[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 145 (Friday, September 12, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8472-S8474]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      BUDGET SCOREKEEPING REPORTS

  Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, I rise to submit to the Senate the second 
set of budget scorekeeping reports for the 2009 budget resolution. The 
reports, which cover fiscal years 2008 and 2009, were prepared by the 
Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section 308(b) and in aid of 
section 311 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, as amended.
  The reports show the effects of congressional action through 
September 8, 2008, and include legislation that was enacted since I 
filed my last reports in July. The new legislation includes: Public Law 
110-275, the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 
2008; Public Law 110-287, a joint resolution approving the renewal of 
import restrictions contained in the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act 
of 2003; Public Law 110-289, the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 
2008; and Public Law 110-315, the Higher Education Opportunity Act. The 
estimates of budget authority, outlays, and revenues are consistent 
with the technical and economic assumptions of S. Con. Res. 70, the 
2009 budget resolution.
  For 2008, the estimates show that current level spending is below the 
budget resolution by $5.2 billion for budget authority and $2.4 billion 
for outlays while current level revenues are above the budget 
resolution by $3 billion. For 2009, the estimates show that current 
level spending is below the budget resolution by $958 billion for 
budget authority and $591.1 billion for outlays while current level 
revenues are above the budget resolution level by $56.7 billion.
  I ask unanimous consent that the letters and accompanying tables from 
CBO be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                                                    U.S. Congress,


                                  Congressional Budget Office,

                               Washington, DC, September 11, 2008.
     Hon. Kent Conrad,
     Chairman, Committee on the Budget,
     U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: The enclosed report shows the effects of 
     Congressional action on the fiscal year 2008 budget and is 
     current through September 8, 2008. This report is submitted 
     under section 308(b) and in aid of section 311 of the 
     Congressional Budget Act, as amended.
       The estimates of budget authority, outlays, and revenues 
     are consistent with the technical and economic assumptions of 
     S. Con. Res. 70, the Concurrent Resolution on the Budget for 
     Fiscal Year 2009, as approved by the Senate and the House of 
     Representatives.
       Pursuant to section 204(a) of S. Con. Res. 21, provisions 
     designated as emergency requirements are exempt from 
     enforcement of the budget resolution. As a result, the 
     enclosed current level report excludes these amounts (see 
     footnote 2 of Table 2 of the report).
       Since my last letter, dated July 9, 2008, the Congress has 
     cleared and the President has signed the following acts that 
     affect budget authority, outlays, or revenues for fiscal year 
     2008:
       Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 
     2008 (Public Law 110-275);
       Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-
     289); and
       Higher Education Opportunity Act (Public Law 110-315).
           Sincerely,
                                                Robert A. Sunshine
                                  (For Peter R. Orszag, Director).
       Enclosure.

  TABLE 1.--SENATE CURRENT LEVEL REPORT FOR SPENDING AND REVENUES FOR FISCAL YEAR 2008, AS OF SEPTEMBER 8, 2008
                                            [In billions of dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                   Current level
                                                                      Budget       Current level  over/under (-)
                                                                  resolution \1\        \2\         resolution
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                            ON-BUDGET
 
Budget Authority................................................         2,456.2         2,451.0            -5.2
Outlays.........................................................         2,437.8         2,435.3            -2.4
Revenues........................................................         1,875.4         1,878.4             3.0
 
                           OFF-BUDGET
 
Social Security Outlays \3\.....................................           463.7           463.7             0.0
Social Security Revenues........................................           666.7           666.7             0.0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ S. Con. Res. 70, the Concurrent Resolution on the Budget for Fiscal Year 2009, assumed $108.1 billion in
  budget authority and $28.9 billion in outlays for overseas deployment and related activities. The Supplemental
  Appropriations Act, 2008 (P.L. 110-352) designated funding for these activities as an emergency requirement,
  pursuant to section 204(a) of S. Con. Res. 21, the Concurrent Resolution on the Budget for Fiscal Year 2008.
  Such emergency amounts are exempt from the enforcement of S. Con. Res. 70. Since current level totals exclude
  the emergency requirements enacted in P.L. 110-252 (see footnote 2 of table 2), budget authority and outlay
  totals specified in S. Con. Res. 70 have also been reduced for purposes of comparison.
\2\ Current level is the estimated effect on revenue and spending of all legislation, excluding amounts
  designated as emergency requirements (see footnote 2 of table 2), that the Congress has enacted or sent to the
  President for his approval. In addition, full-year funding estimates under current law are included for
  entitlement and mandatory programs requiring annual appropriations, even if the appropriations have not been
  made.
\3\ Excludes administrative expenses of the Social Security Administration, which are off-budget, but are
  appropriated annually.
Source: Congressional Budget Office.


[[Page S8473]]


  TABLE 2.--SUPPORTING DETAIL FOR THE CURRENT LEVEL REPORT FOR ON-BUDGET SPENDING AND REVENUES FOR FISCAL YEAR
                                          2008, AS OF SEPTEMBER 8, 2008
                                            [In millions of dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                          Budget authority       Outlays            Revenues
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Previously Enacted: \1\
  Revenues.............................................               n.a.               n.a.          1,879,400
  Permanents and other spending legislation............          1,441,010          1,394,887               n.a.
  Appropriation legislation............................          1,604,649          1,635,118               n.a.
  Offsetting receipts..................................           -596,805           -596,805               n.a.
                                                        --------------------------------------------------------
    Total, Previously enacted..........................          2,448,854          2,433,200          1,879,400
Enacted this session:
  Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2008 (P.L. 110-252)                   0                  7                  0
   \2\.................................................
  Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act               1,942              1,924                  1
   of 2008 (P.L. 110-275)..............................
  Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-                 203                203               -968
   289) \2\............................................
  Higher Education Opportunity Act (P.L. 110-315)......                -10                  0                  O
                                                        --------------------------------------------------------
                                                                     2,135              2,134               -967
Total Current Level \1,2\..............................          2,450,989          2,435,334          1,878,433
Total Budget Resolution \4\............................          2,564,237          2,466,678          1,875,401
    Adjustment to the budget resolution for emergency             -108,056            -28,901               n.a.
     requirements \5\..................................
                                                        --------------------------------------------------------
Adjusted Budget Resolution.............................          2,456,181          2,437,777          1,875,401
Current Level Over Budget Resolution...................               n.a.               n.a.              3,032
Current Level Under Budget Resolution..................              5,192              2,443               n.a.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Includes the following acts that affect budget authority, outlays, or revenues, and were cleared by the
  Congress during this session, but before the adoption of S. Con. Res. 70, the Concurrent Resolution on the
  Budget for Fiscal Year 2009: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 (P.L. 110-181), Economic
  Stimulus Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-185), Andean Trade Preference Extension Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-191), Ensuring
  Continued Access to Student Loans Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-227), Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008 (P.L.
  110-229), Strategic Petroleum Reserve Fill Suspension and Consumer Protection Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-232),
  Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-234), SAFETEA-LU Technical Corrections Act of 2008 (P.L.
  116-244), and Heroes Earnings Assistance and Relief Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-245).
\2\ Pursuant to section 204(a) of S. Con. Res. 21, the Concurrent Resolution on the Budget for Fiscal Year 2008,
  provisions designated as emergency requirements are exempt from enforcement of the budget resolution. The
  amounts so designated for Fiscal Year 2008, which are not included in the current level total, are as follows:


 
                                                          Budget authority       Outlays            Revenues
 
  Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2008 (P.L. 110-252).            115,808             35,350               n.a.
  Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-               4,106                187               n.a.
   289)................................................
                                                        --------------------------------------------------------
                                                                   119,914             35,537               n.a.
 
\3\ For purposes of enforcing section 311 of the Congressional Budget Act in the Senate, the budget resolution
  does not include budget authority, outlays, or revenues for off-budget amounts. As a result, current level
  excludes these items.
\4\ Periodically, the Senate Committee on the Budget revises the totals in S. Con. Res. 70, pursuant to various
  provisions of the resolution:


 
                                                          Budget authority       Outlays            Revenues
 
  Original Budget Resolution...........................          2,563,262          2,465,711          1,875,392
  Revisions:
    For the Strategic Petroleum Reserve Fill Suspension               -950               -950                  0
     and Consumer Protection Act of 2008 (SPR Act)
     (section 323(d))..................................
    For the Heroes Earnings Assistance and Relief Tax                    0                  0                  8
     Act of 2008 (Heroes Act) (section 323(d)).........
    For adjustment to debt service for the SPR and                      -7                 -7                  0
     Heroes acts (section 323 (d)).....................
    For the Medicare Improvements for Patients and                   1,942              1,924                  1
     Providers Act of 2008 (sections 221(f) and 227)...
    For the Higher Education Opportunity Act (section                  -10                  0                  0
     222)..............................................
                                                        --------------------------------------------------------
  Revised Budget Resolution............................          2,564,237          2,466,678          1,875,401
 
\5\ S. Con. Res. 70 assumed $108,056 million in budget authority and $28,901 million in outlays for overseas
  deployment and related activities. The Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2008 (P.L. 110-252) designated funding
  for these activities as an emergency requirement, pursuant to section 204(a) of S. Con. Res. 21. Such
  emergency amounts are exempt from the enforcement of S. Con. Res. 70. Since current level totals exclude the
  emergency requirements enacted in P.L. 110-252 (see footnote 2), budget authority and outlay totals specified
  in S. Con. Res. 70 have been reduced for purposes of comparison.
Source: Congressional Budget Office.
Note: n.a. = not applicable; P.L. = Public Law

                                                    U.S. Congress,


                                  Congressional Budget Office,

                               Washington, DC, September 11, 2008.
     Hon. Kent Conrad,
     Chairman, Committee on the Budget, U.S. Senate, Washington, 
         DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: The enclosed report shows the effects of 
     Congressional action on the fiscal year 2009 budget and is 
     current through September 8, 2008. This report is submitted 
     under section 308(b) and in aid of section 311 of the 
     Congressional Budget Act, as amended.
       The estimates of budget authority, outlays, and revenues 
     are consistent with the technical and economic assumptions of 
     S. Con. Res. 70, the Concurrent Resolution on the Budget for 
     Fiscal Year 2009, as approved by the Senate and the House of 
     Representatives.
       Pursuant to section 204(a) of S. Con. Res. 21, provisions 
     designated as emergency requirements are exempt from 
     enforcement of the budget resolution. As a result, the 
     enclosed current level report excludes these amounts (see 
     footnote 2 of Table 2 of the report).
       Since my last letter, dated July 9, 2008, the Congress has 
     cleared and the President has signed the following acts that 
     affect budget authority, outlays, or revenues for fiscal year 
     2009:
       Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 
     2008 (Public Law 110-275);
       A joint resolution approving the renewal of import 
     restrictions contained in the Burmese Freedom and Democracy 
     Act of 2003 (Public Law 110-287):
       Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-
     289); and
       Higher Education Opportunity Act (Public Law 110-315).
           Sincerely,
                                                Robert A. Sunshine
                                  (For Peter R. Orszag, Director).
       Enclosure.

  TABLE 1.--SENATE CURRENT LEVEL REPORT FOR SPENDING AND REVENUES FOR FISCAL YEAR 2009, AS OF SEPTEMBER 8, 2008
                                            [In billions of dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                   Current level
                                                                      Budget          Current     over/under (-)
                                                                   resolution\1\     level\2\       resolution
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                            ON-BUDGET
 
Budget Authority................................................         2,462.5         1,504.5          -958.0
Outlays.........................................................         2,497.3         1,906.2          -591.1
Revenues........................................................         2,029.7         2,086.4            56.7
                           OFF-BUDGET
 
Social Security Outlays \3\.....................................           493.6           493.6             0.0
Social Security Revenues........................................           695.9           695.9             0.0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ S. Con. Res. 70, the Concurrent Resolution on the Budget for Fiscal Year 2009, assumed $70.0 billion in
  budget authority and $74.8 billion in outlays for overseas deployment and related activities. Additionally, S.
  Con. Res. 70 assumed $5.8 billion in budget authority and $1.2 billion in outlays for the Corps of Engineers.
  The Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2008 (P.L. 110-252) designated funding for these activities as an
  emergency requirement, pursuant to section 204(a) of S. Con. Res. 21, the Concurrent Resolution on the Budget
  for Fiscal Year 2008. Such emergency amounts are exempt from the enforcement of S. Con. Res. 70. Since current
  level totals exclude the emergency requirements enacted in P.L. 110-252 (see footnote 2 of table 2), budget
  authority and outlay totals specified in S. Con. Res. 70 have also been reduced for purposes of comparison.
\2\ Current level is the estimated effect on revenue and spending of all legislation, excluding amounts
  designated as emergency requirements (see footnote 2 of table 2), that the Congress has enacted or sent to the
  President for his approval. In addition, full-year funding estimates under current law are included for
  entitlement and mandatory programs requiring annual appropriations, even if the appropriations have not been
  made.
\3\ Excludes administrative expenses of the Social Security Administration, which are off-budget, but are
  appropriated annually.
Source: Congressional Budget Office.


  TABLE 2.--SUPPORTING DETAIL FOR THE CURRENT LEVEL REPORT FOR ON-BUDGET SPENDING AND REVENUES FOR FISCAL YEAR
                                          2009, AS OF SEPTEMBER 8, 2008
                                            [In millions of dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                          Budget authority       Outlays            Revenues
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Previously Enacted \1\:
  Revenues.............................................               n.a.               n.a.          2,097,399
  Permanents and other spending legislation............          1,440,235          1,392,509               n.a.
  Appropriation legislation............................                  0            471,616               n.a.
  Offsetting receipts..................................           -587,749           -587,749               n.a.
                                                        --------------------------------------------------------
    Total, Previously enacted..........................            852,486          1,276,376          2,097,399

[[Page S8474]]

 
Enacted this session:
  Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2008 (P.L. 110-252)                   0                 23                  0
   \2\.................................................
  Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act               6,633              6,516                  9
   of 2008 (P.L. 110-275)..............................
  A joint resolution approving the renewal of import                     0                  0                 -2
   restrictions contained in the Burmese Freedom and
   Democracy Act of 2003 (P.L. 110-287)................
  Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-              24,966             24,715            -11,037
   289) \2\............................................
  Higher Education Opportunity Act (P.L. 110-315)......                 -9               -114                  0
                                                        --------------------------------------------------------
    Total, Enacted this session........................             31,590             31,140            -11,030
Entitlements and mandatories:
  Budget resolution estimates of appropriated                      620,449            598,715                  0
   entitlements and other mandatory programs...........
Total Current Level 2,3................................          1,504,525          1,906,231          2,086,369
Total Budget Resolution \4\............................          2,538,292          2,573,270          2,029,653
  Adjustment to the budget resolution for emergency                -70,000            -74,809               n.a.
   requirements \5\....................................
  Adjustment to the budget resolution for emergency                 -5,761             -1,152               n.a.
   requirements \5\....................................
                                                        --------------------------------------------------------
Adjusted Budget Resolution.............................          2,462,531          2,497,309          2,029,653
Current Level Over Budget Resolution...................               n.a.               n.a.             56,716
Current Level Under Budget Resolution..................            958,006            591,078               n.a.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Includes the following acts that affect budget authority, outlays, or revenues, and were cleared by the
  Congress during this session, but before the adoption of S. Con. Res. 70, the Concurrent Resolution on the
  Budget for Fiscal Year 2009: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 (P.L. 110-181), Economic
  Stimulus Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-185), Andean Trade Preference Extension Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-191), Ensuring
  Continued Access to Student Loans Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-227), Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008 (P.L.
  110-229), Strategic Petroleum Reserve Fill Suspension and Consumer Protection Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-232),
  Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-233), Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008
  (P.L. 110-234), SAFETEA-LU Technical Corrections Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-244), and Heroes Earning Assistance and
  Relief Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-245).
\2\ Pursuant to section 204(a) of S. Con. Res. 21, the Concurrent Resolution on the Budget for Fiscal Year 2008,
  provisions designated as emergency requirements are exempt from enforcement of the budget resolution. The
  amounts so designated for fiscal year 2009, which are not included in the current level total, are as follows:


 
                                                          Budget authority       Outlays            Revenues
 
 
  Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2008 (P.L. 110-252). ------------85,155-------------87,211-----------------27
  Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-                   7                928               n.a.
   289)................................................
                                                        --------------------------------------------------------
    Total, Amounts designated as emergency.............             85,162             88,139                27
 
\3\ For purposes of enforcing section 311 of the Congressional Budget Act in the Senate, the budget resolution
  does not include budget authority, outlays, or revenues for off-budget amounts. As a result, current level
  excludes these items.
\4\ Periodically, the Senate Committee on the Budget revises the totals in S. Con. Res. 70, pursuant to various
  provisions of the resolution:


 
                                                          Budget authority       Outlays            Revenues
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
  Original Budget Resolution........................... ---------2,530,703----------2,565,903----------2,029,612
  Revisions:
    For the Strategic Petroleum Reserve Fill Suspension                950                950                  0
     and Consumer Protection Act of 2008 (SPR Act)
     (section 323(d))..................................
    For the Heroes Earnings Assistance and Relief Tax                   28                 28                 32
     Act of 2008 (Heroes Act) (section 323(d)).........
    For adjustment to debt service for the SPR and                     -13                -13                  0
     Heroes acts (section 323(d))......................
    For the Patients and Providers Act of 2008                       6,633              6,516                  9
     (sections 221(f) and 227).........................
    For the Higher Education Opportunity Act (section                   -9               -114                  0
     222)..............................................
                                                        --------------------------------------------------------
  Revised Budget Resolution............................          2,538,292          2,573,270          2,029,653
\5\ S. Con. Res. 70 assumed $70,000 million in budget authority and $74,809 million in outlays for overseas
  deployment and related activities. Additionally, S. Con. Res. 70 assumed $5,761 million in budget authority
  and $1,152 million in outlays for the Corps of Engineers. The Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2008 (P.L. 110-
  252) designated funding for these activities as an emergency requirement, pursuant to section 204(a) of S.
  Con. Res. 21. Such emergency amounts are exempt from the enforcement of S. Con. Res. 70. Since current level
  totals exclude the emergency requirements enacted in P.L. 110-252 (see footnote 2), budget authority and
  outlay totals specified in S. Con. Res. 70 have also been reduced for purposes of comparison.
Source: Congressional Budget Office.
Note: n.a. = not applicable; P.L. = Public Law.



                          ____________________