget authority, $8,822,000,000.
[[Page H4579]]
(B) Outlays, $1,931,000,000.
Fiscal year 2012:
(A) New budget authority, $8,822,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $1,097,000,000.
(8) Transportation (400):
Fiscal year 2007:
(A) New budget authority, $81,282,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $74,739,000,000.
Fiscal year 2008:
(A) New budget authority, $82,657,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $80,802,000,000.
Fiscal year 2009:
(A) New budget authority, $76,343,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $83,948,000,000.
Fiscal year 2010:
(A) New budget authority, $77,261,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $86,127,000,000.
Fiscal year 2011:
(A) New budget authority, $78,289,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $87,018,000,000.
Fiscal year 2012:
(A) New budget authority, $79,169,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $88,761,000,000.
(9) Community and Regional Development (450):
Fiscal year 2007:
(A) New budget authority, $15,717,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $28,281,000,000.
Fiscal year 2008:
(A) New budget authority, $15,032,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $22,017,000,000.
Fiscal year 2009:
(A) New budget authority, $13,928,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $20,474,000,000.
Fiscal year 2010:
(A) New budget authority, $14,129,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $19,220,000,000.
Fiscal year 2011:
(A) New budget authority, $14,328,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $17,649,000,000.
Fiscal year 2012:
(A) New budget authority, $14,528,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $15,131,000,000.
(10) Education, Training, Employment, and Social Services
(500):
Fiscal year 2007:
(A) New budget authority, $92,780,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $92,224,000,000.
Fiscal year 2008:
(A) New budget authority, $92,461,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $91,119,000,000.
Fiscal year 2009:
(A) New budget authority, $96,810,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $93,978,000,000.
Fiscal year 2010:
(A) New budget authority, $98,333,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $96,041,000,000.
Fiscal year 2011:
(A) New budget authority, $98,409,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $97,276,000,000.
Fiscal year 2012:
(A) New budget authority, $98,654,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $96,909,000,000.
(11) Health (550):
Fiscal year 2007:
(A) New budget authority, $267,892,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $268,197,000,000.
Fiscal year 2008:
(A) New budget authority, $286,767,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $286,261,000,000.
Fiscal year 2009:
(A) New budget authority, $307,842,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $305,984,000,000.
Fiscal year 2010:
(A) New budget authority, $325,885,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $325,716,000,000.
Fiscal year 2011:
(A) New budget authority, $347,621,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $346,553,000,000.
Fiscal year 2012:
(A) New budget authority, $370,780,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $369,739,000,000.
(12) Medicare (570):
Fiscal year 2007:
(A) New budget authority, $365,152,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $370,180,000,000.
Fiscal year 2008:
(A) New budget authority, $389,586,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $389,696,000,000.
Fiscal year 2009:
(A) New budget authority, $416,731,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $416,382,000,000.
Fiscal year 2010:
(A) New budget authority, $442,369,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $442,589,000,000.
Fiscal year 2011:
(A) New budget authority, $489,100,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $489,109,000,000.
Fiscal year 2012:
(A) New budget authority, $468,828,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $486,440,000,000.
(13) Income Security (600):
Fiscal year 2007:
(A) New budget authority, $360,365,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $364,204,000,000.
Fiscal year 2008:
(A) New budget authority, $379,927,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $383,546,000,000.
Fiscal year 2009:
(A) New budget authority, $391,073,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $393,458,000,000.
Fiscal year 2010:
(A) New budget authority, $401,429,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $402,422,000,000.
Fiscal year 2011:
(A) New budget authority, $417,016,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $416,907,000,000.
Fiscal year 2012:
(A) New budget authority, $402,874,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $402,130,000,000.
(14) Social Security (650):
Fiscal year 2007:
(A) New budget authority, $19,089,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $19,089,000,000.
Fiscal year 2008:
(A) New budget authority, $19,644,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $19,644,000,000.
Fiscal year 2009:
(A) New budget authority, $21,518,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $21,518,000,000.
Fiscal year 2010:
(A) New budget authority, $23,701,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $23,701,000,000.
Fiscal year 2011:
(A) New budget authority, $27,009,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $27,009,000,000.
Fiscal year 2012:
(A) New budget authority, $29,898,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $29,898,000,000.
(15) Veterans Benefits and Services (700):
Fiscal year 2007:
(A) New budget authority, $73,896,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $72,342,000,000.
Fiscal year 2008:
(A) New budget authority, $85,192,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $82,772,000,000.
Fiscal year 2009:
(A) New budget authority, $87,787,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $87,681,000,000.
Fiscal year 2010:
(A) New budget authority, $90,414,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $89,710,000,000.
Fiscal year 2011:
(A) New budget authority, $96,033,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $95,410,000,000.
Fiscal year 2012:
(A) New budget authority, $93,325,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $92,599,000,000.
(16) Administration of Justice (750):
Fiscal year 2007:
(A) New budget authority, $45,504,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $44,659,000,000.
Fiscal year 2008:
(A) New budget authority, $46,940,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $46,155,000,000.
Fiscal year 2009:
(A) New budget authority, $46,111,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $47,311,000,000.
Fiscal year 2010:
(A) New budget authority, $47,168,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $47,504,000,000.
Fiscal year 2011:
(A) New budget authority, $48,379,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $48,164,000,000.
Fiscal year 2012:
(A) New budget authority, $49,610,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $49,207,000,000.
(17) General Government (800):
Fiscal year 2007:
(A) New budget authority, $18,193,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $18,574,000,000.
Fiscal year 2008:
(A) New budget authority, $18,614,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $18,998,000,000.
Fiscal year 2009:
(A) New budget authority, $19,264,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $19,328,000,000.
Fiscal year 2010:
(A) New budget authority, $19,886,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $19,765,000,000.
Fiscal year 2011:
(A) New budget authority, $20,647,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $20,370,000,000.
Fiscal year 2012:
(A) New budget authority, $21,359,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $21,193,000,000.
(18) Net Interest (900):
Fiscal year 2007:
(A) New budget authority, $344,431,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $344,431,000,000.
Fiscal year 2008:
(A) New budget authority, $369,454,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $369,454,000,000.
Fiscal year 2009:
(A) New budget authority, $389,194,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $389,194,000,000.
Fiscal year 2010:
(A) New budget authority, $413,140,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $413,140,000,000.
Fiscal year 2011:
(A) New budget authority, $431,192,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $431,192,000,000.
Fiscal year 2012:
(A) New budget authority, $442,528,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $442,528,000,000.
(19) Allowances (920):
Fiscal year 2007:
(A) New budget authority, $785,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $755,000,000.
Fiscal year 2008:
(A) New budget authority, $0.
(B) Outlays, $30,000,000.
Fiscal year 2009:
(A) New budget authority, $0.
(B) Outlays, $0.
Fiscal year 2010:
(A) New budget authority, $0.
(B) Outlays, $0.
Fiscal year 2011:
(A) New budget authority, $0.
(B) Outlays, $0.
Fiscal year 2012:
(A) New budget authority, $0.
(B) Outlays, $0.
(20) Undistributed Offsetting Receipts (950):
Fiscal year 2007:
(A) New budget authority, $69,714,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $69,714,000,000.
Fiscal year 2008:
(A) New budget authority, $70,979,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $70,979,000,000.
Fiscal year 2009:
(A) New budget authority, $66,560,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $66,569,000,000.
Fiscal year 2010:
(A) New budget authority, $66,933,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $66,933,000,000.
Fiscal year 2011:
(A) New budget authority, $69,575,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $69,595,000,000.
Fiscal year 2012:
(A) New budget authority, $71,857,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $71,860,000,000.
(21) Overseas Deployments and Other Activities (970):
Fiscal year 2007:
(A) New budget authority, $124,310,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $31,506,000,000.
Fiscal year 2008:
(A) New budget authority, $145,163,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $114,914,000,000.
Fiscal year 2009:
(A) New budget authority, $50,000,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $109,425,000,000.
[[Page H4580]]
Fiscal year 2010:
(A) New budget authority, $0.
(B) Outlays, $42,324,000,000.
Fiscal year 2011:
(A) New budget authority, $0.
(B) Outlays, $13,561,000,000.
Fiscal year 2012:
(A) New budget authority, $0.
(B) Outlays, $4,485,000,000.
TITLE II--RESERVE FUNDS
SEC. 201. RESERVE FUND FOR THE STATE CHILDREN'S HEALTH
INSURANCE PROGRAM.
In the House, with respect to a bill or a joint resolution
(or an amendment to or a conference report submitted on such
a bill or joint resolution) reported from the Committee on
Energy and Commerce that increases new budget authority that
would result in no more than $50,000,000,000 in outlays for
fiscal years 2008 through 2012 for expanding coverage and
improving children's health through the State Children's
Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) under title XXI of the
Social Security Act and the program under title XIX of such
Act (commonly known as medicaid), the chairman of the
Committee on Budget may make the appropriate adjustments in
allocations of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in
budget authority and outlays of other committees as may be
necessary pursuant to such adjustment for the Committee on
Energy and Commerce, and budgetary aggregates, but only to
the extent that such bill or joint resolution (as amended, in
the case of an amendment) in the form placed before the House
by the Committee on Rules would not increase the deficit or
decrease the surplus for the period of fiscal years 2007
through 2012 and the period of fiscal years 2007 through
2017. The adjustments may be made whenever a rule providing
for consideration of such a bill or joint resolution is
filed, such a bill or joint resolution is placed on any
calendar, or an amendment is offered or considered as adopted
or a conference report is submitted on such a bill or joint
resolution.
SEC. 202. RESERVE FUND FOR REFORM OF THE ALTERNATIVE MINIMUM
TAX.
In the House, with respect to any bill or joint resolution
(or an amendment thereto or conference report thereon) that
provides for reform of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 by
reducing the tax burden of the alternative minimum tax on
middle-income families, the chairman of the Committee on the
Budget may make the appropriate adjustments in allocations of
a committee or committees and budgetary aggregates, but only
to the extent that such bills or joint resolutions (as
amended, in the case of an amendment) in the form placed
before the House by the Committee on Rules would not increase
the deficit or decrease the surplus for the period of fiscal
years 2007 through 2012 and the period of fiscal years 2007
through 2017. The adjustments may be made whenever a rule
providing for consideration of such bills or joint
resolutions is filed, such bills or joint resolutions are
placed on any calendar, or an amendment is offered or
considered as adopted or a conference report is submitted on
such bills or joint resolutions.
SEC. 203. RESERVE FUND TO PROVIDE FOR MIDDLE-INCOME TAX
RELIEF AND ECONOMIC EQUITY.
In the House, with respect to any bill or joint resolution
(or an amendment thereto or conference report thereon) that
provides for tax relief for middle-income families and
taxpayers and enhanced economic equity, such as extension of
the child tax credit, extension of marriage penalty relief,
extension of the 10 percent individual income tax bracket,
modification of the Alternative Minimum Tax, elimination of
estate taxes on all but a minute fraction of estates by
reforming and substantially increasing the unified credit,
extension of the research and experimentation tax credit,
extension of the deduction for State and local sales taxes,
and a tax credit for school construction bonds, the chairman
of the Committee on the Budget may make the appropriate
adjustments in allocations of a committee or committees and
budgetary aggregates, but only to the extent that such bills
or joint resolutions (as amended, in the case of an
amendment) in the form placed before the House by the
Committee on Rules would not increase the deficit or decrease
the surplus for the period of fiscal years 2007 through 2012
and the period of fiscal years 2007 through 2017. The
adjustments may be made whenever a rule providing for
consideration of such bills or joint resolutions are filed,
such bills or joint resolutions are placed on any calendar,
or an amendment is offered or considered as adopted or a
conference report is submitted on such bills or joint
resolutions.
SEC. 204. RESERVE FUND FOR AGRICULTURE.
In the House, with respect to a bill or a joint resolution
(or an amendment thereto or conference report thereon) that
provides for the reauthorization of the programs of the Food
Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 or prior Acts,
authorizes similar programs, or both, that increases new
budget authority by no more than $20,000,000,000 for the
period of fiscal years 2007 through 2012, the chairman of the
Committee on the Budget may make the appropriate adjustments
in allocations of a committee or committees and budgetary
aggregates, but only to the extent that such bill or joint
resolution (as amended, in the case of an amendment) in the
form placed before the House by the Committee on Rules would
not increase the deficit or decrease the surplus for the
period of fiscal years 2007 through 2012 and the period of
fiscal years 2007 through 2017. The adjustments may be made
whenever a rule providing for consideration of such a bill or
joint resolution is filed, such a bill or joint resolution is
placed on any calendar, or an amendment is offered or
considered as adopted or a conference report is submitted on
such a bill or joint resolution.
SEC. 205. RESERVE FUND FOR HIGHER EDUCATION.
In the House, with respect to a bill or a joint resolution
(or an amendment thereto or conference report thereon) that
makes college more affordable through reforms to the Higher
Education Act of 1965, the chairman of the Committee on the
Budget may make the appropriate adjustments in allocations of
a committee or committees and budgetary aggregates, but only
to the extent that such bill or joint resolution (as amended,
in the case of an amendment) in the form placed before the
House by the Committee on Rules would not increase the
deficit or decrease the surplus for the period of fiscal
years 2007 through 2012 and the period of fiscal years 2007
through 2017. The adjustments may be made whenever a rule
providing for consideration of such a bill or joint
resolution is filed, such a bill or joint resolution is
placed on any calendar, or an amendment is offered or
considered as adopted or a conference report is submitted on
such a bill or joint resolution.
SEC. 206. RESERVE FUND FOR IMPROVEMENTS IN MEDICARE.
In the House, with respect to a bill or a joint resolution
(or an amendment thereto or conference report thereon) that
improves the medicare program for beneficiaries and protects
access to care, through measures such as increasing the
reimbursement rate for physicians while protecting
beneficiaries from associated premium increases and making
improvements to the prescription drug program under part D,
the chairman of the Committee on the Budget may make the
appropriate adjustments in allocations of a committee or
committees and budgetary aggregates, but only to the extent
that such bill or joint resolution (as amended, in the case
of an amendment) in the form placed before the House by the
Committee on Rules would not increase the deficit or decrease
the surplus for the period of fiscal years 2007 through 2012
and the period of fiscal years 2007 through 2017. The
adjustments may be made whenever a rule providing for
consideration of such a bill or joint resolution is filed,
such a bill or joint resolution is placed on any calendar, or
an amendment is offered or considered as adopted or a
conference report is submitted on such a bill or joint
resolution.
SEC. 207. RESERVE FUND FOR CREATING LONG-TERM ENERGY
ALTERNATIVES.
In the House, with respect to a bill or a joint resolution
(or an amendment thereto or conference report thereon) that
fulfills the purposes of section 301(a) of H.R. 6, the Clean
Energy Act of 2007:
(1) The chairman of the Committee on Budget may make the
appropriate adjustments in allocations of a committee or
committees and budgetary aggregates, but only to the extent
that such bill or joint resolution (as amended, in the case
of an amendment) would not increase the deficit or decrease
the surplus for the period of fiscal years 2007 through 2012
and the period of fiscal years 2007 through 2017. The
adjustments made under this paragraph may be made whenever a
rule is filed for a bill or joint resolution that attributes
the offsets included in H.R. 6 to the bill or joint
resolution.
(2) The chairman of the Committee on the Budget may make
appropriate adjustments to the allocations provided for under
section 302(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to the
Committee on Appropriations to the extent a bill or joint
resolution in the form placed before the House by the
Committee on Rules provides budget authority for purposes set
forth in section 301(a) of H.R. 6 in excess of the amounts
provided for those purposes in fiscal year 2007. Any
adjustments made under this paragraph shall not include
revenues attributable to changes in the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986 and shall not exceed the receipts estimated by the
Congressional Budget Office that are attributable to H.R. 6
for the year in which the adjustments are made.
SEC. 208. RESERVE FUND FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
In the House, with respect to a bill or a joint resolution
(or an amendment thereto or conference report thereon) that
provides for an affordable housing fund, offset by reforming
the regulation of certain government-sponsored enterprises,
the chairman of the Committee on the Budget may make the
appropriate adjustments in allocations of a committee or
committees and budgetary aggregates, but only to the extent
that such bill or joint resolution (as amended, in the case
of an amendment) in the form placed before the House by the
Committee on Rules would not increase the deficit or decrease
the surplus for the period of fiscal years 2007 through 2012
and the period of fiscal years 2007 through 2017. The
adjustments may be made whenever a rule providing for
consideration of such a bill or joint resolution is filed,
such a bill or joint resolution is placed on any calendar, or
an amendment is offered or considered as adopted or a
conference report is submitted on such a bill or joint
resolution.
[[Page H4581]]
SEC. 209. RESERVE FUND FOR EQUITABLE BENEFITS FOR FILIPINO
VETERANS OF WORLD WAR II.
In the House, with respect to a bill or a joint resolution
(or an amendment thereto or conference report thereon) that
would provide for or increase benefits to Filipino veterans
of World War II, their survivors and dependents, the chairman
of the Committee on the Budget may make the appropriate
adjustments in allocations of a committee or committees and
budgetary aggregates, but only to the extent that such bill
or joint resolution (as amended, in the case of an amendment)
in the form placed before the House by the Committee on Rules
would not increase the deficit or decrease the surplus for
the period of fiscal years 2007 through 2012 and the period
of fiscal years 2007 through 2017. The adjustments may be
made whenever a rule providing for consideration of such a
bill or joint resolution is filed, such a bill or joint
resolution is placed on any calendar, or an amendment is
offered or considered as adopted or a conference report is
submitted on such a bill or joint resolution.
SEC. 210. RESERVE FUND FOR SECURE RURAL SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY
SELF-DETERMINATION ACT REAUTHORIZATION.
In the House, with respect to a bill or a joint resolution
(or an amendment thereto or conference report thereon) that
provides for the reauthorization of the Secure Rural Schools
and Community Self-Determination Act (Public Law 106-393),
the chairman of the Committee on the Budget may make the
appropriate adjustments in allocations of a committee or
committees and budgetary aggregates, but only to the extent
that such bill or joint resolution (as amended, in the case
of an amendment) in the form placed before the House by the
Committee on Rules would not increase the deficit or decrease
the surplus for the period of fiscal years 2007 through 2012
and the period of fiscal years 2007 through 2017. The
adjustments may be made whenever a rule providing for
consideration of such a bill or joint resolution is filed,
such a bill or joint resolution is placed on any calendar, or
an amendment is offered or considered as adopted or a
conference report is submitted on such a bill or joint
resolution.
SEC. 211. RESERVE FUND FOR RECEIPTS FROM THE BONNEVILLE POWER
ADMINISTRATION.
In the House, with respect to a bill or a joint resolution
(or an amendment thereto or conference report thereon) that
prohibits the Bonneville Power Administration from making
early payments on its Federal Bond Debt to the Department of
the Treasury, the chairman of the Committee on Budget may
make the appropriate adjustments in allocations of a
committee or committees and budgetary aggregates, but only to
the extent that such bill or joint resolution (as amended, in
the case of an amendment) in the form placed before the House
by the Committee on Rules would not increase the deficit or
decrease the surplus for the period of fiscal years 2007
through 2012 and the period of fiscal years 2007 through
2017. The adjustments may be made whenever a rule providing
for consideration of such a bill or joint resolution is
filed, such a bill or joint resolution is placed on any
calendar, or an amendment is offered or considered as adopted
or a conference report is submitted on such a bill or joint
resolution.
SEC. 212. RESERVE FUND FOR TRANSITIONAL MEDICAL ASSISTANCE.
In the House, with respect to a bill or a joint resolution
(or an amendment thereto or conference report thereon) that
extends the Transitional Medical Assistance program, included
in title 19 of the Social Security Act, through fiscal year
2008, the chairman of the Committee on Budget may make the
appropriate adjustments in allocations of a committee or
committees and budgetary aggregates, but only to the extent
that such bill or joint resolution (as amended, in the case
of an amendment) in the form placed before the House by the
Committee on Rules would not increase the deficit or decrease
the surplus for the period of fiscal years 2007 through 2012
and the period of fiscal years 2007 through 2017. The
adjustments may be made whenever a rule providing for
consideration of such a bill or joint resolution is filed,
such a bill or joint resolution is placed on any calendar, or
an amendment is offered or considered as adopted or a
conference report is submitted on such a bill or joint
resolution.
TITLE III--BUDGET ENFORCEMENT
SEC. 301. PROGRAM INTEGRITY INITIATIVES.
(a) Adjustments to Discretionary Spending Limits.--
(1) Continuing disability reviews and supplemental security
income redeterminations.--If a bill or joint resolution is
reported making appropriations for fiscal year 2008 that
appropriates $264,000,000 for continuing disability reviews
and Supplemental Security Income redeterminations for the
Social Security Administration, and provides an additional
appropriation of up to $213,000,000 and the amount is
designated for continuing disability reviews and Supplemental
Security Income redeterminations for the Social Security
Administration, then the allocation to the House Committee on
Appropriations shall be increased by the amount of the
additional budget authority and outlays flowing from that
budget authority for fiscal year 2008.
(2) Internal revenue service tax compliance.--If a bill or
joint resolution is reported making appropriations for fiscal
year 2008 that appropriates up to $6,822,000,000 to the
Internal Revenue Service and the amount is designated to
improve compliance with the provisions of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986 and provides an additional appropriation
of up to $406,000,000, and the amount is designated to
improve compliance with the provisions of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, then the allocation to the House
Committee on Appropriations shall be increased by the amount
of the additional budget authority and outlays flowing from
that budget authority for fiscal year 2008.
(3) Healthcare fraud and abuse control program.--If a bill
or joint resolution is reported making appropriations for
fiscal year 2008 that appropriates up to $183,000,000 and the
amount is designated to the healthcare fraud and abuse
control program at the Department of Health and Human
Services, then the allocation to the House Committee on
Appropriations shall be increased by the amount of additional
budget authority and outlays flowing from that budget
authority for fiscal year 2008.
(4) Unemployment insurance improper payments.--If a bill or
joint resolution is reported making appropriations for fiscal
year 2008 that appropriates $10,000,000 for unemployment
insurance improper payment reviews for the Department of
Labor, and provides an additional appropriation of up to
$40,000,000 and the amount is designated for unemployment
insurance improper payment reviews for the Department of
Labor, then the allocation to the House Committee on
Appropriations shall be increased by the amount of the
additional budget authority and outlays flowing from that
budget authority for fiscal year 2008.
(b) Procedure for Adjustments.--
(1) In general.--
(A) Chairman.--After the reporting of a bill or joint
resolution, or the offering of an amendment thereto or the
submission of a conference report thereon, the chairman of
the Committee on the Budget shall make the adjustments set
forth in subparagraph (B) for the incremental new budget
authority in that measure (if that measure meets the
requirements set forth in paragraph (2)) and the outlays
flowing from that budget authority.
(B) Matters to be adjusted.--The adjustments referred to in
subparagraph (A) are to be made to--
(i) the allocations made pursuant to the appropriate
concurrent resolution on the budget pursuant to section
302(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974; and
(ii) the budgetary aggregates as set forth in this
resolution.
(c) Oversight of Government Performance.--In the House, all
committees are directed to review programs within their
jurisdiction to root out waste, fraud, and abuse in program
spending, giving particular scrutiny to issues raised by
Government Accountability Office reports. Based on these
oversight efforts and committee performance reviews of
programs within their jurisdiction, committees are directed
to include recommendations for improved governmental
performance in their annual views and estimates reports
required under section 301(d) of the Congressional Budget Act
of 1974 to the Committee on the Budget.
SEC. 302. ADVANCE APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) In General.--In the House, except as provided in
subsection (b), a bill or joint resolution making a general
appropriation or continuing appropriation, or an amendment
thereto may not provide for advance appropriations.
(b) Advance Appropriation.--In the House, an advance
appropriation may be provided for fiscal year 2009 or 2010
for programs, projects, activities, or accounts identified in
the joint explanatory statement of managers accompanying this
resolution under the heading ``Accounts Identified for
Advance Appropriations'' in an aggregate amount not to exceed
$25,558,000,000 in new budget authority.
(c) Definition.--In this section, the term ``advance
appropriation'' means any new discretionary budget authority
provided in a bill or joint resolution making general
appropriations or any new discretionary budget authority
provided in a bill or joint resolution continuing
appropriations for fiscal year 2008 that first becomes
available for any fiscal year after 2008.
SEC. 303. OVERSEAS DEPLOYMENTS AND EMERGENCY NEEDS.
(a) Overseas Deployments and Related Activities.--In the
House, any bill or joint resolution or amendment offered or
considered as adopted or a conference report thereon, that
makes appropriations for fiscal year 2008 or fiscal year 2009
for overseas deployments and related activities, and such
amounts are so designated pursuant to this subsection, then
new budget authority, outlays or receipts resulting therefrom
shall not count for the purposes of titles III and IV of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974.
(b) Emergency Needs.--In the House, any bill or joint
resolution, or amendment offered or considered as adopted or
conference report thereon, that makes appropriations for
nondefense discretionary amounts, and such amounts are
designated as necessary to meet emergency needs, then the new
budget authority, outlays, or receipts resulting therefrom
shall not be counted for the purposes of titles III and IV of
the Congressional Budget Act of 1974.
[[Page H4582]]
SEC. 304. APPLICATION AND EFFECT OF CHANGES IN ALLOCATIONS
AND AGGREGATES.
(a) Application.--Any adjustments of allocations and
aggregates made pursuant to this resolution shall--
(1) apply while that measure is under consideration;
(2) take effect upon the enactment of that measure; and
(3) be published in the Congressional Record as soon as
practicable.
(b) Effect of Changed Allocations and Aggregates.--Revised
allocations and aggregates resulting from these adjustments
shall be considered for the purposes of the Congressional
Budget Act of 1974 as allocations and aggregates contained in
this resolution.
(c) Committee on the Budget Determinations.--For purposes
of this resolution, the levels of new budget authority,
outlays, direct spending, new entitlement authority,
revenues, deficits, and surpluses for a fiscal year or period
of fiscal years shall be determined on the basis of estimates
made by the Committee on the Budget.
SEC. 305. ADJUSTMENTS TO REFLECT CHANGES IN CONCEPTS AND
DEFINITIONS.
Upon the enactment of a bill or joint resolution providing
for a change in concepts or definitions, the chairman of the
Committee on the Budget shall make adjustments to the levels
and allocations in this resolution in accordance with section
251(b) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control
Act of 1985 (as in effect on September 30, 2002).
SEC. 306. COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 13301 OF THE BUDGET
ENFORCEMENT ACT OF 1990.
(a) In General.--In the House and the Senate,
notwithstanding section 302(a)(1) of the Congressional Budget
Act of 1974 and section 13301 of the Budget Enforcement Act
of 1990, the joint explanatory statement accompanying the
conference report on any concurrent resolution on the budget
shall include in its allocation under section 302(a) of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to the Committee on
Appropriations amounts for the discretionary administrative
expenses of the Social Security Administration.
(b) Special Rule.--In the House, for purposes of applying
section 302(f) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974,
estimates of the level of total new budget authority and
total outlays provided by a measure shall include any
discretionary amounts provided for the Social Security
Administration.
SEC. 307. EXERCISE OF RULEMAKING POWERS.
Congress adopts the provisions of this title--
(1) as an exercise of the rulemaking power of the House and
as such they shall be considered as part of the rules of the
House, and such rules shall supersede other rules only to the
extent that they are inconsistent therewith; and
(2) with full recognition of the constitutional right of
the House to change those rules at any time, in the same
manner, and to the same extent as in the case of any other
rule of the House.
TITLE IV--POLICY
SEC. 401. POLICY ON MIDDLE-INCOME TAX RELIEF.
It is the policy of this resolution to minimize fiscal
burdens on middle-income families and their children and
grandchildren. It is the policy of this resolution to provide
immediate relief for the tens of millions of middle-income
households who would otherwise be subject to the Alternative
Minimum Tax (AMT) under current law in the context of
permanent, revenue-neutral AMT reform. Furthermore, it is the
policy of this resolution to support extension of middle-
income tax relief and enhanced economic equity through
policies such as--
(1) extension of the child tax credit;
(2) extension of marriage penalty relief;
(3) extension of the 10 percent individual income tax
bracket;
(4) elimination of estate taxes on all but a minute
fraction of estates by reforming and substantially increasing
the unified tax credit;
(5) extension of the research and experimentation tax
credit;
(6) extension of the deduction for State and local sales
taxes;
(7) extension of the deduction for small business
expensing; and
(8) enactment of a tax credit for school construction
bonds.
This resolution assumes the cost of enacting such policies is
offset by reforms within the Internal Revenue Code of 1986
that promote a fairer distribution of taxes across families
and generations, economic efficiency, higher rates of tax
compliance to close the ``tax gap'', and reduced taxpayer
burdens through tax simplification.
SEC. 402. POLICY ON DEFENSE PRIORITIES.
It is the policy of this resolution that--
(1) recommendations of the National Commission on Terrorist
Attacks Upon the United States (commonly referred to as the
9/11 Commission) to fund cooperative threat reduction and
nuclear nonproliferation programs at a level commensurate
with the risk is a high priority, and the President's budget
should have requested sufficient funding for these programs;
(2) ensuring that the TRICARE fees for military retirees
under the age of 65 remain at current levels;
(3) funds be provided for increasing pay to ensure
retention of experienced personnel and for improving military
benefits in general;
(4) the Missile Defense Agency should be funded at an
adequate but lower level and the elimination of space-based
interceptor development will ensure a more prudent
acquisition strategy, yet still support a robust ballistic
missile defense program;
(5) satellite research, development, and procurement be
funded at a level below the amount requested for fiscal year
2008, which amounts to a 26 percent increase above the
current level, but at a level sufficient to develop new
satellite technologies while ensuring a more prudent
acquisition strategy;
(6) sufficient resources be provided to implement
Government Accountability Office (GAO) recommendations, such
as improving financial management and contracting practices
at the Department of Defense (DOD), and that substantial
savings should result from the identification of billions of
dollars of obligations and disbursements and Government
overcharges for which the Department of Defense cannot
account;
(7) that the Department of Defense should do a more careful
job of addressing the 1,378 Government Accountability Office
recommendations made to the Department of Defense and its
components over the last six years that have yet to be
implemented, which could produce billions of dollars in
savings; and
(8) accruing all savings from the actions recommended in
paragraphs (4) through (7) should be used to fund higher
priorities within Function 050 (Defense), and especially
those high priorities identified in paragraphs (1) through
(3) and to help fund recommendations of the bipartisan
``Walter Reed Commission'' (the President's Commission on
Care for America's Returning Wounded Warriors) and other
United States Government investigations into military
healthcare facilities and services.
SEC. 403. POLICY ON COLLEGE AFFORDABILITY.
It is the policy of this resolution that the reconciliation
directive to the Committee on Education and Labor shall not
be construed to reduce any assistance that makes college more
affordable for students, including but not limited to
assistance to student aid programs run by nonprofit state
agencies.
TITLE V--SENSE OF THE HOUSE
SEC. 501. SENSE OF THE HOUSE ON SERVICEMEMBERS' AND VETERANS'
HEALTH CARE AND OTHER PRIORITIES.
It is the sense of the House that--
(1) the House supports excellent health care for current
and former members of the United States Armed Services, who
have served well and honorably and have made significant
sacrifices for this Nation;
(2) this resolution provides $43,055,000,000 in
discretionary budget authority for 2008 for Function 700
(Veterans Benefits and Services), including veterans' health
care, which is $6,598,000,000 more than the 2007 level,
$5,404,000,000 more than the Congressional Budget Office's
baseline level for 2008, and $3,506,000,000 more than the
President's budget for 2008;
(3) this resolution provides funding to implement, in part,
recommendations of the bi-partisan ``Walter Reed Commission''
(the President's Commission on Care for America's Returning
Wounded Warriors) and other United States Government
investigations into military and veterans health care
facilities and services;
(4) this resolution assumes the rejection of the enrollment
fees and co-payment increases in the President's budget;
(5) this resolution provides additional funding above the
President's inadequate budget levels for the Department of
Veterans Affairs to research and treat veterans' mental
health, post-traumatic stress disorder, and traumatic brain
and spinal cord injuries; and
(6) this resolution provides additional funding above the
President's inadequate budget levels for the Department of
Veterans Affairs to improve the speed and accuracy of its
processing of disability compensation claims, including
funding to hire additional personnel above the President's
requested level.
SEC. 502. SENSE OF THE HOUSE ON THE INNOVATION AGENDA: A
COMMITMENT TO COMPETITIVENESS TO KEEP AMERICA
#1.
(a) It is the sense of the House to provide sufficient
funding that our Nation may continue to be the world leader
in education, innovation and economic growth. This resolution
provides $450,000,000 above the President's requested level
for 2008, and additional amounts in subsequent years in
Function 250 (General Science, Space and Technology) and
Function 270 (Energy). Additional increases for scientific
research and education are included in Function 500
(Education, Employment, Training, and Social Services),
Function 550 (Health), Function 300 (Environment and Natural
Resources), Function 350 (Agriculture), Function 400
(Transportation), and Function 370 (Commerce and Housing
Credit), all of which receive more funding than the President
requested.
(b) America's greatest resource for innovation resides
within classrooms across the country. The increased funding
provided in this resolution will support important
initiatives to educate 100,000 new scientists, engineers, and
mathematicians, and place highly qualified teachers in math
and science K-12 classrooms.
(c) Independent scientific research provides the foundation
for innovation and future technologies. This resolution will
put us on the path toward doubling funding for the National
Science Foundation, basic research in
[[Page H4583]]
the physical sciences across all agencies, and collaborative
research partnerships; and toward achieving energy
independence through the development of clean and sustainable
alternative energy technologies.
SEC. 503. SENSE OF THE HOUSE ON HOMELAND SECURITY.
It is the sense of the House that--
(1) this resolution assumes additional homeland security
funding above the President's requested level for 2008 and
every subsequent year;
(2) this resolution assumes funding above the President's
requested level for 2008, and additional amounts in
subsequent years, in the four budget functions: Function 400
(Transportation), Function 450 (Community and Regional
Development), Function 550 (Health), and Function 750
(Administration of Justice) that fund most nondefense
homeland security activities; and
(3) the homeland security funding provided in this
resolution will help to strengthen the security of our
Nation's transportation system, particularly our ports where
significant security shortfalls still exist and foreign
ports, by expanding efforts to identify and scan all high-
risk United States-bound cargo, equip first responders,
strengthen border patrol, and increase the preparedness of
the public health system.
SEC. 504. SENSE OF THE HOUSE REGARDING THE ONGOING NEED TO
RESPOND TO HURRICANES KATRINA AND RITA.
It is the sense of the House that:
(1) Critical needs in the Gulf Coast region should be
addressed without further delay. The budget resolution
creates a reserve fund that would allow for affordable
housing that may be used to focus on areas devastated by
Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, as well as new funding for
additional recovery priorities.
(2) Additional oversight and investigation is needed to
ensure that recovery efforts are on track, develop
legislation to reform the contracting process, and better
prepare for future disasters. Those efforts should be made in
close consultation with residents of affected areas. The
budget resolution provides additional 2007 funding for the
Federal Emergency Management Agency, some of which may be
used for this purpose.
SEC. 505. SENSE OF THE HOUSE REGARDING LONG-TERM
SUSTAINABILITY OF ENTITLEMENTS.
(a) Findings.--The House finds the following:
(1) The aging of the United States population is going to
put unprecedented pressure on the Nation's retirement and
health care systems.
(2) The long-term strength of social security would be
improved through a fiscally responsible policy of reducing
the deficit and paying down the debt that has accumulated
since 2001, thus reducing debt service payments and freeing
up billions of dollars that can be dedicated to meeting
social security's obligations.
(3) A policy of reducing and eventually eliminating the
deficit and paying down the debt is a key factor in improving
the long-term strength of the economy as a whole, because a
lower debt burden frees up resources for productive
investments that will result in higher economic growth,
provide a higher standard of living for future generations,
and enhance the Nation's ability to meet its commitments to
its senior citizens.
(4) The most significant factor affecting the Nation's
entitlement programs is the rapid increase in health care
costs. The projected increasing costs of medicare and
medicaid are not unique to these programs but rather are part
of a pattern of rising costs for the health sector as a
whole.
(b) Sense of the House.--It is the sense of the House that
the growing cost of entitlements should be addressed in a way
that is fiscally responsible and promotes economic growth,
that addresses the causes of cost growth in the broader
health care system, and that protects beneficiaries without
leaving a legacy of debt to future generations.
SEC. 506. SENSE OF THE HOUSE REGARDING THE NEED TO MAINTAIN
AND BUILD UPON EFFORTS TO FIGHT HUNGER.
(a) Findings.--The House finds the following:
(1) More than 35 million individuals (12.4 million of them
children) are food insecure, uncertain of having, or unable
to acquire enough food. 10.8 million Americans are hungry
because of lack of food.
(2) Despite the critical contributions of the Department of
Agriculture nutrition programs and particularly the food
stamp program that significantly reduced payment error rates
while increasing enrollment to partially mitigate the impact
of recent increases in the poverty rate, significant need
remains.
(3) Nearly 25 million people, including nine million
children and three million seniors, sought emergency food
assistance from food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, and
local charities last year.
(b) Sense of the House.--It is the sense of the House that
the Department of Agriculture programs that help fight hunger
should be maintained and that the House should seize
opportunities to enhance those programs to reach people in
need and to fight hunger.
SEC. 507. SENSE OF THE HOUSE REGARDING AFFORDABLE HEALTH
COVERAGE.
(a) Findings.--The House finds the following:
(1) More than 46 million Americans, including nine million
children, lack health insurance. People without health
insurance are more likely to experience problems getting
medical care and to be hospitalized for avoidable health
problems.
(2) Most Americans receive health coverage through their
employers. A major issue facing all employers is the rising
cost of health insurance. Small businesses, which have
generated most of the new jobs annually over the last decade,
have an especially difficult time affording health coverage,
due to higher administrative costs and fewer people over whom
to spread the risk of catastrophic costs. Because it is
especially costly for small businesses to provide health
coverage, their employees make up a large proportion of the
nation's uninsured individuals.
(b) Sense of the House.--It is the sense of the House that
legislation consistent with the pay-as-you-go principle
should be adopted that makes health insurance more affordable
and accessible, with attention to the special needs of small
businesses, and that lowers costs and improves the quality of
health care by encouraging integration of health information
technology tools into the practice of medicine, and promoting
improvements in disease management and disease prevention.
SEC. 508. SENSE OF THE HOUSE REGARDING EXTENSION OF THE
STATUTORY PAY-AS-YOU-GO RULE.
It is the sense of the House that in order to reduce the
deficit Congress should extend PAYGO in its original form in
the Budget Enforcement Act of 1990.
SEC. 509. SENSE OF THE HOUSE ON LONG-TERM BUDGETING.
It is the sense of Congress that the determination of the
congressional budget for the United States Government and the
President's budget request should include consideration of
the Financial Report of the United States Government,
especially its information regarding the Government's net
operating cost, financial position, and long-term
liabilities.
SEC. 510. SENSE OF THE HOUSE REGARDING PAY PARITY.
It is the sense of the House that rates of compensation for
civilian employees of the United States should be adjusted at
the same time, and in the same proportion, as are rates of
compensation for members of the uniformed services.
SEC. 511. SENSE OF THE HOUSE REGARDING WASTE, FRAUD, AND
ABUSE.
It is the sense of the House that all committees should
examine programs within their jurisdiction to identify
wasteful and fraudulent spending. To this end, section 301 of
this resolution includes cap adjustments to provide
appropriations for three programs that accounted for a
significant share of improper payments reported by Federal
agencies in 2006: Social Security Administration Continuing
Disability Reviews, the Medicare/Medicaid Health Care Fraud
and Abuse Control Program, and Unemployment Insurance.
Section 301 also includes a cap adjustment for the Internal
Revenue Services for tax compliance efforts to close the
$300,000,000,000 tax gap. In addition, the resolution's
deficit-neutral reserve funds require authorizing committees
to cut lower priority and wasteful spending to accommodate
new high-priority entitlement benefits. Finally, section 301
of the resolution directs all committees to review the
performance of programs within their jurisdiction and report
recommendations annually to the Committee on the Budget as
part of the views and estimates process required by section
301(d) of the Congressional Budget Act.
SEC. 512. SENSE OF THE HOUSE REGARDING THE IMPORTANCE OF
CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT.
It is the sense of the House that--
(1) additional legislative action is needed to ensure that
States have the necessary resources to collect all child
support that is owed to families and to allow them to pass
100 percent of support on to families without financial
penalty; and
(2) when 100 percent of child support payments are passed
to the child, rather than administrative expenses, program
integrity is improved and child support participation
increases.
SEC. 513. SENSE OF THE HOUSE ON STATE VETERANS CEMETERIES.
It is the sense of the House that the Federal Government
should pay the plot allowance for the interment in a State
veterans cemetery of any spouse or eligible child of a
veteran, consistent with the pay-as-you-go principle.
TITLE VI--RECONCILIATION
SEC. 601. RECONCILIATION.
(a) Instructions.--The House Committee on Education and
Labor shall report changes in laws to reduce the deficit by
$75,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2007 through 2012.
(b) Mandatory Savings.--Not later than September 10, 2007,
the House Committee on Education and Labor shall submit its
recommendations to the House of Representatives.
(c) Submission of Revised Allocations.--Upon the submission
to the House of a reconciliation bill or conference report
thereon, that complies with this reconciliation instruction,
the chairman of the Committee on the Budget may file with the
House appropriately revised allocations and budgetary
aggregates. Such revisions shall be considered to be the
allocations and aggregates established by the concurrent
resolution on the budget pursuant to section 301 of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974.
[[Page H4584]]
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to House Resolution 370, the
previous question is ordered.
The question is on concurring in the Senate concurrent resolution, as
amended.
Pursuant to clause 10 of rule XX, the yeas and nays are ordered.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--yeas 212,
nays 207, not voting 13, as follows:
[Roll No. 307]
YEAS--212
Abercrombie
Ackerman
Allen
Altmire
Andrews
Arcuri
Baca
Baird
Baldwin
Becerra
Berkley
Berman
Berry
Bishop (GA)
Bishop (NY)
Blumenauer
Boswell
Boucher
Boyd (FL)
Boyda (KS)
Brady (PA)
Braley (IA)
Capps
Capuano
Cardoza
Carnahan
Carney
Carson
Castor
Chandler
Clarke
Clay
Cleaver
Clyburn
Cohen
Conyers
Cooper
Costa
Costello
Courtney
Cramer
Crowley
Cuellar
Cummings
Davis (AL)
Davis (CA)
Davis (IL)
Davis, Lincoln
DeFazio
DeGette
Delahunt
DeLauro
Dicks
Dingell
Doggett
Edwards
Ellison
Emanuel
Eshoo
Etheridge
Farr
Filner
Frank (MA)
Giffords
Gillibrand
Gonzalez
Gordon
Green, Al
Green, Gene
Grijalva
Gutierrez
Hall (NY)
Hare
Harman
Hastings (FL)
Herseth Sandlin
Higgins
Hinchey
Hinojosa
Hirono
Hodes
Holden
Holt
Honda
Hooley
Hoyer
Inslee
Israel
Jackson (IL)
Jackson-Lee (TX)
Jefferson
Johnson (GA)
Jones (OH)
Kagen
Kanjorski
Kaptur
Kennedy
Kildee
Kilpatrick
Kind
Klein (FL)
Lampson
Langevin
Lantos
Larsen (WA)
Larson (CT)
Lee
Levin
Lewis (GA)
Lipinski
Loebsack
Lofgren, Zoe
Lowey
Lynch
Mahoney (FL)
Maloney (NY)
Markey
Matsui
McCarthy (NY)
McCollum (MN)
McDermott
McGovern
McIntyre
McNerney
McNulty
Meehan
Meek (FL)
Meeks (NY)
Melancon
Michaud
Miller (NC)
Miller, George
Mollohan
Moore (KS)
Moore (WI)
Moran (VA)
Murphy (CT)
Murtha
Nadler
Napolitano
Neal (MA)
Oberstar
Obey
Olver
Ortiz
Pallone
Pascrell
Pastor
Payne
Perlmutter
Peterson (MN)
Pomeroy
Price (NC)
Rahall
Rangel
Reyes
Rodriguez
Ross
Rothman
Roybal-Allard
Rush
Ryan (OH)
Salazar
Sanchez, Linda T.
Sanchez, Loretta
Sarbanes
Schakowsky
Schiff
Schwartz
Scott (GA)
Scott (VA)
Serrano
Sestak
Shea-Porter
Sherman
Sires
Skelton
Slaughter
Smith (WA)
Snyder
Solis
Space
Spratt
Stark
Stupak
Sutton
Tanner
Tauscher
Taylor
Thompson (CA)
Thompson (MS)
Tierney
Towns
Udall (CO)
Udall (NM)
Van Hollen
Velazquez
Visclosky
Walz (MN)
Wasserman Schultz
Waters
Watson
Watt
Waxman
Weiner
Welch (VT)
Wexler
Wilson (OH)
Woolsey
Wu
Wynn
Yarmuth
NAYS--207
Aderholt
Akin
Alexander
Bachmann
Bachus
Baker
Barrett (SC)
Barrow
Bartlett (MD)
Barton (TX)
Bean
Biggert
Bilbray
Bilirakis
Bishop (UT)
Blackburn
Blunt
Boehner
Bonner
Bono
Boozman
Boren
Boustany
Brady (TX)
Brown (SC)
Brown-Waite, Ginny
Buchanan
Burgess
Burton (IN)
Buyer
Calvert
Camp (MI)
Campbell (CA)
Cannon
Cantor
Capito
Carter
Castle
Chabot
Coble
Cole (OK)
Conaway
Crenshaw
Cubin
Culberson
Davis (KY)
Davis, David
Davis, Jo Ann
Davis, Tom
Deal (GA)
Dent
Diaz-Balart, L.
Diaz-Balart, M.
Donnelly
Doolittle
Drake
Dreier
Duncan
Ehlers
Ellsworth
Emerson
English (PA)
Everett
Fallin
Ferguson
Flake
Forbes
Fortenberry
Fossella
Foxx
Franks (AZ)
Frelinghuysen
Gallegly
Garrett (NJ)
Gerlach
Gillmor
Gingrey
Gohmert
Goode
Goodlatte
Granger
Graves
Hall (TX)
Hastert
Hastings (WA)
Hayes
Heller
Hensarling
Herger
Hill
Hobson
Hoekstra
Hunter
Inglis (SC)
Issa
Jindal
Johnson (IL)
Johnson, Sam
Jones (NC)
Jordan
Keller
King (IA)
King (NY)
Kingston
Kirk
Kline (MN)
Knollenberg
Kucinich
Kuhl (NY)
LaHood
Lamborn
Latham
LaTourette
Lewis (CA)
Lewis (KY)
Linder
LoBiondo
Lucas
Lungren, Daniel E.
Mack
Manzullo
Marchant
Marshall
Matheson
McCarthy (CA)
McCaul (TX)
McCotter
McCrery
McHenry
McHugh
McKeon
Mica
Miller (FL)
Miller (MI)
Miller, Gary
Mitchell
Moran (KS)
Murphy, Patrick
Murphy, Tim
Musgrave
Myrick
Neugebauer
Nunes
Paul
Pearce
Pence
Peterson (PA)
Petri
Pickering
Pitts
Platts
Poe
Porter
Price (GA)
Pryce (OH)
Putnam
Radanovich
Ramstad
Regula
Rehberg
Reichert
Renzi
Reynolds
Rogers (AL)
Rogers (KY)
Rogers (MI)
Rohrabacher
Ros-Lehtinen
Roskam
Royce
Ryan (WI)
Sali
Saxton
Schmidt
Sensenbrenner
Sessions
Shadegg
Shays
Shimkus
Shuler
Shuster
Simpson
Smith (NE)
Smith (NJ)
Smith (TX)
Stearns
Sullivan
Tancredo
Terry
Thornberry
Tiberi
Turner
Upton
Walberg
Walden (OR)
Walsh (NY)
Wamp
Weldon (FL)
Weller
Westmoreland
Whitfield
Wicker
Wilson (NM)
Wilson (SC)
Wolf
Young (AK)
Young (FL)
NOT VOTING--13
Brown, Corrine
Butterfield
Doyle
Engel
Fattah
Feeney
Gilchrest
Hulshof
Johnson, E. B.
McMorris Rodgers
Ruppersberger
Souder
Tiahrt
Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore
The SPEAKER pro tempore (during the vote). Members are advised that
there are 2 minutes remaining in this vote.
{time} 1407
Mr. BERMAN changed his vote from ``nay'' to ``yea.''
So the Senate concurrent resolution, as amended, was concurred in.
200-205
The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
Motion to Go to Conference
Mr. SPRATT. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 370, I offer a
motion.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Clerk will report the motion.
The Clerk read as follows:
Mr. Spratt moves that the House insist on its amendment and
request a conference with the Senate thereon.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to House Resolution 370, the
previous question is ordered.
The motion was agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
Motion to Instruct Conferees
Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, I offer a motion to instruct
conferees.
The Clerk read as follows:
Mr. Ryan of Wisconsin moves that the managers of the part
of the House at the conference on the disagreeing votes of
the two Houses on the House amendment to the concurrent
resolution on the budget, S. Con. Res. 21, be instructed to:
(A) Recede from the revenue levels set forth in the House
amendment; insist on the policy statement in section 401 of
the House amendment to support the extension of such tax
provisions as the child tax credit, extension of marriage
penalty relief, extension of the 10 percent individual income
tax bracket, extension of the research and experimentation
tax credit, extension of the deduction for State and local
sales taxes; and recede to section 210 of the Senate
resolution which prohibits consideration of an increase in
Federal income tax rates;
(B) Insist on the lowest possible levels of revenue within
the scope of the conference in fiscal years 2011 and 2012;
and make any commensurate adjustments in outlay levels; and
(C) Set forth a unified surplus of at least $96 billion in
fiscal year 2012 in resolving the differences between section
101(4) of the House amendment and section 101(4) of the
Senate resolution.
Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin (during the reading). Mr. Speaker, I ask
unanimous consent that the motion be considered as read and printed in
the Record.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Wisconsin?
There was no objection.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 7 of rule XXII, the
gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Ryan) and the gentleman from South
Carolina (Mr. Spratt) each will control 30 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Wisconsin.
Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, the motion we are offering today reflects a very simple
up or down choice: One, rejecting the largest tax increase in our
Nation's history, which is contained in the House budget; two,
insisting on the lowest possible level of taxes available in the budget
conference; and three, stopping the raid on Social Security's cash
surpluses.
Both the House and the Senate Democrat budgets call for historic tax
increases, and we in the minority can't do anything to prevent that.
But we hope that, with this vote, we can at least minimize the damage
that these tax hikes will bring.
Let me take a moment to describe the options that we have to work
with as a minority. The House-passed budget would impose a tax hike of
$392 billion from such things as reimposing
[[Page H4585]]
the tax penalty on married couples, cutting in half the child tax
credit, and raising marginal income tax rates on low- and middle-income
working families.
This would increase the average family's tax bill by roughly $2,900 a
year and likely reverse the economic progress we have achieved over the
past few years. So, right along with their higher tax bill, Americans
would see fewer jobs and slower wage growth.
This massive tax increase was the only way the House Democrats could
accomplish their massive increase in spending. Their budget makes no
effort, none, to moderate the growth of spending. It simply requires
taxpayers to send more of their money to make the Democrats' budget
numbers add up.
In our debate a few weeks ago, the Democrats tried gamely to assert
that their budget doesn't increase taxes after all. And as proof, they
pointed to the novel policy language that claims that they will extend
some of the tax relief provisions enacted in 2001 and 2003. They have
these reserve funds that say they don't really want to raise taxes. But
if you read the fine print, this would only happen later and only if
they hike some other taxes by the same amount. So even with the flowery
reserve fund language, the goal, the preference of not raising taxes
can only be met if they raise taxes.
But the numbers in this budget tell a very different story. By the
numbers, which is what a budget is all about, the House budget raises
taxes nearly $400 billion, and numbers do not lie.
The other option is the Senate budget, which raises taxes by about
$216 billion, the second largest tax increase in American history. This
will include higher taxes on middle-income earners because the Senate
budget still raises marginal income tax rates across the board. But at
least it attempts to protect the marriage penalty relief, child tax
credit and estate tax relief.
Unfortunately, the other Chamber, like their Democrat counterparts in
the House, also call for large spending increases. And as a
consequence, their budget will continue to raid the Social Security
trust funds in fiscal year 2012, something the House-passed budget and
the Republican substitute did not do.
So while the Democrat budget in the Senate didn't raise as many
taxes, it did raid the Social Security trust fund, and the House
Republican and the House Democrat budget resolution did not.
So, what we are simply trying to do is get the best of both products
such that it can be had. Accordingly, our motion would simply direct
the conferees to do two things: First, reject the House's $392 billion
tax increase, again, the largest tax increase in American history, and
keep their tax hike to the lowest possible level permitted under the
rules. Second, insist on the lowest possible level of taxes between the
House-passed and Senate-passed Democrat budgets. This language is
included because the motion is required to stay within the scope of the
two budgets. We wish we could do more, but this is the scope we have
been dealt. Third, it would direct the conferees to stop raiding Social
Security for the government's operating budget. They should do this by
running a unified surplus, including Social Security, of $96 billion in
fiscal year 2012, which is equal to the Social Security cash surplus
for that year.
We know that this is possible because we proved it could be done in
our own budget. Our Republican budget not only balanced the budget
without raising anyone's taxes, we ran a surplus that ensured the
Social Security trust funds would not be raided.
So, again, today we are simply asking our Democratic colleagues to do
the following: one, reject the largest tax increase in American
history; and two, stop the raid of the Social Security cash surplus.
This is a simple choice. A ``yes'' vote supports these objectives. A
``no'' vote rejects them.
And with that, Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. SPRATT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 4 minutes.
Mr. Speaker, let me say from the outset what we said yesterday in the
debate of this bill. But let me refer to third parties, independent,
disinterested third parties like the Concord Coalition. They took a
look at our budget, and they said unequivocally, and I'm quoting,
``Thus, to be clear, the budget resolution does not call for or require
a tax increase.''
The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, excellent analytical
work, they took a look at our budget and they said, ``The House budget
does not include a tax increase.''
And then, finally, the Hamilton Project of the Brookings Institution,
independent, disinterested said, plainly, simply, ``This budget would
not raise taxes.''
We have included in the budget resolution not one place, but twice,
in different parts of the resolution, our wholehearted endorsement, our
commitment, our pledge, our determination to see that these middle-
income tax cuts are preserved and enacted and carried forward when they
expire per their terms.
The budget resolution does not cause them to expire. They were
designed to expire, written to expire when they were offered and
passed. At that particular time, that was part of the provision.
{time} 1415
In addition, I am making clear again that our budget resolution
allows all of the deductions, credits, exemptions and exclusions that
are provided in the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts. All of them are provided
and allowed to stay in place this year, next year, and for the next 4
years. So there is very little disagreement about us except I am
wondering about the arithmetic.
Budget resolution motions to instruct are nonbinding. They are a
valid part of the process. But they do present a problem. They single
out specific elements of a budget resolution without looking at how one
goal, such as tax reduction, interacts with another goal, such as
deficit reduction. In that respect, what my colleagues on the other
side of the aisle have offered is a resolution that calls for support
of all of the tax cuts they laid out plus a surplus of $96 billion.
Could I ask the gentleman from Wisconsin, what does this assume about
the bottom line before the tax cuts? How big a surplus would you have
to have in 2012 in order for there to be, after taking these tax cuts,
a $96 billion remaining surplus?
Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
Mr. SPRATT. I yield to the gentleman from Wisconsin.
Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin. This assumes a $96 billion unified budget
surplus after those tax cuts are extended.
Mr. SPRATT. How much?
Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin. A $96 billion cash surplus unified budget
after the extension of those taxes.
Mr. SPRATT. So what is the surplus before these tax cuts are taken?
Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin. I don't know off the top of my head.
Mr. SPRATT. It would have to be pretty substantial. Isn't the cost of
these tax cuts in the first year $180 billion or more?
Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin. The gentleman's budget resolution that passed
the House had, I think, about a $150 billion cash surplus and raised
all those taxes; so he had a sizable surplus.
Mr. SPRATT. It's my understanding, roughly speaking, that the cost of
these tax cuts, the revenue impact of these tax cuts, in the first year
was about $180 billion. If you take that kind of charge against the
surplus and still have a surplus left of $96 billion, then you've got
about a $276 billion surplus in that year.
Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin. If the gentleman will yield, not only did the
Republican budget substitute accommodate for that, it accommodated for
an extension of all of the tax cuts that expire in 2010 in addition to
having a surplus equal to or greater than the unified Social Security
cash surplus. So the Republican budget substitute accommodated all of
these tax cuts and stopped the raid on Social Security.
Mr. SPRATT. Is this the CBO number?
Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin. Yes.
Mr. SPRATT. CBO's projection.
Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin. Yes.
Mr. SPRATT. And what you would then expect is a $276 billion surplus
before the tax cuts?
Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin. I can't speak to that number. I don't know
that number off the top of my head.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.
[[Page H4586]]
Mr. SPRATT. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin. At this time, Mr. Speaker, I would like to
yield 2 minutes to the vice ranking member of the Budget Committee, Mr.
Barrett from South Carolina.
Mr. BARRETT of South Carolina. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Republican motion to instruct
conferees on the fiscal year 2008 budget. This budget motion rests on
one simple premise: to reject the largest tax increase in American
history contained in the Democrats' House-passed budget.
By not addressing the Bush tax cuts, the Democratic budget resolution
calls for a $393 billion tax hike, Mr. Speaker. In my home State of
South Carolina, approximately 1.5 million people will see an average
$2,400 increase in their tax bills. In my district alone, about 2,448
people will be forced to pay higher taxes, and estimates indicate a
$182 million loss to the local economy, which translates in about 2,200
jobs being lost.
Mr. Speaker, the government spends too much money as it is. I can't
imagine what it would be like with an additional $400 billion of
spending. We have serious challenges facing this Nation and more money
is not the solution. Instead of increasing the burden on American
citizens, we have an obligation to find real workable solutions.
The Republican motion to instruct calls for a simple up-or-down vote
on whether Congress should increase taxes on working Americans by $393
billion, as the House Democrat budget does. It directs conferees to
commit to two things: Number one, reject the massive tax increase in
the House budget that increases marginal tax rates, reimposes the
marriage penalty, reimposes the death tax, cuts the child credit in
half, and raises a range of other taxes as well.
And, number two, stop the raid on Social Security cash surpluses.
Conferees should produce a budget with a surplus sufficient to halt the
raid on cash surpluses in the Social Security trust funds by fiscal
year 2012.
Mr. Speaker, these challenges aren't going to go away, and delaying
addressing them just makes them worse and burdens future generations.
The Republican alternative offers solutions, and for this reason I urge
my colleagues to support the Republican motion to instruct.
Mr. SPRATT. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New
Jersey (Mr. Andrews).
(Mr. ANDREWS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. ANDREWS. I thank the chairman for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, it's not surprising to me why there is such
disorientation from the erstwhile majority about the budget resolution
that will be going to conference. It's because it contains a principle
that they don't understand, which is called deficit reduction.
The erstwhile majority made a living out of borrowing money, spending
more, taxing less, borrowing more; spending more, taxing less,
borrowing more. They turned a huge projected budget surplus into an
immense budget deficit and debt, which will be paid for by the children
and grandchildren of the Members of this institution.
Mr. Speaker, here are the facts about the budget resolution the House
passed: The fact is not one dollar of taxes is raised on anyone in the
fiscal year covered by the first year of this resolution or the second
year. Now, we get to a point at the end of 2009 where the tax cuts
which the erstwhile majority enacted a few years ago expire. They
passed a law that said that those tax cuts expire. We say let's pause
at that point and decide what is in the best interest of the country.
And there are options. Perhaps the surplus will have grown to the point
where we can finance all of those tax cuts and not increase the
deficit. Perhaps there will be greater revenues that have been
projected under our conservative revenue estimates and we will be able
to afford to extend all the tax cuts. Perhaps we will look at the state
of the economy at that time and decide that the best thing to do is to
extend all the tax cuts to try to engender some economic growth. Or
perhaps we will decide that a rigid discipline that emphasizes deficit
reduction, as is in this resolution, is the right thing to do.
The erstwhile majority practiced the principle of leap first and look
later. This resolution says look before you leap. It says when we reach
the point where the tax cuts expire, we will make a judgment about
whether spending cuts, tax cut renewal, or some other strategy is in
the best interest of the country.
Not one dollar of taxes is raised in the first fiscal year covered by
this budget, and nothing in this resolution necessitates the raising of
any taxes on anyone. It simply says, Mr. Speaker, that Congress should
do something the erstwhile majority never did: Look before you leap.
Make decisions based on good economic evidence, not blind faith.
Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, at this time I yield myself 30
seconds.
I say to my articulate friend from New Jersey, I think what he
mentioned was a real good highlight on the philosophical differences
between our two parties. The question is, who is first in line, the
taxpayer or the government? We believe that the taxpayer ought to be
first in line by keeping more of their hard-earned money, not the
government. The State of New Jersey, which is a high tax-paying State,
on average under these tax increases will pay an average of $3,780 more
under Democrat-passed budget per taxpayer in the State of New Jersey.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
Florida (Mr. Diaz-Balart).
Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I listened to the
terms of the gentleman from New Jersey speaking about not leaping
first. It's kind of a very aesthetic way to say to it. No, what he's
taking about is leaping on the American taxpayer. That's what the
Democratic budget does. It does leap on the American taxpayer because
it does increase $392 billion on the American taxpayer. This budget
does. And all Americans are going to be paying for this. Middle-income
families, low-income earners, families with children, and small
businesses.
And we have heard again that they don't want to raise taxes in this
budget. But if that's true, Mr. Speaker, then let's instruct the
conferees to extend these popular tax provisions, these tax relief
provisions.
Unfortunately, at the committee markup, Mr. Speaker, the Republicans
offered several amendments to do just that, aimed at helping the
hardworking American taxpayers. Not one single Democrat voted in favor
of these commonsense tax cut provisions. And what were they, Mr.
Speaker? Because they always like to say, oh, it's tax cuts for the
rich. No. Let's talk about what they are, what they voted against in
committee, without one dissenting vote.
They voted against extending the $1,000 per child tax credit. Not
only the wealthy have kids in this country, Mr. Speaker. They voted
against extending the marriage penalty tax relief. Not only the wealthy
get married, at least not in the State of Florida that I represent.
They voted against elimination of the death tax. That's right. They
want dead people to pay more taxes. And they voted against extending
the State and local tax deduction.
How does this affect regular middle-class Americans? Mr. Speaker, a
middle-income family of four earning $60,000 will look at over a 60
percent tax increase by the year 2011. One hundred and fifteen million
taxpayers will see their taxes increase an average of $1,700 by 2011.
In Florida that I am privileged to represent, over 6.7 million
taxpayers will see their taxes increase increased by over $3,000.
Mr. SPRATT. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from
Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer).
Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the gentleman's courtesy.
It is an interesting debate that is going on here today because in
terms of the motion to instruct, there really isn't that great a
difference of opinion. We are, in fact, going to be able to meet the
objectives. We are working hard in our budget to make sure that we deal
meaningfully with tax relief for those who need it.
The difference between the Republicans and the Democrats is that they
are not willing to make any distinction. For them it is Paris Hilton
who is first in line. We have made it clear that we are going to work
to make sure that
[[Page H4587]]
real priorities for American families are adopted. We have proven that
in terms of what we have stood for in the past as well as what we are
working for in the future.
Democrats have repeatedly voted for a lowered tax bracket on lower-
income people, the expansion of the earned income tax credit, marriage
penalty relief, increase in the child tax credit, acceleration of the
expansion of the 10-percent bracket, increased expensing for small
businesses. These were things that people here on the floor who are on
our side of the aisle offered up as a responsible alternative when our
friends on the other side were engaged in a rather extensive and
unfocused effort to try to provide tax benefits for those who need them
the least while ignoring the needs of those who need it the most.
They have given some modest bones to a few in America. Those that
merit our support will, in fact, be continued. And, more important, we
are going to deal with what is the largest tax increase in American
history, which the Bush administration and my Republican friends on the
other side of the aisle have set the stage for, and that is the tsunami
of the alternative minimum tax. That is going to cost $1 trillion over
the next 10 years, and we have made it clear that that is our number
one priority to solve, as in the House Committee on Ways and Means we
working on this.
We don't have to accede to every single detail for Paris Hilton in
order to make sure that we deal with the needs of working Americans and
the tax tsunami of the alternative minimum tax, which has been ignored
session after session after session by the Republicans when they were
in charge.
I find no small amount of irony to hear my good friend from Wisconsin
talking about how he has proven it is possible to have a unified budget
surplus when for 12 consecutive years of ironclad Republican control
they wrote all the fiscal rules, wrote the budgets, wrote the tax
policy.
{time} 1430
I invite anybody to look at what the now minority proved that they
could do. It's a pretty sorry record of fiscal irresponsibility.
Mr. Speaker, my point is simply that the budget resolution that we
brought forward is a reasonable, meaningful approach to deal with these
fiscal problems.
Independent observers agree that there is no tax increase this year
or the next. And we are on a path allowed for in our budget resolution
and the work we are doing in the Ways and Means Committee right now to
make sure that we solve the tax tsunami of the alternative minimum tax.
I look forward to our getting past this type of discussion here, as
my friends on the other side of the aisle seek to substitute rhetoric
for their sorry record of non-accomplishment, and look forward to
moving forward.
Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, at this time I would like to
yield 3 minutes to a distinguished member of the Budget Committee, Mr.
Hensarling from Texas.
Mr. HENSARLING. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
I have listened very carefully to the previous speaker talk about
rhetoric. And indeed, the rhetoric I hear from the other side of the
aisle is pure Orwellian; up is down, black is white, victory is defeat
and the largest tax increase in American history is somehow actually
tax relief.
You cannot state good intentions and then instead act with cruel
actions. The numbers of this budget lead to the largest single tax
increase in American history. And Mr. Speaker, let me quote from the
Washington Post again, not exactly a bastion of conservative thought, I
will quote from their March 29th edition, ``And while House Democrats
say they want to preserve key parts of Bush's signature tax cuts, they
project a surplus in 2012 only by assuming that all these cuts expire
on schedule in 2010.'' And then they somehow say that we contrive
temporary tax relief. Well, as the chairman knows, he has had plenty of
opportunities to make this tax relief permanent, but he and everyone
else on that side of the aisle have declined that opportunity.
And again, it's a matter of priorities. Democrat friends decide to
prioritize the Federal budget over the family budget. But let's look at
how their single largest tax increase in American history is going to
impact family budgets. Let's hear from Joan from Mesquite, who wrote,
``An additional $2,200 raise in taxes for my husband and me would mean
that we would not be able to meet our budget obligations. I drive an
11-year-old car. And sometimes it breaks. And it costs me more to fix
than what it's worth. I was hoping to buy a newer car, but if taxes go
up, I won't be able to do that.''
Let's hear from Robert of Garland. ``I'm unemployed on Social
Security and my wife works. At this point, between taxes and utilities,
we're at the breaking point of being able to keep our home. If we have
an increase of over $2,000 per year, it may well mean the straw that
broke the camel's back; we would lose our home.'' That's how the single
largest tax increase in American history is affecting that family.
Let's see how it affects Linda in Rowlett. ``It would mean the
difference of whether my daughter or husband would be able to purchase
a car or not. For my husband and I, it helps us continue with his
radiation treatments for his prostate cancer and allows us to continue
providing in-home assistance for my elderly parents. Please allow us to
retain this money for our needs. Please don't let government take
additional tax dollars from us.''
That's the cruel actions. It's not the Orwellian rhetoric that we
want to somehow preserve the tax relief. They are imposing the single
largest tax increase in American history, a cruel hoax on American
families as they try to meet their education budgets and their
transportation budgets.
Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire how much time is
remaining on either side.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Wisconsin has 17\1/2\
minutes, and the gentleman from South Carolina has 19 minutes
remaining.
Mr. SPRATT. I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr.
Scott).
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for
yielding.
I think it's important to put up a chart so we will know who's saying
what about fiscal responsibility, because this chart shows what
happened in the nineties when, with President Clinton's veto vetoing
Republican bills after the Democrats set the budget off in the right
direction, we were able to create a surplus that when this
administration came in in 2001, we had a projected $5.5 trillion
surplus. As a result of Republican initiatives, that surplus looks like
it's going to come in, a 10-year surplus, at about a $3 trillion
deficit, a swing of $8.5 trillion. And to put that in perspective,
we've spent about $500 billion in Iraq; $8.5 trillion deterioration of
the budget, $500 billion in Iraq, that is $0.5 trillion; $8.5 trillion
deterioration, $0.5 trillion attributable to the war. And the
Democratic budget, again, responsibly digs us out of this mess.
The important thing to note is, we talk about 9/11. We were broke. We
spent the surplus, other than Social Security and Medicare, before 9/
11. So you can't blame 9/11 for the fiscal decline that has happened
here.
This budget is responsible. It shows how we can dig ourselves out.
Unfortunately, we have, first of all, no leadership from the White
House. Even the Republican budget pretty much ignores the President's
budget. The President's budget had us in a ditch, never coming into
surplus. At least the Republican budget has us coming out of the
deficit and into surplus in 2012, but it does it in such a way that is
not responsible and not predictable.
The Republicans' budget assumes that we're going to whack about $250
billion out of Medicare and Medicaid, about $250 billion cut out of
health care. This is at a time when doctors are telling us now that
they can't absorb the cuts. We are having situations now when States
are not paying dentists enough for dentists to even take Medicaid. $250
billion cut. It's not going to happen. We're not going to go into
surplus under the Republican budget.
The main factor that we have to look at is, who's talking? The
Democrats dug us out of the ditch; Republicans put us back in the
ditch; and the Democrats are digging us out again with a responsible
budget. The Republicans have a budget that is so draconian on health
care that 40 Republicans even voted against the Republican budget.
[[Page H4588]]
And so we have a responsible plan. Let's stick with the responsible
plan, dig us out of the mess again, and have fiscal responsibility.
Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin. At this time, Mr. Speaker, I would like to
yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from New Jersey (Mr.
Garrett).
Mr. GARRETT of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, despite the hopes of the
other side of the aisle, the constituents in my district are pretty
smart people. When they were paying a little over $2 a gallon for
gasoline a year or so ago and now they're paying upwards of $3 per
gallon, they know that's an increase out of their pocket. Likewise,
when it comes to taxes, when they see that they are paying so much for
their taxes now on the Federal level now, and after this package goes
through on the other side of the aisle, they will be paying upwards to
$3,000 or more. They know, they're smart enough to realize that's a tax
increase as well.
My colleagues on the other side of the aisle have to look to outside
nonpartisan groups they call them, really nonpartisan liberal think
tanks I think is the best term, for those think tanks to say that these
are not tax increases when they really are. When your taxes go up from
this year to the next year to the next year, that is a tax increase.
They talk about the budget planning process and say, don't worry, it
only comes at the end of the budget. Well, you know, regular families
plan during the entire budget. If you have a weekly budget for your
food allotment, you want to make sure you have food at the end of the
week. If you're doing a monthly budget, you plan the entire month. If
you have a yearly budget or a 5-year budget as this is, you do it in
the entire 5 years. And under the Democrats' budget, your taxes during
the course of that time will go up. In New Jersey, you're looking at a
$3,000 or more tax increase.
When it comes to Social Security, my constituents are also very smart
and loud when they say, ``Keep your hands off of my Social Security.''
The Republican plan does that. The Republican plan stops the raid on
Social Security, and it does so without a tax increase.
Now, there is some rumor I am hearing by some Democrats on the other
side of the aisle that they may support our motion to recommit. But
mind you, mark my words, if they support this motion to recommit, it
will be as disingenuous as their support and their comments and other
things they have done in the past this year. When they said that they
were going to curtail spending, what did they actually do? They
increased spending by over 11 percent in this budget. When they said
they weren't going to raise your taxes, what did they do? They
increased your taxes by $392 billion. And when they said that they were
going to solve the AMT problem, what did they do? They did not solve it
at all.
Support this motion to recommit.
Mr. SPRATT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 5 minutes.
Mr. Speaker, in response to the last speaker, if we support this
resolution, it's because we originally provided in our budget
resolution, in two different aspects of our budget resolution, our
full, wholehearted support for these middle-income tax cuts. We still
have, I will have to confess, concern about your arithmetic here, but
we supported it in the budget resolution we filed, which passed the
House. We endorsed and pledged that we would seek to the extension of
the 10 percent individual tax bracket, the child tax credit, research
and experimentation tax credit, all of these things. Read the
resolution. They're there. We were there before you were, saying that,
over the next 3 or 4 years, we need to see that when December 31, 2010,
comes along, these tax cuts will survive and be preserved. We are
committed to that, black and white print, budget resolution.
Mr. GARRETT of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
Mr. SPRATT. I will yield for one question.
Mr. GARRETT of New Jersey. Because you referred to my comments.
When you said that you planned this in the budget, are your comments
referring to reserve accounts?
Mr. SPRATT. No. I'm talking about statements in our budget resolution
which state emphatically and clearly, ``It is the policy of this budget
resolution to preserve, defend and protect the middle-income tax cuts
adopted in 2001 and 2003, which will expire in 2010.''
Now, we do believe, and this also is in our budget resolution, we
believe in the PAYGO principle. We believe that the Tax Code is full of
deductions and credits and exemptions and exclusions, and you can go
through a closet cleaning in the Code and come up with enough offsets
to provide for the extension of many of these tax cuts, maybe not all
but many, without any adverse impact on the bottom line budget deficit.
Mr. GARRETT of New Jersey. If the gentleman will yield.
Mr. SPRATT. I will yield.
Mr. GARRETT of New Jersey. I understand what you're saying, the first
part, that those are the heart-felt policy statements of your budget.
But are you referring then to the other side of the equation, to the
reserve accounts that are spoken of in the budget as far as, I will use
the term, for paying for those?
Mr. SPRATT. There was a provision that allowed for reserve accounts
so that we could provide for these tax cuts. But basically we took the
position that this decision does not have to be made now, and indeed it
can be better made closer in time to December 31, when we see what is
the bottom line then. How much debt have we accumulated? What is the
total deficit? What is the forecast for the future? At that point in
time, we can consider the tax cuts, extension of them.
By my understanding, if you extend all of the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts
that expire on December 31, the cost over 10 years is about $2
trillion. That's a big decision. We think you should make it
deliberately and closer in point of time to when these tax cuts
actually expire.
Let me say also that not only did we put these tax cuts and state our
support for them in the budget resolution, but in addition, when the
tax cuts were passed in 2001, we either had substitutes or occasionally
voted for independent free-standing provisions like the marriage
penalty relief. Democrats were there when that passed the House. I
voted for it the first time it came up and voted for it again
repeatedly. In our substitutes, we had a 12 percent bracket and then a
10 percent bracket. We had a child tax credit, which we continually
increase, and we had the R&E tax credit extension. We had expensing for
small businesses. Many, if not all, of the things you are talking about
here we voted for, maybe not on your bills but on our bills because
these are tax policies favoring middle-income Americans for whom we
think tax relief is well in order.
Secondly, we have a problem still with the arithmetic that you've got
here.
{time} 1445
According to my information, looking at CBO's most recent report, the
Social Security surplus for 2012 is $255 billion. If you want to stay
out of Social Security, you have got to have a surplus of at least $255
billion, a unified surplus of at least $255 billion, am I correct?
Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, if the gentleman will yield, the
$96 billion unified surplus reflects the cash surplus, meaning the
amount of overpayments on FICA taxes, payroll taxes for Social
Security, that gets spent on other government programs that ought to go
to Social Security. The interest on top of that is the number that the
gentleman from South Carolina is talking about. That reflects past
borrowing, past raiding of the Social Security surplus. We would like
to fix that, too.
We think that is a good start. Let's say from now on if you pay FICA
taxes to Social Security, let's not spend it on all these other
government programs. So the cash surplus that occurs in 2012, that is
what we are talking about with that $96 billion, not the interest on
top that reflects all of the past borrowing and raiding of the Social
Security trust fund.
Mr. SPRATT. Mr. Speaker, reclaiming my time, I understand that. But
the Social Security surplus is $255 billion.
Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin. That is the cash surplus, plus interest. We
are talking about the cash surplus.
Mr. SPRATT. Mr. Speaker, on the other hand, if you look at the
surplus you are claiming, $96 billion, and also provide for these tax
cuts, my information is that these tax cuts have a revenue impact of at
least $180 billion.
[[Page H4589]]
That would mean in the year 2012 there has to be a bottom line surplus
of $276 billion before the tax cuts are taken.
Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, that is not all in the year 2012,
I believe. There is a problem with the numbers here.
Mr. SPRATT. $180 billion I believe is 1 year.
Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin. We seem to have a difference of opinion. But
let me make one point: We showed you how to do it.
Mr. SPRATT. But you haven't shown us the arithmetic. We are not sure
your arithmetic is correct.
Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin. We showed you with our budget substitute, we
do not raise taxes on the American economy and family, and we can also
stop raiding the cash surplus of Social Security. And the reason I can
tell you we showed you is that is exactly what the Republican budget
resolution substitute did, as scored by CBO.
Mr. SPRATT. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 1\1/2\ minutes to
make a couple of comments before I yield to the gentleman from Texas.
Mr. Speaker, I think I made the point on the Social Security cash
surplus. We are talking about how much overpayments people pay in their
payroll taxes in any given year. We don't want to keep spending that on
other government programs. That is point number one.
Point number two: The very fact that the gentleman from South
Carolina is suggesting that they are going to accept this motion to
instruct, that they are going to accept this, means they agree there
are tax increases in this budget.
They are saying right now, I just heard him say it, we don't want to
raise taxes on the middle-class. We don't want to get rid of the child
tax credit. We don't want to bring back the marriage penalty. We don't
want to do away with the 10 percent bracket. So we will accept this
motion to instruct. I.e., the other tax increases in this budget are
just that, tax increases. Death tax, the marginal income tax rates
across-the-board, capital gains, dividends.
Let me just make the point more clearly, by not quoting a think tank
that may be left of center, right of center, whatever of center. Let me
quote the Washington Post, clearly no paragon of right-wing thinking.
The Washington Post, right after the Democrat budget came out: ``And
while House Democrats say they want to preserve key parts of Bush's
signature tax cuts, they project a surplus in 2012 only by assuming
that all of these tax cuts expire on schedule in 2010.''
They further go on to say about the Democratic budget plan, ``The
budget plan expresses support for certain cuts, including the extended
child tax credit, elimination of the marriage penalty, and the 10
percent bracket, that would require another reserve fund to be filled
with hundreds of billions of dollars in tax increases to cover the
cost.''
Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished member of the
House Budget Committee, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Conaway).
Mr. CONAWAY. I thank the ranking member.
Mr. Speaker, I think to the other Members in the House listening to
this debate this sounds like a school yard kind of struggle: Yes, you
are; no, you're not; yes, you are; no, you're not. We are back and
forth. We are both using the same set of facts.
But the truth of the matter is, in 2011 and 2012, however it happens,
under the current code the revenues of the government will go up $400
billion. The rhetoric on the other side of the aisle that this does not
represent a tax increase would have a lot greater credibility with me
and those on our side of the aisle if in fact our colleagues on the
Budget Committee hadn't spent that $400 billion.
The chairman mentioned earlier about waiting until December 31, 2011,
to fix these things. The problem with that is that at the end of 2010,
maybe that is the date he was referencing, the estate tax goes from a
zero tax rate to a 55 percent tax rate.
I spent a career helping folks comply with a very complex code, and
estate planning requires generally a lot longer period of time to react
and put plans in place than from one year to the next. So, to keep
estates out there hung up with the idea that the tax is going to come
back fully at 55 percent, I think is unfair.
The other thing that has to be said is that all of the tax increases
go in fully. So the 33 percent bracket goes to a 39.6 percent bracket.
If in fact the Democrats do want to protect the 10 percent bracket from
going to 15 percent, as they have said, they are going to have to raise
taxes on the top brackets. They are going to have to raise taxes in
other places in order to stay within this bill's definition of PAYGO.
So I am going to speak in favor of the motion to instruct, but just
for full and fair disclosure, I voted twice, since we did vote on this
bill twice, against the Democrats' budget.
Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 2 minutes.
One additional point I wanted to make, Mr. Speaker, is the point
about PAYGO that the gentleman from South Carolina mentioned. As it is
well known, we have a problem with their version of PAYGO. When PAYGO
is designed to raise taxes, we don't like it. When PAYGO is designed to
control spending, we like it. That is why we are for PAYGO on spending,
not on raising taxes.
But if this amendment is accepted, if this motion to instruct is
accepted, let's just be very clear, it does violate their PAYGO.
Because the Baucus amendment, which is what we are referring to, which
is the amendment that passed in the Senate, uses their surpluses,
quote-unquote, to pay for these tax cuts. PAYGO says if you are going
to reduce taxes, you have to offset them with either a tax increase or
a spending cut, not with surpluses.
So this amendment, we believe if you are going to have a surplus, it
should either go back to the Social Security trust fund and pay down
debt, or reduce taxes. That is what we are proposing.
But just so we are very clear with ourselves here, this Baucus
amendment, this acceptance of this policy of not raising all of these
taxes, just some of them, which is the best choice we have between the
two options as the minority, does violate their own PAYGO rule by
dedicating their surpluses towards this tax relief, rather than having
offsets, either coming from spending cuts or tax increases.
Mr. SPRATT. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from
Virginia (Mr. Scott).
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, PAYGO is a very simple concept.
If you are going to increase spending, you pay for it. If you are going
to cut taxes, you pay for it. You don't go into the ditch. If you have
a tax cut, you have to pay for it either with increases of other taxes
or spending cuts to pay for it. If you have spending increases, you
have to pay for it with cutting spending somewhere else or increasing
taxes to pay for it. It is a very simple concept.
Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. I yield to the gentleman from Wisconsin.
Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin. If you are going to reduce taxes, you have to
pay for it by either raising taxes or cutting spending. That is what
your PAYGO is, correct?
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. That is correct.
Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin. Well, you are violating it if you accept this
amendment then.
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. That is the concept, and that is how we got
out of the ditch that we got into. If you build up a surplus, then you
have something to spend. That is consistent with PAYGO.
But the point is that we got out of the ditch with fiscal
responsibility, and as soon as 2001 came along, you let PAYGO expire,
passed tax cuts that we couldn't afford and put us right back into the
ditch. The fact is that the only way the Republican budget makes any
sense is if you have $250 billion in cuts, mostly in Medicare and
Medicaid, at a time when we can't even afford the cuts that are already
in effect.
To put that $250 billion in context, there are plans out there,
including the All Healthy Children Act, which can cover all children
with healthcare for $15 billion a year. You are talking about cutting
healthcare $250 billion. Obviously, you are not going to do it and so
obviously the budget is not realistic.
[[Page H4590]]
But what are your priorities? Tax cuts that we can't afford at a time
when we need to cover children? We can't even afford the Medicaid
program we have got now. In most States, you can't find a dentist
because the reimbursement rates aren't high enough, and here we are
cutting Medicare and Medicaid $250 billion.
Mr. Speaker, I would hope that we would adopt the Democratic budget
and reject the motion to recommit, because it requires us to assume
$250 billion in cuts that we are not going to make. We have a
responsible budget. It digs us out of the ditch that the Republicans
put us in starting in 2001.
I would hope again we would reject the motion and adopt the
Democratic budget as we passed it in the House.
Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hensarling).
Mr. HENSARLING. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, I listened very carefully to my friend from Virginia.
The only thing that is being cut here is the family budget, and it is
being cut by the Democrats. If you look at the numbers of the
Republican budget, government grows each and every year. Now, it
doesn't grow as fast as the Democrat budget. And the way the Democrat
budget grows is by imposing the single largest tax increase in American
history on hard-working Americans.
An average in my district, the Fifth Congressional District of Texas,
an average of $2,700 a year, Mr. Speaker, is going to be imposed on
those hard-working people as they try to send their children to
college, as they struggle to try to meet the healthcare payments for
elderly parents, as they try to make payments on their healthcare
premiums, as they try to put together that capital to launch their
American dream and to buy their first home.
The cutting that is going on here is the cutting out of the heart of
the family budget by the Democrat budget, imposing the single largest
tax increase in American history. And as bad as that tax increase is,
$392 billion over 5 years, it is a pittance compared to the taxes that
they are going to impose on the next generation, because, Mr. Speaker,
their budget is silent, absolutely silent, on the number one fiscal
challenge facing America, out-of-control entitlement spending.
The Republicans are being responsible in trying to ensure that the
next generation doesn't see a doubling of their taxes, which we all
know will happen.
So this is the kick-the-can-down-the-road budget of the Democrats,
when they know that our children and grandchildren will see their taxes
doubled from roughly 20 percent of the economy to 40 percent. Now, how
many of our children and grandchildren will ever be able to own a home,
start a business or send their children to college?
This is the idea of the Democrats' fiscal responsibility, doubling
taxes on the American people? I want no part of it.
Mr. SPRATT. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the
gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott).
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I think it is important to note
that when you talk about average tax cuts, this is an average $250 a
family tax cut, average $250 for a family of four. But you notice who
gets it? This is involving personal exemptions and standard deductions.
If you make a $1 million, $17,000; $650 if you make $200,000 to $1
million; $11 if you make $100,000 to $200,000; if you make less than
$100,000, you get on average of zero.
This is what you call an average $250 a family tax cut.
{time} 1500
Mr. SPRATT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 2 minutes.
I have here a copy of the President's budgetary proposals for fiscal
year 2008 published by the Congressional Budget Office. If you turn to
page 6, you will see that the cost of the tax cuts, extending the tax
cuts, which the motion proposes, the cost or the revenue impact of that
in the year 2012 is $231 billion. That is what CBO says.
If you now add $96 billion to that, the surplus that year must be
$327 billion. The surplus, $327 billion. Last year the deficit was $248
billion. If we move to a surplus of $327 billion in the year 2012, that
requires a movement in the right direction of $575 billion which is
hard to believe.
Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
Mr. SPRATT. I yield to the gentleman from Wisconsin.
Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin. I wish we were talking about all of the tax
cuts. Unfortunately, what we have in the Baucus amendment, that is only
$132 billion in 2012 because the Baucus amendment only extends some of
the tax cuts.
The point we are making is, if we want to stop raising taxes and
raiding Social Security, we are going to have to control spending. That
is what we propose to do; and sadly, that is not what the majority
budget does.
Mr. SPRATT. The point, I am sure, is you are supportive of all of the
2001 and 2003 tax cuts. You are limited by procedural rules to only
dealing with that which is in the scope of the two resolutions. But, in
fact, I am sure you are supportive of that. If that is true, you have
to acknowledge that the number is $231 billion. That is the revenue
impact of extending all of the tax cuts. If you add 96, which is the
surplus you project, you get a big, big number.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the
gentleman from California (Mr. Campbell), a member of the House Budget
Committee.
Mr. CAMPBELL of California. Mr. Speaker, I have been listening to all
of this debate, and I guess what I don't really understand is, why? I
mean, why the Democrats here on the other side of the aisle want to
oppose this motion to instruct.
I mean, do you want to raid the Social Security surplus? Do you like
telling people that they are paying money for their own Social Security
and retirement and then taking it and using it for other things? Do you
like that? Do you want to do that? I mean, do you want to enact the
biggest tax increase in American history? Do you want really to tax
people more on capital gains and dividends when over 50 percent of
Americans now own some sort of stock? Do you want to go back to
penalizing married couples and having them pay more taxes after they
get married than two people would when they were single? Do you really
want to reduce the child care tax credit? Do you want to stifle
economic growth?
I know some of you say you don't think that these tax cuts caused
this economic growth. Let's assume they didn't cause it all. It can't
be a coincidence that since the tax reductions went into place, we have
had enormous economic growth, enormous job growth and enormous revenue
growth to the Federal Government.
Do you really want to do all that? Do you really want to pass the
largest tax increase in American history; and for what? So you can
raise spending a lot over the next 5 years because if you just didn't
increase spending, you could do all of this. You could allow Americans
to keep their own money.
But no, you want to take their money from them and spend it on your
priorities. Now I guess that is what you want to do. I still don't
understand it. I don't understand why the government having money is so
much more a priority, but I guess it is because you look at all money
as the government's, and you allow people to keep some. We look at
money as belonging to the people who earned it, and we allow the
government to take that which is necessary.
But understand that if all you did was keep spending level or
increase it a little bit over the next 5 years, then you wouldn't have
to raise taxes and then you wouldn't have to raid the Social Security
surplus. But apparently that is what you want to do.
Mr. SPRATT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 3 minutes. Mr. Speaker, this
goes back to something that our President called fuzzy math. And if I
seem hung up on the topic of math, it is because arithmetic is
important when you are putting together a budget.
What they are telling us is they can run a $96 billion surplus in the
year 2012 even though they are taking tax cuts that will take $231
billion in revenues out of the Federal Treasury. It is a stretch, to
say the least. That involves assuming that we will have a surplus in
the year 2012 of $327 billion.
How far from that are we today? Last year we had a deficit of $248
billion. If
[[Page H4591]]
we are to move to a surplus of $327 billion by the year 2012, there has
to be a movement in the right direction, a positive movement of $575
billion. Let's hope it happens, but I wouldn't bet the farm on it.
They then say and just said we are raiding Social Security. How
absurd can you get? Here it is right here. The Social Security surplus
is $255 billion. They do not even claim more than $96 billion on the
surplus. If they left the tax cut out, they would indeed have enough
bottom line, 96 plus 231, to cover the surplus, but they haven't done
that.
Here on the bottom line, the back of an envelope, is a simple chart
that I bring down to the well with me every time I talk because we need
to be reminded. When President Bush came to office, the national debt
was $5.7 trillion. Six years later, the national debt is $8.8 trillion,
an increase of $3.1 trillion over the last 6 years. That is a 60
percent increase in the debt of the United States. We have not seen
anything like it since the Second World War.
Are we worried about fuzzy math? You better believe we are because
this is the consequence of it. What the Republican budget resolution
would have done had it been adopted is it would have extended again and
again the policy of borrow and spend, leaving the tab to our children.
Here is what the tab looked like, in addition to the $8.8 trillion:
You can cut taxes today, but what you leave in the wake of what you
have done is a debt tax, the one tax that has to be paid because it is
the amount of money we have to levy and raise every year to pay
interest on our national debt, which is obligatory. It cannot be
avoided. It has to be paid.
Here is the difference between interest on the national debt, which
is well over $200 billion, headed to $300 billion within the
foreseeable future, and look what it does to other priorities, things
that are pressing and important like veterans health care, homeland
security, and education. All of those things are dwarfed by the
increase in interest payments on the debt.
This is a debt tax we have to pay today. All Americans have to pay
it. Our children will have to pay it because of our irresponsible
fiscal policy. This is why we need to clear up this fuzzy math and put
the country back on a firm path to fiscal responsibility.
Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the
gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Smith).
Mr. SMITH of Nebraska. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with great concern
for our economy. I rise because we hear about the debt and certainly my
concern is that if we are not careful, we will make the debt even worse
than it is now because an economy can turn south with overtaxation.
Right now we are headed to tax increases that concern me a great deal.
In Nebraska, the average tax increase per taxpayer is almost $2,400 a
year as proposed. More than that though, I am concerned about small
businesses, farmers and ranchers who face tax increases whether it is
the estate tax or other taxes.
When I have a small business person come up to me and say, we need to
do something about the estate tax, the death tax because it will
devastate their business, that gets my attention.
My concerns are that we have available capital in our economy
because, with available capital, we see good things happening, whether
it is investing in the stock market or whether it is expanding a small
business or whether it is putting money away for a child or grandchild
heading to college. The fact is, available capital does great things,
and that is why I rise with extreme concern about our budget because
the budget calls for a tax increase, and that is what concerns me so
much because tax increases are bad for economic growth. Tax increases
lead to a downturn in the economy.
I not only believe we can do better than this proposed budget, but we
must do better.
Mr. SPRATT. For the clarification of Members, let me give you my take
on what is before us right now. This motion to instruct conferees calls
for us to recede, back off the revenue levels in the House amendment
and insist on, listen to this, policy statement in section 401 of the
House amendment. That is our budget resolution, the Democratic budget
resolution.
It is the place in our resolution where one time we have insisted,
pledged our support for the extension of these middle-income tax cuts
passed in 2001 and 2003. That is paragraph A. It is hard for us to
disagree with the enforcement of the language that we put in the budget
resolution in the first place.
Secondly, paragraph B, insist on the lowest possible levels of
revenue within the scope of the conference.
It is hard to tell what that level might be, whether or not it is
consistent with the one above, but we certainly will give some
consideration to that.
And finally, set forth a unified surplus of at least $96 billion in
fiscal year 2012. I hope we can do it, but you have heard me go through
the arithmetic out here, and I think it is a reach to even imply that
these three variables can be integrated and solved in this one multi
varied equation.
If you can do it, fine. If you can come out of all this still having
these tax cuts and still having a $96 billion surplus, great. But I
have to tell you, I think it is fuzzy math.
But we are wholeheartedly in support of the middle-income tax cuts
that are enumerated here. Indeed, they have been lifted straight out of
the Democratic budget resolution, and that is why we are supportive of
them.
Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my
time.
Mr. Speaker, let me concur that the resolution does say what the
chairman says it does. The reason it points to the words in the House
budget resolution, which say that the policy of the House is to keep
these tax cuts, but we refer to the deeds of the Senate is because the
House didn't pay for those tax cuts, didn't extend those tax cuts. The
Senate extended those tax cuts.
The House used the words that said, we hope, we wish, we would like
to extend these tax cuts, but they didn't do that. They raised the
taxes. It is the Senate.
The mere fact that the Senate passed the Baucus amendment in the
first place is a repudiation of the claim by the House that they are
actually not raising taxes.
The Senate looked at the House budget resolution and said, you know
what, this thing is the largest tax increase in American history. We
don't want to raise taxes on middle-income earners, child tax credit,
marriage penalty, 10 percent bracket; and therefore, they passed the
Baucus amendment.
What we are saying is we wish we could extend all of the tax cuts.
Since the scope is limited, we are saying, let's stick with the Senate
and actually put numbers where the words are in the House by actually
lowering the revenue number.
Now, the chairman is right. He is saying it is a reach to reach these
surpluses. It is too tough to do it to reach these surpluses if you
accept his premise. And the premise of the chairman's budget is do
nothing to control spending.
Mr. Speaker, we don't have a revenue problem in Washington. Just the
last 7 months alone we had 11 percent revenue growth. That is 3
straight years of double-digit revenue growth at these lower tax rates.
We have plenty of money coming in from taxpayers. The problem is we are
spending it too fast. That is the problem in Washington, not a revenue
problem, a spending problem.
If you accept the premise of the chairman, the esteemed gentleman
from South Carolina (Mr. Spratt), that there is no spending problem in
Washington, which I don't accept, then he is correct, you can't balance
the budget. You can't stopped the raid on Social Security and you can't
extend tax relief.
{time} 1515
We disagree. How tough is it to do it? Let me tell you what our
budget accomplished, the Republican substitute. We simply said in order
to stop the raid of the Social Security surplus and make all these tax
cuts permanent, spend $14.977 trillion over the next 7 years instead of
the current projection, $15.286 trillion. That is what we are saying.
We are saying instead of spending over the next 5 years $15.286
trillion, spend $14.977 trillion. Instead of growing mandatory spending
by 5.2 percent, grow it at 4.3 percent.
Is this Draconian, is this crazy, is this hard core? No. It's what
families do around a kitchen table every day.
[[Page H4592]]
We are simply saying put taxpayers first. Don't make people wait for 3
years to see if they're going to have their per-child tax credit, if
they're going to have the marriage penalty, if the estate taxes are
going to be higher, lower or somewhere in between. Tell them now. Let's
tell taxpayers, first you get to keep your money; then we're going to
tighten our belt here in Washington by controlling spending.
Mr. Speaker, the taxpayers deserve this respect. They don't deserve
to be jerked around. We should control spending, and by golly, we need
to prepare for the retirement of these baby boomers. We need to reform
these entitlement programs so we can extend their solvency, extend
their reliability, and that is the biggest shame of all.
Not only does this budget have the largest tax increase in American
history; it proposes that we do nothing for the next 5 years to control
and reform entitlements to do anything to control spending. That's a
shame. That's why we should pass this motion to instruct.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Pomeroy). All time has expired.
Without objection, the previous question is ordered on the motion to
instruct.
There was no objection.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion to instruct
offered by the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Ryan).
The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that
the ayes appeared to have it.
Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and
nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further
proceedings on this question are postponed.
____________________