[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6996 Introduced in House (IH)]
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116th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 6996
To establish the Joint Select Committee on Fiscal Responsibility and
Long-Term Economic Security.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 22, 2020
Mr. Rouda introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Rules, and in addition to the Committee on the Budget, for
a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the
committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish the Joint Select Committee on Fiscal Responsibility and
Long-Term Economic Security.
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 ``Fiscal Responsibility and Long-Term
Economic Security Act''.
SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF JOINT SELECT COMMITTEE.
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 joint select committee on fiscal responsibility and
long-term economic security
``Sec. 316. (a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Joint select committee.--The term `joint select
committee' means the Joint Select Committee on Fiscal
Responsibility and Long-Term Economic Security established
under subsection (b)(1).
``(2) Joint select committee bill.--The term `joint select
committee bill' means a bill consisting of the proposed
legislative language of the joint select committee recommended
under subsection (b)(3)(B) and introduced under subsection
(e)(1).
``(3) Fiscal imbalance.--The term `fiscal imbalance' means
the gap between the projected revenues and expenditures of the
Government.
``(b) Establishment of Joint Select Committee.--
``(1) Establishment.--There is established in the
legislative branch a joint select committee to be known as the
`Joint Select Committee on Fiscal Responsibility and Long-Term
Economic Security'.
``(2) Purposes.--
``(A) Review.--The joint select committee shall
review the fiscal imbalance of the Government,
including--
``(i) analyses of projected expenditures;
``(ii) analyses of projected revenues; and
``(iii) analyses of the current and long-
term actuarial financial condition of the
Government.
``(B) Identify factors.--The joint select committee
shall identify factors that affect the long-term fiscal
imbalance of the Government.
``(C) Analyze potential courses of action.--The
joint select committee shall analyze potential courses
of action to address factors that affect the long-term
fiscal imbalance of the Government.
``(D) Provide recommendations and legislative
language.--In consultation with the applicable
committees of subject-matter jurisdiction, the joint
select committee shall provide recommendations and
legislative language that will significantly improve
the long-term fiscal imbalance of the Government,
including recommendations addressing--
``(i) expenditures;
``(ii) revenues; and
``(iii) the current and long-term actuarial
financial condition of the Government.
``(3) Duties.--
``(A) In general.--The joint select committee shall
address the Nation's long-term fiscal imbalances,
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.--Not later than 18 months
after the date of enactment of the Fiscal
Responsibility and Long-Term Economic Security
Act, the joint select committee shall vote on a
report that contains--
``(I) a detailed statement of the
findings, conclusions, and
recommendations of the joint select
committee;
``(II) the assumptions, scenarios,
and alternatives considered in reaching
such findings, conclusions, and
recommendations; and
``(III) proposed legislative
language to carry out such
recommendations as described in
paragraph (2)(D).
``(ii) Approval of report.--The report of
the joint select committee submitted under
clause (i) shall require the approval of not
fewer than 10 out of 16 members that includes
not fewer than 5 members from the political
party of the Speaker of the House and not fewer
than 5 members of the opposing political party.
``(iii) Additional views.--A member of the
joint select committee who gives notice of an
intention to file supplemental, minority, or
additional views at the time of final joint
select committee approval of the report under
clause (ii), shall be entitled to not less than
3 calendar days in which to file such views in
writing with the staff director of the joint
select committee. Such views shall then be
included in the joint select committee report
and printed in the same volume, or part
thereof, and their inclusion shall be noted on
the cover of the report. In the absence of
timely notice, the joint select committee
report may be printed and transmitted
immediately without such views.
``(iv) Transmission of report.--Not later
than 7 days after the vote of the joint select
committee under clause (i), the joint select
committee shall submit its bill and final
report to the Speaker of the House and the
majority and minority leaders of both Houses.
``(v) Report to be made public.--Upon the
approval or disapproval of the joint select
committee report pursuant to clause (ii), the
joint select committee shall promptly make the
full report, and a record of the vote,
available to the public.
``(4) Membership.--
``(A) In general.--The joint select committee shall
be composed of 16 members designated pursuant to
subparagraph (B).
``(B) Designation.--Members of the joint select
committee shall be designated as follows:
``(i) The majority leader of the Senate
shall designate 4 members from among Members of
the Senate.
``(ii) The minority leader of the Senate
shall designate 4 members from among Members of
the Senate.
``(iii) The Speaker of the House of
Representatives shall designate 8 members from
among Members of the House of Representatives
of whom 4 shall be upon the recommendation of
the minority leader.
``(C) Co-chairs.--
``(i) In general.--There shall be 2 Co-
Chairs of the joint select committee. The
Speaker of the House in coordination with the
minority leader of the Senate shall designate
one Co-Chair among the voting members of the
joint select committee. The majority leader of
the Senate in coordination with the minority
leader of the House shall designate the second
Co-Chair among the members of the joint select
committee. The Co-Chairs shall be appointed not
later than 30 days after the date of enactment
of this section.
``(ii) Staff director.--The Co-Chairs,
acting jointly, shall hire the staff director
of the joint select committee.
``(D) Date.--Members of the joint select committee
shall be designated by not later than 90 days after the
date of enactment of this section.
``(E) Period of designation.--Members shall be
designated for the life of the joint select committee.
Any vacancy in the joint select committee shall not
affect its powers, but shall be filled not later than
15 days after the date on which the vacancy occurs in
the same manner as the original designation.
``(5) Administration.--
``(A) Authority to establish rules and
regulations.--The Co-Chairs, in consultation with the
other members of the joint select committee, may
establish rules and regulations for the conduct of
joint select committee business, if such rules and
regulations are not inconsistent with this section or
the Rules of the House of Representatives or the
Standing Rules of the Senate.
``(B) Quorum.--Nine members of the joint select
committee shall constitute a quorum for purposes of
voting, meeting, and holding hearings.
``(C) Voting.--
``(i) Proxy voting.--No proxy voting shall
be allowed on behalf of the members of the
joint select committee.
``(ii) Congressional budget office and
joint committee on taxation estimates.--The
Congressional Budget Office and Joint Committee
on Taxation shall provide estimates of the
joint select committee report and
recommendations (as described in paragraph
(2)(D)) in accordance with section 308(a) and
201(f) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974.
The joint select committee may not vote on any
version of the report, recommendations, or
legislative language unless a final estimate is
available for consideration by all the members
at least 72 hours prior to the vote.
``(D) Meetings.--
``(i) Initial meeting.--Not later than 45
days after the appointment of the Co-Chairs,
the joint select committee shall hold its first
meeting.
``(ii) Meetings.--The joint select
committee shall meet at the call of the Co-
Chairs or at least 10 of its members.
``(iii) Agenda.--An agenda shall be
provided to the joint select committee members
at least 3 legislative days in advance of any
meeting. Joint select committee members who
want to have items placed on the agenda for
consideration shall notify the staff director
as early as possible, but not less than 48
hours in advance of a scheduled meeting.
``(E) Hearings.--
``(i) In general.--The joint select
committee 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 joint select committee considers
advisable.
``(ii) Hearing procedures and
responsibilities of co-chairs.--
``(I) Announcement.--The joint
select committee Co-Chairs shall make
public announcement of the date, place,
time, and subject matter of any hearing
to be conducted at least 3 legislative
days in advance of such hearing, unless
the Co-Chairs determine that there is
good cause to begin such hearing at an
earlier date.
``(II) Written statement.--A
witness appearing before the joint
select committee, including the
Secretary of the Treasury, shall file a
written statement of proposed testimony
at least 2 days prior to appearance,
unless the requirement is waived by the
Co-Chairs, following their
determination that there is good cause
for failure of compliance.
``(F) Technical assistance.--Upon written request
of the Co-Chairs, a Federal agency shall provide
technical assistance to the joint select committee in
order for the joint select committee to carry out its
duties.
``(c) Staff of Joint Select Committee.--
``(1) Appointment and compensation of shared staff.--The
Co-Chairs may appoint and fix the compensation of a staff
director and such other personnel as may be necessary to enable
the joint select committee to carry out its functions, without
regard to the provisions of title 5, United States Code,
governing appointments in the competitive service, but at rates
not to exceed the daily rate paid a person occupying a position
at level III of the Executive Schedule under section 5314 of
title 5, United States Code.
``(2) Additional staff for joint select committee
members.--Each member of the joint select committee may appoint
1 additional dedicated staff and fix the compensation of such
dedicated personnel without regard to the provisions of title
5, United States Code, governing appointments in the
competitive service, but at rates not to exceed the daily rate
paid a person occupying a position at level III of the
Executive Schedule under section 5314 of title 5, United States
Code. Dedicated staff shall report to each appointing member.
``(3) Advisory panel.--The joint select committee may
establish an advisory panel consisting of volunteers with
knowledge and expertise relevant to the joint select
committee's purpose. Membership of the Advisory Panel, and the
scope of the Panel's activities, shall be decided by the Co-
Chairs in consultation with the other members of the joint
select committee.
``(d) Termination.--
``(1) In general.--The joint select committee shall
terminate 90 days after the joint select committee submits the
report required under subsection (b)(3)(B).
``(2) Concluding activities.--The joint select committee
may use the 90-day period referred to in paragraph (1) for the
purpose of concluding its activities, including providing
testimony to committees of Congress concerning its report and
disseminating the final report.
``(e) Expedited Procedures.--
``(1) Introduction of joint select committee bill.--The
joint select committee bill--
``(A) shall be introduced in the Senate (by
request), with any technical changes necessary to carry
out the intent of the bill, by the majority leader of
the Senate or by a Member of the Senate designated by
the majority leader of the Senate not later than 5
legislative days after the date on which the bill is
submitted to Congress under subsection (b)(3)(B); and
``(B) shall be introduced in the House of
Representatives (by request), with any technical
changes necessary to carry out the intent of the bill,
by the Speaker of the House of Representatives or by a
Member of the House of Representatives designated by
the Speaker of the House of Representatives not later
than 5 legislative days after the date on which the
bill is submitted to Congress under subsection
(b)(3)(B).
``(2) Expedited consideration in house of
representatives.--
``(A) Placement on calendar.--Upon introduction in
the House of Representatives, the joint select
committee bill shall be placed immediately on the
appropriate calendar.
``(B) Proceeding to consideration.--
``(i) In general.--It shall be in order,
not later than 30 legislative days after the
date the joint select committee bill is
introduced in the House of Representatives, to
move to proceed to consider the joint select
committee bill in the House of Representatives.
``(ii) Procedure.--For a motion to proceed
to consider the joint select committee bill--
``(I) all points of order against
the motion are waived;
``(II) such a motion shall not be
in order after the House of
Representatives has disposed of a
motion to proceed on the joint select
committee bill;
``(III) the previous question shall
be considered as ordered on the motion
to its adoption without intervening
motion;
``(IV) the motion shall not be
debatable; and
``(V) a motion to reconsider the
vote by which the motion is disposed of
shall not be in order.
``(C) Consideration.--When the House of
Representatives proceeds to consideration of the joint
select committee bill--
``(i) the joint select committee bill shall
be considered as read;
``(ii) all points of order against the
joint select committee bill and against its
consideration are waived;
``(iii) the previous question shall be
considered as ordered on the joint select
committee bill to its passage without
intervening motion except 10 hours of debate
equally divided and controlled by the proponent
and an opponent;
``(iv) an amendment to the joint select
committee bill shall not be in order; and
``(v) a motion to reconsider the vote on
passage of the joint select committee bill
shall not be in order.
``(D) Vote on passage.--In the House of
Representatives, the joint select committee bill shall
be agreed to upon a vote of a majority of the Members
present and voting, a quorum being present.
``(3) Expedited consideration in senate.--
``(A) Placement on calendar.--Upon introduction in
the Senate, the joint select committee bill shall be
placed immediately on the calendar.
``(B) Proceeding to consideration.--
``(i) In general.--Notwithstanding rule
XXII of the Standing Rules of the Senate, it is
in order, not later than 30 legislative days
after the date the joint select committee bill
is introduced in the Senate (even though a
previous motion to the same effect has been
disagreed to) to move to proceed to the
consideration of the joint select committee
bill.
``(ii) Procedure.--For a motion to proceed
to the consideration of the joint select
committee bill--
``(I) all points of order against
the motion are waived;
``(II) the motion is not debatable;
``(III) the motion is not subject
to a motion to postpone;
``(IV) a motion to reconsider the
vote by which the motion is agreed to
or disagreed to shall not be in order;
and
``(V) if the motion is agreed to,
the joint select committee bill shall
remain the unfinished business until
disposed of.
``(C) Floor consideration.--
``(i) In general.--If the Senate proceeds
to consideration of the joint select committee
bill--
``(I) all points of order against
the joint select committee bill (and
against consideration of the joint
select committee bill) are waived;
``(II) consideration of the joint
select committee bill, and all
debatable motions and appeals in
connection therewith, shall be limited
to not more than 30 hours, which shall
be divided equally between the majority
and minority leaders or their
designees;
``(III) a motion further to limit
debate is in order and not debatable;
``(IV) an amendment to, a motion to
postpone, or a motion to commit the
joint select committee bill is not in
order; and
``(V) a motion to proceed to the
consideration of other business is not
in order.
``(ii) Vote on passage.--In the Senate--
``(I) the vote on passage shall
occur immediately following the
conclusion of the consideration of the
joint select committee bill, and a
single quorum call at the conclusion of
the debate if requested in accordance
with the rules of the Senate; and
``(II) the joint select committee
bill shall be agreed to upon a vote of
a majority of the Members present and
voting, a quorum being present.
``(iii) Rulings of the chair on
procedure.--Appeals from the decisions of the
Chair relating to the application of this
subsection or the rules of the Senate, as the
case may be, to the procedure relating to the
joint select committee bill shall be decided
without debate.
``(4) Rules relating to senate and house of
representatives.--
``(A) Coordination with action by other house.--If,
before the passage by one House of the joint select
committee bill of that House, that House receives from
the other House the joint select committee bill--
``(i) the joint select committee bill of
the other House shall not be referred to a
committee; and
``(ii) with respect to the joint select
committee bill of the House receiving the
resolution--
``(I) the procedure in that House
shall be the same as if no joint select
committee bill had been received from
the other House; and
``(II) the vote on passage shall be
on the joint select committee bill of
the other House.
``(B) Treatment of joint select committee bill of
other house.--If one House fails to introduce or
consider the joint select committee bill under this
subsection, the joint select committee bill of the
other House shall be entitled to expedited floor
procedures under this subsection.
``(C) Treatment of companion measures.--If,
following passage of the joint select committee bill in
the Senate, the Senate receives the companion measure
from the House of Representatives, the companion
measure shall not be debatable.
``(D) Vetoes.--If the President vetoes the joint
select committee bill, consideration of a veto message
in the Senate under this subsection shall be not more
than 10 hours equally divided between the majority and
minority leaders or their designees.''.
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