S 2063
110th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 2063
To establish a Bipartisan Task Force for Responsible Fiscal Action,
to assure the economic security of the United States, and to expand future
prosperity and growth for all Americans.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
September 18, 2007
Mr. CONRAD (for himself and Mr. GREGG) introduced the following bill; which
was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Budget
A BILL
To establish a Bipartisan Task Force for Responsible Fiscal Action,
to assure the economic security of the United States, and to expand future
prosperity and growth for all Americans.
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 `Bipartisan Task Force for Responsible Fiscal
Action Act of 2007'.
SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF TASK FORCE.
Title III of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 631 et seq.)
is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
`ESTABLISHMENT OF TASK FORCE FOR RESPONSIBLE FISCAL ACTION
`Sec. 316. (a) Definitions- In this section:
`(1) TASK FORCE- The term `Task Force' means the Bipartisan Task Force
for Responsible Fiscal Action established under subsection (b)(1).
`(2) TASK FORCE BILL- The term `Task Force bill' means a bill consisting
of the proposed legislative language of the Task Force introduced under
subsection (c)(1).
`(3) FISCAL IMBALANCE- The term `fiscal imbalance' means the gap between
the projected revenues and expenditures of the Federal Government.
`(4) MEDICARE- The term `Medicare' means the program established under
title XVIII of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq.).
`(5) SOCIAL SECURITY- The term `Social Security' means the program of
old-age, survivors, and disability insurance benefits established under
title II of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 401 et seq.).
`(b) Establishment of Task Force-
`(1) ESTABLISHMENT- There is established a task force to be known as the
`Bipartisan Task Force for Responsible Fiscal Action'.
`(A) REVIEW- The Task Force shall review--
`(i) analyses of the current and long-term actuarial financial condition
of the Federal Government, including the Social Security and Medicare
programs; and
`(ii) the gap between the projected revenues and expenditures of the
Federal Government, including the revenues and expenditures attributable
to the Social Security and Medicare programs.
`(B) IDENTIFY FACTORS- The Task Force shall identify factors that affect
the long-term fiscal balance of the Federal Government, including the
fiscal balance of the Social Security and Medicare programs.
`(C) ANALYZE POTENTIAL COURSES OF ACTION- The Task Force shall analyze
potential courses of action to address factors that affect the long-term
fiscal balance of the Federal Government, including the fiscal balance
of the Social Security and Medicare programs.
`(D) PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS AND LEGISLATIVE LANGUAGE- The Task Force
shall provide recommendations and legislative language that will significantly
improve the long-term fiscal balance of the Federal Government, including
the fiscal balance of the Social Security and Medicare programs.
`(A) IN GENERAL- The Task Force shall address the Nation's long-term
fiscal imbalances, including such imbalances attributable to the Medicare
and Social Security programs and the gap between projected revenues
and expenditures under such programs, consistent with the purposes described
in paragraph (2) and shall submit the report and recommendations required
under subparagraph (B).
`(B) REPORT, RECOMMENDATIONS, AND LEGISLATIVE LANGUAGE-
`(i) IN GENERAL- On December 9, 2008, the Task Force shall submit
to the President and Congress a report on the long-term fiscal imbalances
of the Federal Government, including such imbalances attributable
to the Social Security and Medicare programs, that contains--
`(I) a detailed statement of the findings, conclusions, and recommendations
of the Task Force (including proposed legislative language to carry
out such recommendations); and
`(II) the assumptions, scenarios, and alternatives considered in
reaching such findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
`(ii) APPROVAL OF REPORT- The report of the Task Force submitted under
clause (i) shall require the approval of not less than 3/4 of the
16 members of the Task Force.
`(A) IN GENERAL- The Task Force shall be composed of 16 members designated
pursuant to subparagraph (B).
`(B) DESIGNATION- Members of the Task Force shall be designated as follows:
`(i) The President shall designate 2 members, one of whom shall be
the Secretary of the Treasury, who shall be the Chairperson of the
Task Force, and the other of whom shall be an officer or employee
of the executive branch.
`(ii) The majority leader of the Senate shall designate 4 members
from among Members of the Senate.
`(iii) The minority leader of the Senate shall designate 3 members
from among Members of the Senate.
`(iv) The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall designate
4 members from among Members of the House of Representatives.
`(v) The minority leader of the House of Representatives shall designate
3 members from among Members of the House of Representatives.
`(C) DATE- Members of the Task Force shall be designated by not later
than 30 days after the date of enactment of this section.
`(D) PERIOD OF DESIGNATION- Members shall be designated for the life
of the Task Force. Any vacancy in the Task Force shall not affect its
powers, but shall be filled not later than 14 days after the date on
which the vacancy occurs in the same manner as the original designation.
`(E) TERMINATION- The Task Force shall terminate on the date that is
90 days after the Task Force submits the report required under paragraph
(3)(B).
`(A) QUORUM- Twelve members of the Task Force shall constitute a quorum
for purposes of voting, but a lesser number may meet and hold hearings.
`(i) PROXY VOTING- No proxy voting shall be allowed on behalf of members
of the Task Force.
`(ii) POLICY MATTERS- The Task Force may not vote on policy matters
until after November 4, 2008.
`(i) INITIAL MEETING- Not later than 30 days after the date on which
all members of the Task Force have been designated, the Task Force
shall hold its first meeting.
`(ii) MEETINGS- The Task Force shall meet at the call of the Chairperson
or a majority of its members.
`(D) HEARINGS- Subject to subparagraph (G), the Task Force may, for
the purpose of carrying out this section, hold such hearings, sit and
act at such times and places, take such testimony, receive such evidence,
and administer such oaths the Task Force considers advisable.
`(E) COMPENSATION- Members of the Task Force shall serve without any
additional compensation for their work on the Task Force. However, members
may be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence,
in accordance with sections 5702 and 5703 of title 5, United States
Code, while away from their homes or regular places of business in performance
of services for the Task Force.
`(F) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE- Upon the request of any member of the Task
Force, a Federal agency shall provide technical assistance to all members
of the Task Force in order for the Task Force to carry out its duties.
`(i) RESOURCES- Any member of the Task Force shall have authority
to access materials, resources, statistical data, and other information
the Task Force determines to be necessary to carry out its duties
from the Library of Congress, the Chief Actuary of the Social Security
Administration, the Chief Actuary of the Centers for Medicare &
Medicaid Services, the Congressional Budget Office, and other agencies
and instrumentalities of the executive and legislative branches of
the Federal Government (including the Department of the Treasury,
the Department of Health and Human Services, the Office of Management
and Budget, the Government Accountability Office, and the Joint Committee
on Taxation). Each agency or instrumentality shall, to the extent
permitted by law, furnish such information to the Task Force upon
written request by a member of the Task Force.
`(ii) RECEIPT, HANDLING, STORAGE, AND DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION-
Information shall only be received, handled, stored, and disseminated
by members of the Task Force and its staff consistent with all applicable
statutes, regulations, and Executive orders.
`(iii) LIMITATION OF ACCESS TO TAX INFORMATION- Information accessed
under this subparagraph shall not include tax data from the United
States Internal Revenue Service, the release of which would otherwise
be in violation of law.
`(H) POSTAL SERVICES- The Task Force may use the United States mails
in the same manner and under the same conditions as other departments
and agencies of the Federal Government.
`(6) FUNDING- There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are
necessary to carry out the purposes of the Task Force.
`(c) Expedited Consideration of Task Force Recommendations-
`(A) IN GENERAL- The proposed legislative language contained in the
report submitted pursuant to subsection (b)(3)(B) shall be introduced
within the first 10 calendar days of the 111th Congress (or on the first
session day thereafter) in the House of Representatives and in the Senate
by the majority leader of each House of Congress, for himself, the minority
leader of each House of Congress, for himself, or any member of the
House designated by the majority leader or minority leader. If the Task
Force bill is not introduced in accordance with the preceding sentence
in either House of Congress, then any Member of that House may introduce
the Task Force bill on any day thereafter. Upon introduction, the Task
Force bill shall be referred to the appropriate committees under subparagraph
(B).
`(B) COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION- A Task Force bill introduced in either
House of Congress shall be jointly referred to the committee or committees
of jurisdiction and the Committee on the Budget of that House, which
committees shall report the bill without any revision and with a favorable
recommendation, an unfavorable recommendation, or without recommendation,
not later than 10 calendar days after the date of introduction of the
bill in that House. If any committee fails to report the bill within
that period, that committee shall be automatically discharged from consideration
of the bill, and the bill shall be placed on the appropriate calendar.
`(2) EXPEDITED PROCEDURE-
`(A) IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES-
`(i) IN GENERAL- Not later than 5 days of session after the date on
which a Task Force bill is reported or discharged from all committees
to which it was referred, the majority leader of the House of Representatives
or the majority leader's designee shall move to proceed to the consideration
of the Task Force bill. It shall also be in order for any Member of
the House of Representatives to move to proceed to the consideration
of the Task Force bill at any time after the conclusion of such 5-day
period.
`(ii) MOTION TO PROCEED- A motion to proceed to the consideration
of the Task Force bill is highly privileged in the House of Representatives
and is not debatable. The motion is not subject to amendment or to
a motion to postpone consideration of the Task Force bill. A motion
to proceed to the consideration of other business shall not be in
order. A motion to reconsider the vote by which the motion to proceed
is agreed to or not agreed to shall not be in order. If the motion
to proceed is agreed to, the House of Representatives shall immediately
proceed to consideration of the Task Force bill without intervening
motion, order, or other business, and the Task Force bill shall remain
the unfinished business of the House of Representatives until disposed
of.
`(iii) LIMITS ON DEBATE- Debate in the House of Representatives on
a Task Force bill under this paragraph shall not exceed a total of
100 hours, which shall be divided equally between those favoring and
those opposing the bill. A motion further to limit debate is in order
and shall not be debatable. It shall not be in order to move to recommit
a Task Force bill under this paragraph or to move to reconsider the
vote by which the bill is agreed to or disagreed to.
`(iv) APPEALS- Appeals from decisions of the chair relating to the
application of the Rules of the House of Representatives to the procedure
relating to a Task Force bill shall be decided without debate.
`(v) APPLICATION OF HOUSE RULES- Except to the extent specifically
provided in this paragraph, consideration of a Task Force bill shall
be governed by the Rules of the House of Representatives. It shall
not be in order in the House of Representatives to consider any Task
Force bill introduced pursuant to the provisions of this subsection
under a suspension of the rules or under a special rule.
`(vi) NO AMENDMENTS- No amendment to the Task Force bill shall be
in order in the House of Representatives.
`(vii) VOTE ON FINAL PASSAGE- In the House of Representatives, immediately
following the conclusion of consideration of the Task Force bill,
the vote on final passage of the Task Force bill shall occur without
any intervening action or motion, requiring an affirmative vote of
3/5 of the Members, duly chosen and sworn. If the Task Force bill
is passed, the Clerk of the House of Representatives shall cause the
bill to be transmitted to the Senate before the close of the next
day of session of the House.
`(i) IN GENERAL- Not later than 5 days of session after the date on
which a Task Force bill is reported or discharged from all committees
to which it was referred, the majority leader of the Senate or the
majority leader's designee shall move to proceed to the consideration
of the Task Force bill. It shall also be in order for any Member of
the Senate to move to proceed to the consideration of the Task Force
bill at any time after the conclusion of such 5-day period.
`(ii) MOTION TO PROCEED- A motion to proceed to the consideration
of the Task Force bill is privileged in the Senate and is not debatable.
The motion is not subject to amendment or to a motion to postpone
consideration of the Task Force bill. A motion to proceed to consideration
of the Task Force bill may be made even though a previous motion to
the same effect has been disagreed to. A motion to proceed to the
consideration of other business shall not be in order. A motion to
reconsider the vote by which the motion to proceed is agreed to or
not agreed to shall not be in order. If the motion to proceed is agreed
to, the Senate shall immediately proceed to consideration of the Task
Force bill without intervening motion, order, or other business, and
the Task Force bill shall remain the unfinished business of the Senate
until disposed of.
`(iii) LIMITS ON DEBATE- In the Senate, consideration of the Task
Force bill and on all debatable motions and appeals in connection
therewith shall not exceed a total of 100 hours, which shall be divided
equally between those favoring and those opposing the Task Force bill.
A motion further to limit debate on the Task Force bill is in order
and is not debatable. Any debatable motion or appeal is debatable
for not to exceed 1 hour, to be divided equally between those favoring
and those opposing the motion or appeal. All time used for consideration
of the Task Force bill, including time used for quorum calls and voting,
shall be counted against the total 100 hours of consideration.
`(iv) NO AMENDMENTS- No amendment to the Task Force bill shall be
in order in the Senate.
`(v) MOTION TO RECOMMIT- A motion to recommit a Task Force bill shall
not be in order under this paragraph.
`(vi) VOTE ON FINAL PASSAGE- In the Senate, immediately following
the conclusion of consideration of the Task Force bill and a request
to establish the presence of a quorum, the vote on final passage of
the Task Force bill shall occur and shall require an affirmative vote
of 3/5 of the Members, duly chosen and sworn.
`(vii) OTHER MOTIONS NOT IN ORDER- A motion to postpone or a motion
to proceed to the consideration of other business is not in order
in the Senate. A motion to reconsider the vote by which the Task Force
bill is agreed to or not agreed to is not in order in the Senate.
`(viii) CONSIDERATION OF THE HOUSE BILL-
`(I) IN GENERAL- If the Senate has received the House companion
bill to the Task Force bill introduced in the Senate prior to the
vote required under clause (vi) and the House companion bill is
identical to the Task Force bill introduced in the Senate, then
the Senate shall consider, and the vote under clause (vi) shall
occur on, the House companion bill.
`(II) PROCEDURE AFTER VOTE ON SENATE BILL- If the Senate votes,
pursuant to clause (vi), on the bill introduced in the Senate, the
Senate bill shall be held pending receipt of the House message on
the bill. Upon receipt of the House companion bill, if the House
bill is identical to the Senate bill, the House bill shall be deemed
to be considered, read for the third time, and the vote on passage
of the Senate bill shall be considered to be the vote on the bill
received from the House.
`(C) NO SUSPENSION- No motion to suspend the application of this paragraph
shall be in order in the Senate or in the House of Representatives.'.
END
