[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 184 (Wednesday, December 11, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H6825-H6827]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
INCREASING BASELINE UPDATES ACT
Mr. MOORE of Utah. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (H.R. 9716) to amend the Congressional Budget and
Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to require the Congressional Budget
Office to provide baseline updates, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 9716
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Increasing Baseline Updates
Act''.
SEC. 2. CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE UPDATES TO BASELINE.
Section 202(e) of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment
Control Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 602(e)) is amended by adding at
the end the following:
``(4)(A) The Director shall, to the extent practicable,
submit to the Committees on the Budget of the House of
Representatives and the Senate at least two updates to the
baseline submitted under paragraph (1). At least one of the
updates shall include economic data used by the Director to
calculate such update.
``(B) Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to limit
the Director from providing any other update to the baseline
during such year.''.
SEC. 3. ANNUAL TECHNICAL BUDGET DATA SUBMISSION BY THE
PRESIDENT.
Section 1106 of title 31, United States Code, is amended by
adding at the end the following:
``(d) On or before February 1 of each calendar year, the
President shall submit to Congress technical budget data for
the fiscal year beginning in the ensuing calendar year, which
shall include up-to-date estimates for current year and prior
year data and credit reestimates for the current year (as
included in the Federal credit supplement of such budget).''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Utah (Mr. Moore) and the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Boyle) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Utah.
{time} 1245
General Leave
Mr. MOORE of Utah. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all
Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their
remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 9716.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Utah?
There was no objection.
Mr. MOORE of Utah. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
I rise today in support of my bill, the Increasing Baseline Updates
Act.
I thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Suozzi) for co-leading this
effort.
The Increasing Baseline Updates Act would require CBO to produce at
least two baseline updates per year, including at least one with
economic data. Currently, under the Budget Act, CBO is required to
publish its baseline before February 15 of each year, but a specific
number of baseline updates is not statutorily required.
As a result, in recent years, CBO has not published updates to the
baseline later in the calendar year. The last time CBO published a
baseline update after July was in 2020, and the Office has not
published three baseline updates in a calendar year since 2019.
By requiring these two additional baseline updates each year, the
Increasing Baseline Updates Act will ensure Congress has updated
information on the most relevant budget and economic figures to better
inform the appropriations process and other legislative proposals we
consider later in any given calendar year.
The bill also ensures CBO will receive the relevant technical data
from the executive branch by February 1 of each year so CBO can
complete their baseline in a timely manner.
I was proud that this bill unanimously passed the Budget Committee
this past September, with the help of the ranking member from
Pennsylvania.
During the 118th Congress, the Budget Committee has been laser
focused on sounding the alarm about the threat posed to our Nation by
the debt and deficit crisis in which we find ourselves. This has
included bipartisan efforts with our Democratic colleagues on reforms
to bolster improper payment accountability, improve the budget process,
and shore up our long-term fiscal solvency.
Critical to our efforts to rein in the Federal debt and deficit is
providing oversight of CBO to ensure this office is providing Congress
the most accurate and timely information possible to inform legislative
efforts.
There is a sincere desire in a bipartisan way to get after the fiscal
state of this Nation, and we have seen several proposals emerge. Not
all of them have passed, but a lot of them have been worked on together
with my Democratic colleagues on the Budget Committee to accomplish
things to improve this process. That is what the Increasing Baseline
Updates Act aims to accomplish.
We know we have a lot more work to do. We are $36 trillion in debt,
and we had a staggering $1.8 trillion deficit last fiscal year. We are
paying more just to service the debt than on our national defense for
the first time. It is unacceptable, and we must reverse our debt
culture.
Madam Speaker, I look forward to working with my colleagues in the
new Congress on efforts to grow the economy, cut spending, and
eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse in the Federal Government. The
Increasing Baseline Updates Act is a commonsense reform solidifying a
total of three baseline updates per year to provide Congress with a
better and more up-to-date sense of fiscal and economic developments,
while paving the way for a return to regular order.
I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this
legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of
H.R. 9716, the Increasing Baseline Updates Act, a bipartisan measure to
ensure Congress has the accurate and timely information we need to
govern responsibly.
This bill is fairly straightforward. It requires that the
Congressional Budget
[[Page H6826]]
Office, or CBO, to provide at least two updates to its annual budget
baseline each year, with one update including the underlying economic
data. It also ensures the President submits technical budget data to
Congress by February 1, giving the CBO the tools it needs to fulfill
its critical role.
CBO's baseline projections are the foundation for evaluating proposed
policies. They are the measuring stick for determining how legislation
will impact our budget and economy. Regular updates ensure we aren't
working with outdated information.
Let me emphasize something else. The CBO is nonpartisan. Its mission
is not Democratic nor Republican. It is simply to provide Congress
with unbiased, fact-based analysis. For decades--indeed, 50 years, to
be exact--it has done an outstanding job, consistently delivering
reliable and transparent baseline updates. However, we cannot ignore
the fact that some on the other side of the aisle are working to
undermine this institution.
Madam Speaker, the numbers don't lie. We may not like CBO reports
from time to time, but the numbers are the numbers. Instead of facing
these facts, some, instead, would rather attack the messenger. That is
wrong, and we can't let that happen. CBO's credibility and independence
are essential. It must be able to continue to operate free from
political interference.
Now, this bill highlights what we can achieve when we work together.
On the Budget Committee this year, working alongside my friend,
Chairman Arrington, we have had unprecedented support from the minority
party to make sure we could achieve bipartisan reforms. This bill is
further evidence of that. Through real bipartisan collaboration, we
found a solution. That is why every single member of the Budget
Committee, all 32 of us, voted to advance the gentleman from Utah's
bill.
I thank my colleague, Mr. Moore, for introducing this bill. I, again,
thank my Republican colleagues. Especially Messrs. Arrington, Estes,
and Norman, for working with us, and I thank my Democrat colleague,
Congressman Tom Suozzi, for his contributions to this effort.
I urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 9716, and I reserve the
balance of my time.
Mr. MOORE of Utah. Madam Speaker, I include in the Record letters and
statements of support from various organizations and individuals as
part of H.R. 9716. These include the Economic Policy Innovation Center
and National Taxpayers Union Foundation.
Economic Policy Innovation Center,
December 10, 2024.
Hon. Jodey Arrington,
Chairman, Committee on the Budget,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Hon. Brendan Boyle,
Ranking Member, Committee on the Budget,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Chairman Arrington and Ranking Member Boyle: The
Congressional Budget Office (CBO) and the Joint Committee on
Taxation (JCT) serve Congress by providing non-partisan
analysis. To accomplish this mission, it is essential that
Congress and the public have faith in the methodology by
which the CBO and the JCT produce their estimates and
reports. An important way to improve trust in the
Congressional scorekeepers is by increasing transparency
through more frequent updates to the baseline and regular
releases of economic data.
H.R. 9716, the Increasing Baseline Updates Act, introduced
by Congressman Blake Moore (R-UT-01) would improve the CBO's
ability to access data from the Executive Branch. It would
also ensure Congress has updated information to use when
legislating.
The bill requires the CBO to submit to Congress at least
two updates to the budget and economic baseline each year.
The bill further stipulates that the President must submit
technical data necessary for the CBO's estimates to Congress
``on or before February 1 of each calendar year.''
The federal budget process must evolve to confront the
serious fiscal challenges of today and tomorrow. The proposed
bill ensures access to the accurate and timely information
necessary for lawmakers to do their work for the American
people.
We at EPIC applaud your work in improving the federal
budget process to enable Congress and the public to be better
informed about the true impact of legislation under
consideration.
Sincerely,
Paul Winfree, Ph.D,
President and CEO.
____
National Taxpayers
Union Foundation,
December 10, 2024.
This week, the House of Representatives is poised to take
up the Increasing Baseline Updates Act (H.R. 9716) introduced
by Rep. Blake Moore (R-UT) and cosponsored by Reps. Thomas
Suozzi (D-NY), Ron Estes (R-KS), and Ralph Norman (R-SC). The
bill will be considered under suspension on Wednesday. This
bipartisan legislation aims to enhance the ability of the
Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to produce and update its
annual budget baseline. Specifically, the bill mandates that
the executive branch provide critical data to CBO by February
1 and requires CBO to produce at least two updates to its
baseline each year. These reforms would ensure lawmakers have
access to more timely and accurate fiscal data.
what the bill would do
CBO's annual baseline, a ten-year projection of the budget
and economy based largely on current law, is generally
published in January or February. It serves as a critical
benchmark for evaluating the fiscal impact of legislative
proposals. Updates are released in the spring and late summer
to reflect changes in enacted laws and economic conditions.
The baseline is often delayed because Congress and the
President do not complete work on the budget in a timely
manner. However, it can also be delayed because the White
House's Office of Management and Budget (OMB) does not
provide key data to CBO as soon as it could. OMB manages and
produces the President's annual budget request based on data
from across the federal departments and agencies. This data
is only made available to CBO at the same time the budget is
released to the public.
The Increasing Baseline Updates Act addresses this issue by
requiring OMB to provide relevant technical data to CBO by
February 1 each year. This will enable CBO to finalize its
budget baseline more quickly. It would also require CBO, to
the extent practicable, to provide at least two baseline
updates to Congress. In most years, CBO will produce one or
two updates, but, under the Increasing Baseline Updates Act,
this would become the minimum. More frequent baseline updates
would also improve the accuracy of legislative cost
estimates, which are measured against the most recent
baseline.
bipartisan support for better budget data
This bipartisan reform to provide for more timely CBO
budget baselines and updates was passed in September by the
House Budget Committee with a vote of 32-0. This reform
builds on a pair of bills enacted by Congress this fall. The
CBO Data Sharing Act (H.R. 7032), introduced by the Budget
Committee's Chairman Jodey Arrington (R-TX) and Ranking
Member Brendan Boyle (D-PA) and the CBO Data Access Act (S.
1549), introduced by Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and Susan
Collins (R-ME). These bills made it easier for CBO to get the
budgetary data it needs from federal agencies without
needless delays, so that it can produce legislative cost
estimates on a shorter timeline.
conclusion
The Increasing Baseline Updates Act is a pragmatic,
bipartisan reform that strengthens CBO's ability to provide
timely and accurate fiscal data to lawmakers. By expediting
the availability of critical technical data and codifying
baseline update requirements, this legislation ensures that
Congress has the tools it needs to make informed budgetary
decisions. As the national debt continues to grow, reforms
for improved baselines and cost estimates will help lawmakers
make progress towards sound fiscal management and
accountability in government.
Demian Brady,
Vice President of Research.
Mr. MOORE of Utah. Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers at this
time, and I am prepared to close. I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance
of my time to close.
I was waiting for one other speaker, but seeing that he is not here,
I will conclude this brief discussion.
I, again, thank everyone who worked tirelessly to make this bill a
reality. Once again, I extend my gratitude to the gentleman from Utah
(Mr. Moore), and I urge all of my colleagues to support this important
legislation.
Again, let this be a lesson to all of us, that through bipartisan
work we can achieve meaningful reforms. I hope that in the new year we
will continue to build upon the bills that we passed through this
committee and through this House on a bipartisan basis.
Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. MOORE of Utah. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my
time to close.
As we close this debate, even if it might have been a little more
abrupt, it doesn't take away from the impact of something like this.
That is what happens in this place when we can strike a balance and
find an opportunity to recognize both the ranking member and the
chairman of the Budget Committee. That is where a lot of this work on
budget reform has been done. It has taken countless discussions and
getting to the right spot, and
[[Page H6827]]
that is the product that we have here today--sensible, reasonable
reforms that are needed.
We are going to get an opportunity to hear from CBO more frequently
as we try to continue to navigate this incredibly difficult fiscal
situation that we are in. We are in a tough spot.
The Budget Committee held another hearing just this morning on this
very subject. We have a responsibility to our constituents and our
kids' generation to get our finances in check.
This bill will help Congress get back to regular order and ensure we
have updated information and the most relevant budget data and economic
figures as we continue to craft policy.
I once again thank the Committee for its unanimous support on this
bill. In order to get to that unanimous support, Ranking Member Boyle
has been a significant leader in doing that. I thank him and Mr. Suozzi
for their efforts on this bill.
Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support its passage, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Utah (Mr. Moore) that the House suspend the rules and
pass the bill, H.R. 9716.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. MOORE of Utah. Madam 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 motion will be postponed.
____________________