[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 206 (Thursday, December 14, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5992-S5994]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       BUDGET SCOREKEEPING REPORT

  Mr. WHITEHOUSE. Mr. President, I submit to the Senate a budget 
scorekeeping report. The report, which covers fiscal year 2024, was 
prepared by the Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section 308(b) 
of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974. This information enables the 
Senate Budget Committee to determine if budgetary points of order lie 
against pending legislation.
  CBO's report shows the effect on spending and revenues of 
congressional action through December 10, 2023, as compared to the 
levels that I filed on June 21 as authorized by section 121 of the 
Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023, or FRA. Since then, Congress has 
passed six pieces of legislation with small effects on direct spending. 
These include two continuing resolutions that were eligible for 
adjustments to enforceable levels as permitted under the FRA.
  Tables 1 and 2 show that current budgetary levels are above allowable 
amounts for budget authority and within allowable amounts for outlays. 
The government is currently operating under a bipartisan short-term 
continuing resolution that extends the previous year's discretionary 
funding levels through early 2024. The budget authority level shown in 
the tables is artificially high because it reflects CBO's estimate of 
the continuing resolution, which for technical reasons is higher than 
the statutory limits. Enactment of full-year appropriations for fiscal 
year 2024 consistent with budget agreement surrounding the FRA would 
bring total budget authority in line with the allowable limits. These 
tables also reflect that there has been no change to Social Security.
  Table 3 shows the Senate's pay-as-you-go-scorecard, which reflects 
$44 million of net deficit reduction over 10 years.
  The Democratic staff of the Budget Committee prepared an addendum 
table to supplement CBO's report, which compares the mandatory spending 
of each authorizing committee against the enforceable allocations under 
section 302 of the Congressional Budget Act. It shows that 15 of the 16 
authorizing committees are complying with their allocations, either 
because no legislation with significant budgetary costs was enacted, 
the legislation was deficit-neutral and qualified for an allocation 
adjustment that was subsequently filed, or the legislation reduced 
spending.
  I ask unanimous consent that CBO's letter, accompanying tables, and 
the addendum 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, December 13, 2023.
     Hon. Sheldon Whitehouse,
     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 2024 budget and is 
     current through December 10, 2023. 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 allocations, aggregates, and other 
     budgetary levels printed in the Congressional Record on 
     November 29, 2023, pursuant to section 121 of the Fiscal 
     Responsibility Act of 2023 (FRA, Public Law 118-5).
       Since the enactment of the FRA, the Congress has cleared 
     the following legislation that has significant effects on 
     budget authority, outlays, or revenues in fiscal year 2024:
       Continuing Appropriations Act, 2024 and Other Extensions 
     Act (Public Law 118-15);
       Further Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act, 
     2024 (Public Law 118-22); and
       A joint resolution providing for Congressional disapproval 
     under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule 
     submitted by the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection 
     relating to ``Small Business Lending Under the Equal Credit 
     Opportunity Act (Regulation B)'' (S.J. Res 32).
       This is the first current level letter for fiscal year 
     2024.
           Sincerely,
                                                Phillip L. Swagel,
                                                         Director.
       Enclosure.

   TABLE 1.--SENATE CURRENT LEVEL REPORT FOR SPENDING AND REVENUES FOR
                FISCAL YEAR 2024, AS OF DECEMBER 10, 2023
                        [In billions of dollars]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               Current
                                      Budget      Current    Level Over/
                                    Resolution     Level      Under (-)
                                                              Resolution
------------------------------------------------------------------------
On-Budget:
    Budget Authority.............      4,958.7      4,982.4         23.7
    Outlays......................      5,082.5      5,039.2        -43.3
    Revenues.....................      3,651.8      3,651.8          0.0
Off-Budget:
    Social Security Outlays......      1,322.7      1,322.7          0.0
    Social Security Revenues.....      1,195.5      1,195.5          0.0
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: Congressional Budget Office.


 TABLE 2.--SUPPORTING DETAIL FOR THE SENATE CURRENT LEVEL REPORT FOR ON-BUDGET SPENDING AND REVENUES FOR FISCAL
                                       YEAR 2024, AS OF DECEMBER 10, 2023
                                            [In millions of dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                    Budget
                                                                  Authority         Outlays          Revenues
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Previously Enacted:
    Revenues.................................................             n.a.             n.a.        3,651,961
    Permanents and Other Spending Legislation................        3,246,128        3,218,288             n.a.
    Prior-Year Outlays.......................................                0          815,333             n.a.
    Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 (P.L. 118-5)...........              200           -1,903             -123
    Offsetting Receipts......................................       -1,262,969       -1,262,967             n.a.
                                                              --------------------------------------------------
        Total, Previously Enacted............................        1,983,359        2,768,751        3,651,838
Enacted Legislation: a
    Authorizing Legislation
        Continuing Appropriations Act, 2024 and Other                      642              257             n.a.
         Extensions Act (P.L. 118-15)........................
        Further Continuing Appropriations and Other                      1,589              954             n.a.
         Extensions Act, 2024 (P.L. 118-22)..................
                                                              --------------------------------------------------
            Subtotal, Authorizing Legislation................            2,231            1,211             n.a.
    Appropriation Legislation:
        Continuing Appropriations Act, 2024 and Other                   16,000              979             n.a.
         Extensions Act (P.L. 118-15)........................
    Passed, Pending Signature:
        S.J. Res. 32--A joint resolution providing for                      -2               -2             n.a.
         congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title
         5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the
         Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection relating to
         ``Small Business Lending Under the Equal Credit
         Opportunity Act (Regulation B)''....................
    Continuing Resolution:
        Further Continuing Appropriations and Other                  1,509,524          825,583             n.a.
         Extensions Act, 2024 (P.L. 118-22)..................
Entitlements and Mandatories.................................        1,471,281        1,442,644             n.a.

[[Page S5993]]

 
    Total Current Level......................................        4,982,393        5,039,166        3,651,838
    Total Senate Resolution b................................        4,958,655        5,082,455        3,651,838
                                                              --------------------------------------------------
    Current Level Over Senate Resolution.....................           23,738             n.a.             n.a.
    Current Level Under Senate Resolution....................             n.a.           43,289             n.a.
Memorandum:
Revenues, 2024-2033
    Senate Current Level.....................................             n.a.             n.a.       45,331,678
    Senate Resolution........................................             n.a.             n.a.       45,331,678
                                                              --------------------------------------------------
    Current Level Over Senate Resolution.....................             n.a.             n.a.             n.a.
    Current Level Under Senate Resolution....................             n.a.             n.a.             n.a.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: Congressional Budget Office.
n.a. = not applicable; P.L. = public law.
For purposes of enforcing section 311 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (P.L. 93-344) in the Senate, the
  aggregate spending and revenue levels for 2024 published in the Congressional Record on June 21, 2023, by the
  Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Budget pursuant to section 121 of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of
  2023 (FRA, P.L. 118-5) do not include budget authority, outlays, or revenues for off-budget amounts. As a
  result, amounts in this current-level report do not include those items.
In keeping with the 21st Century Cures Act (P.L. 114-255), certain funding for the Department of Health and
  Human Services is excluded from estimates for the purposes of both the Budget Act and the Balanced Budget and
  Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (BBEDCA P.L. 99-177), as amended. As a result, this report excludes $457
  million in budget authority and $770 million in outlays. Similarly, in keeping with section 14003 of the
  Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (P.L. 116-136, as modified by section 101 of division AA of
  the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (P.L. 116260)), certain funding provided to the Army Corps of
  Engineers is excluded from estimates for the purposes of both the Budget Act and the Deficit Control Act. As a
  result, this report excludes $2,374 million in budget authority and $2,374 million in outlays.
a Current-level amounts and allocations include budgetary effects designates as an emergency requirement in
  keeping with section 251 of the Deficit Control Act. However, they exclude budgetary effects designated as an
  emergency requirement pursuant to section 4001 of S. Con. Res. 14 (117th Congress), the concurrent resolution
  on the budget for fiscal year 2022. In consultation with the Senate Committee on the Budget and in keeping
  with section 103 of the FRA, current-level amounts and allocations also exclude amounts previously enacted and
  designated as an emergency requirement for 2024 for allocation enforcement under the Budget Act. Those amounts
  are as follows:


 
                                                                    Budget
                                                                  Authority         Outlays          Revenues
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Authorizing Legislation:
    Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 (P.L. 118-5)...........                0           -2,331             n.a.
Appropriation Legislation:
    Congressional non-BBEDCA Emergencies.....................           70,983            2,798             n.a.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
b Section 121 of the FRA requires the Chair of the Senate Committee on the Budget to publish the aggregate
  spending and revenue levels for fiscal year 2024; those aggregate levels were first published in the
  Congressional Record on June 21, 2023. The Chair of the Senate Committee on the Budget has the authority to
  revise the budgetary aggregates for the budgetary effects of certain revenue and spending measures pursuant to
  the Budget Act and the FRA:


 
                                                                    Budget
                                                                  Authority         Outlays          Revenues
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Original Aggregates Printed on June 21, 2023:................        4,878,570        5,056,741        3,651,838
Revisions:
    Published in the Congressional Record on September 12,              61,854           23,541             n.a.
     2023....................................................
    Published in the Congressional Record on October 24, 2023           16,642            1,219             n.a.
    Published in the Congressional Record on November 29,                1,589              954             n.a.
     2023....................................................
                                                              --------------------------------------------------
Revised Senate Resolution....................................        4,958,655        5,082,455        3,651,838
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


 TABLE 3.--SUMMARY OF THE SENATE PAY-AS-YOU-GO SCORECARD AS OF DECEMBER
                                10, 2023
                        [In millions of dollars]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                       2024      2024-2028    2024-2033
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Beginning Balance a .............            0            0            0
Enacted Legislation b,c
    Providing Accountability                 *            *            *
     Through Transparency Act of
     2023 (S. 111, P.L. 118-9)...
    250th Anniversary of the                 0            0            0
     United States Marine Corps
     Commemorative Coin Act (H.R.
     1096, P.L. 118-10)..........
    Continuing Appropriations                *            *            *
     Act, 2024 and Other
     Extensions Act (H.R. 5860,
     P.L. 118-15) d .............
    An act to amend title 38,                0            1           -1
     United States Code, to
     extend and modify certain
     authorities and requirements
     relating to the Department
     of Veterans Affairs, and for
     other purposes (S. 2795,
     P.L. 118-19)................
    Further Continuing                       *            *            *
     Appropriations and Other
     Extensions Act, 2024 (H.R.
     6363, P.L. 118-22) e .......
    A joint resolution providing            -2          -21          -43
     for congressional
     disapproval under chapter 8
     of title 5, United States
     Code, of the rule submitted
     by the Bureau of Consumer
     Financial Protection
     relating to ``Small Business
     Lending Under the Equal
     Credit Opportunity Act
     (Regulation B)''. (S.J.Res.
     32).........................
                                  --------------------------------------
                                            -2          -20          -44
Impact on Deficit................           -2          -20          -44
    Total Change in Outlays......           -2          -20          -44
    Total Change in Revenues.....            *            *            *
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: Congressional Budget Office.
P.L. = public law; * = between -$500,000 and $500,000
a. On June 21, 2023 the Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Budget
  reset the Senate's Pay-As-You-Go Scorecard to zero for all fiscal
  years.
b The amounts shown represent the estimated effect of the public laws on
  the deficit.
c Excludes off-budget amounts.
d Section 2401(b) requires the budgetary effects of that division to be
  excluded from the Senate's PAYGO scorecard; however, the revenue
  effects from the immigration extensions included in division A are
  included in the scorecard because division A does not fall within the
  exclusion in section 2401 of division B.
e Section 701(b) requires the budgetary effects of that division to be
  excluded from the Senate's PAYGO scorecard; however, the revenue
  effects from the immigration extensions included in division A are
  included in the scorecard because division A does not fall within the
  exclusion in section 701 of division B.


 ADDENDUM: SENATE AUTHORIZING COMMITTEE SPENDING COMPARED TO ALLOCATIONS
  [$ in millions; positive numbers represent spending above enforceable
                                 limits]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                       2024      2024-2028    2024-2033
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Agriculture, Nutrition, and
 Forestry:
    Budget Authority.............            0            0            0
    Outlays......................            0            0            0
Armed Services:
    Budget Authority.............            0            0            0
    Outlays......................            0            0            0
Banking, Housing, and Urban
 Affairs:
    Budget Authority.............           -2          -21          -43
    Outlays......................           -2          -21          -43
Commerce, Science, and
 Transportation:
    Budget Authority.............            0            0            0
    Outlays......................            0            0            0
Energy and Natural Resources:
    Budget Authority.............            0            0            0
    Outlays......................            0            0            0
Environment and Public Works:
    Budget Authority.............            0            0            0
    Outlays......................            0            0            0
Finance:
    Budget Authority.............            0            0            0
    Outlays......................            0            0            0
Foreign Relations:
    Budget Authority.............            0            0            0
    Outlays......................            0            0            0
Health, Education, Labor, and
 Pensions:
    Budget Authority.............            0            0            0
    Outlays......................            0            0            0
Homeland Security and
 Governmental Affairs:
    Budget Authority.............            0            0            0
    Outlays......................            0            0            0
Indian Affairs:
    Budget Authority.............            0            0            0
    Outlays......................            0            0            0
Intelligence:
    Budget Authority.............            0            0            0
    Outlays......................            0            0            0
Judiciary:
    Budget Authority.............            0            0            0
    Outlays......................            0            0            0
Rules and Administration:
    Budget Authority.............            0            0            0
    Outlays......................            0            0            0
Small Business and
 Entrepreneurship:
    Budget Authority.............            0            0            0
    Outlays......................            0            0            0
Veterans' Affairs:
    Budget Authority.............            0            1           -1

[[Page S5994]]

 
    Outlays......................            0            1           -1
Memo--all committees, total over
 allocation:
    Budget Authority.............           -2          -20          -44
    Outlays......................           -2          -20          -44
------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                             

                          ____________________