[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.J. Res. 41 Introduced in House (IH)]
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117th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. J. RES. 41
To establish a National Committee on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 16, 2021
Mr. Kinzinger (for himself and Mr. Phillips) submitted the following
joint resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Rules
_______________________________________________________________________
JOINT RESOLUTION
To establish a National Committee on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform.
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This joint resolution may be cited as the ``National Committee on
Fiscal Responsibility and Reform Act of 2021''.
SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF A JOINT SELECT COMMITTEE.
(a) Establishment.--There is established a joint select committee
of Congress to be known as the National Committee on Fiscal
Responsibility and Reform (hereafter known as the ``Committee'').
(b) Goal.--The goal of the Committee shall be to reduce the deficit
by at least $3,250,000,000,000 over the period of fiscal years 2021 to
2031.
SEC. 3. FUNCTIONS OF THE COMMITTEE.
The functions of the Committee are to--
(1) investigate policies to improve the fiscal situation in
the medium term;
(2) achieve fiscal sustainability over the long run;
(3) propose legislation designed to balance the budget,
excluding interest payments on the debt, by 2031; and
(4) issue a final report to the appropriate congressional
committees.
SEC. 4. MEMBERSHIP.
(a) In General.--The Committee shall be composed of 12 members
appointed pursuant to subsection (b).
(b) Appointment.--Members of the Committee shall be appointed as
follows:
(1) The majority leader of the Senate shall appoint three
members from among Members of the Senate.
(2) The minority leader of the Senate shall appoint three
members from among Members of the Senate.
(3) The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall
appoint three members from among Members of the House of
Representatives.
(4) The Speaker, in consultation with the minority leader,
of the House of Representatives, shall appoint three members
from among Members of the House of Representatives.
(c) Co-Chairs.--
(1) In general.--There shall be four Co-Chairs of the
Committee. The Co-Chairs shall be appointed not later than 14
calendar days after the date of enactment of this joint
resolution. The Co-chairs shall be selected by:
(A) The majority leader of the Senate shall appoint
one Co-Chair from among Members of the Senate.
(B) The minority leader of the Senate shall appoint
one Co-Chair from among Members of the Senate.
(C) The Speaker of the House of Representatives
shall appoint one Co-Chair from among Members of the
House of Representatives.
(D) The minority leader of the House of
Representatives shall appoint one Co-Chair from among
Members of the House of Representatives.
(2) Staff director.--The Co-Chairs, acting jointly, shall
hire the staff director of the Committee.
(d) Date.--Members of the Committee shall be appointed not later
than 14 calendar days after the date of enactment of this joint
resolution.
(e) Period of Appointment.--Members shall be appointed for the life
of the Committee. Any vacancy in the Committee shall not affect its
powers, but shall be filled not later than 14 calendar days after the
date on which the vacancy occurs, in the same manner as the original
designation was made. If a member of the Committee ceases to be a
Member of the House of Representatives or the Senate, as the case may
be, the member is no longer a member of the Committee and a vacancy
shall exist.
SEC. 5. REPORTS.
(a) Vote on Final Report.--No later than 360 days after the date of
enactment of this joint resolution, the Committee shall vote on the
approval of a final report containing a set of recommendations to
achieve the mission set forth in this resolution.
(b) Super Majority Requirement.--The issuance of a final report of
the Committee shall require the approval of not less than 8 of the 12
members of the Committee.
(c) Transmission of Report and Legislative Language.--If the report
and legislative language are approved by the Committee pursuant to
subsection (b), the Committee shall submit the Committee report and
legislative language described in section 3 to the President, the Vice
President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the
majority and minority leaders of each House of Congress.
(d) Report and Legislative Language To Be Made Public.--Upon the
approval or disapproval of the Committee report and legislative
language pursuant to subsection (b), the Committee shall promptly make
the full report and legislative language, and a record of the vote,
available to the public.
SEC. 6. ADMINISTRATION.
(a) In General.--To enable the Committee to exercise its powers,
functions, and duties, there are authorized to be disbursed by the
Senate the actual and necessary expenses of the Committee approved by
the co-chairs, subject to the rules and regulations of the Senate and
the House.
(b) Expenses.--In carrying out its functions, the Committee is
authorized to incur expenses in the same manner and under the same
conditions as the Joint Economic Committee is authorized by section 11
of Public Law 79-304 (15 U.S.C. 1024(d)).
(c) Quorum.--Eight members of the Committee shall constitute a
quorum for purposes of voting and issuing a final report. Four members
of the Committee shall constitute a quorum for conducting a hearing or
markup.
(d) Voting.--
(1) Proxy voting.--Proxy voting shall be allowed on behalf
of the members of the Committee pursuant to House and Senate
rules.
(2) Congressional budget office estimates.--The
Congressional Budget Office shall provide estimates of the
legislation in accordance with sections 308(a) and 201(f) of
the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 639(a) and
601(f)) (including estimates of the effect of interest payment
on the debt). In addition, the Congressional Budget Office
shall provide information on the budgetary effect of the
legislation beyond the year 2031. The Committee may not vote on
any version of the report, recommendations, or legislative
language unless such estimates are available for consideration
by all members of the Committee at least 48 hours prior to the
vote as certified by the Co-Chairs.
(e) Meetings.--
(1) Initial meeting.--Not later than 21 calendar days after
the date of enactment of this joint resolution, the Committee
shall hold its first meeting. The Committee may adopt its rules
of procedure at this time, which shall be published in the
Congressional Record.
(2) Agenda.--The Co-Chairs of the Committee shall provide
an agenda to its members not less than 48 hours in advance of
any meeting.
(f) Hearings.--
(1) In general.--The Committee may, for the purpose of
carrying out this section, hold such hearings, sit and act at
such times and places, require attendance of witnesses and
production of books, papers, and documents, take such
testimony, receive such evidence, and administer such oaths as
the Committee considers advisable.
(2) Hearing procedures and responsibilities of co-chairs.--
(A) Announcement.--The Co-Chairs of the Committee
shall make a public announcement of the date, place,
time, and subject matter of any hearing to be
conducted, not less than 7 days in advance of such
hearing, unless all four Co-Chairs determine that there
is good cause to begin such hearing at an earlier date.
(B) Written statement.--A witness appearing before
the Committee shall file a written statement of
proposed testimony at least 24 hours before the
appearance of the witness, unless the requirement is
waived by the Co-Chairs, following their determination
that there is good cause for failure to comply with
such requirement.
(g) Technical Assistance.--Upon written request of the four Co-
Chairs, a Federal agency shall provide technical assistance to the
Committee in order for the Committee to carry out its duties.
SEC. 7. STAFF OF THE COMMITTEE.
(a) In General.--The Co-Chairs of the Committee may jointly appoint
and fix the compensation of staff as they deem necessary, within the
guidelines for employees of the Senate and following all applicable
rules and employment requirements of the Senate.
(b) Ethical Standards.--Members on the Committee who serve in the
House of Representatives shall be governed by the ethics rules and
requirements of the House. Members of the Senate who serve on the
Committee and staff of the Committee shall comply with the ethics rules
of the Senate.
SEC. 8. EXPEDITED CONSIDERATION OF COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS.
(a) In General.--If approved by the majority required by section
5(b), the proposed legislative language submitted pursuant to section 3
shall be introduced in the Senate (by request) on the next day on which
the Senate is in session by the majority leader of the Senate or by a
Member of the Senate designated by the majority leader of the Senate
and shall be introduced in the House of Representatives (by request) on
the next legislative day by the majority leader of the House or by a
Member of the House designated by the majority leader of the House.
(b) Consideration in the House of Representatives.--
(1) Referral and reporting.--Any committee of the House of
Representatives to which the joint committee bill is referred
shall report it to the House without amendment not later than 7
session days. If a committee fails to report the joint
committee bill within that period, it shall be in order to move
that the House discharge the committee from further
consideration of the bill. Such a motion shall not be in order
after the last committee authorized to consider the bill
reports it to the House or after the House has disposed of a
motion to discharge the bill. The previous question shall be
considered as ordered on the motion to its adoption without
intervening motion except 20 minutes of debate equally divided
and controlled by the proponent and an opponent. If such a
motion is adopted, House shall proceed immediately to consider
the bill in accordance with this subsection. A motion to
reconsider the vote by which the motion is disposed of shall
not be in order.
(2) Proceeding to consideration.--After the last committee
authorized to consider a joint committee bill reports it to the
House or has been discharged (other than by motion) from its
consideration, it shall be in order to move to proceed to
consider the joint committee bill in the House. Such a motion
shall not be in order after the House has disposed of a motion
to proceed with respect to the joint committee bill. The
previous question shall be considered as ordered on the motion
to its adoption without intervening motion. A motion to
reconsider the vote by which the motion is disposed of shall
not be in order.
(3) Consideration.--The joint committee bill shall be
considered as read. All points of order against the joint
committee bill and against its consideration are waived. The
previous question shall be considered as ordered on the joint
committee bill to its passage without intervening motion except
2 hours of debate equally divided and controlled by the
proponent and an opponent and one motion to limit debate on the
joint committee bill. A motion to reconsider the vote on
passage of the joint committee bill shall not be in order.
(4) Vote on passage.--The vote on passage of the joint
committee bill shall occur not later than 7 session days after
being reported.
(c) Expedited Procedure in the Senate.--
(1) Committee consideration.--A joint committee bill
introduced in the Senate under subsection (a) shall be referred
to the committee or committees of jurisdiction, which
committees shall report the bill without any revision and with
a favorable recommendation, an unfavorable recommendation, or
without recommendation, not later than 7 session days. 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) Motion to proceed.--Notwithstanding Rule XXII of the
Standing Rules of the Senate, it is in order, not later than 2
days of session after the date on which a joint committee bill
is reported or on which Committee(s) are discharged from their
consideration of the bill, for the majority leader of the
Senate or the majority leader's designee to move to proceed to
the consideration of the joint committee bill. It shall also be
in order for any Member of the Senate to move to proceed to the
consideration of the joint committee bill at any time after the
conclusion of such 2-day period. All points of order against
the motion to proceed to the joint committee bill are waived.
The motion to proceed is not debatable. The motion is not
subject to a motion to postpone. A motion to reconsider the
vote by which the motion is agreed to or disagreed to shall not
be in order. If a motion to proceed to the consideration of the
joint committee bill is agreed to, the joint committee bill
shall remain the unfinished business until disposed of.
(3) Consideration.--All points of order against the joint
committee bill and against consideration of the joint committee
bill are waived. Consideration of the joint committee bill and
of all debatable motions and appeals in connection therewith
shall not exceed a total of 30 hours which shall be divided
equally between the majority and minority leaders or their
designees. A motion further to limit debate on the joint
committee bill is in order, shall require an affirmative vote
of three-fifths of the Members duly chosen and sworn, 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 joint committee bill, including time
used for quorum calls and voting, shall be counted against the
total 30 hours of consideration.
(4) No amendments.--An amendment to the joint committee
bill, or a motion to postpone, or a motion to proceed to the
consideration of other business, or a motion to recommit the
joint committee bill, is not in order.
(5) Vote on passage.--If the Senate has voted to proceed to
the joint committee bill, the vote on passage of the joint
committee bill shall occur immediately following the conclusion
of the debate on a joint committee bill, and a single quorum
call at the conclusion of the debate if requested. The vote on
passage of the committee bill shall occur not later than 7
session days.
(6) Rulings of the chair on procedure.--Appeals from the
decisions of the Chair relating to the application of the rules
of the Senate, as the case may be, to the procedure relating to
a joint committee bill shall be decided without debate.
(d) Amendment.--The joint committee bill shall not be subject to
amendment in either the House of Representatives or the Senate.
(e) Consideration by the Other House.--
(1) In general.--If, before passing the Committee, one
House receives from the other a joint committee bill--
(A) the joint committee bill of the other House not
be referred to a committee; and
(B) the procedure in the receiving House shall be
the same as if no joint committee bill had been
received from the other House until the vote on
passage, when the joint committee bill received from
the other House shall supplant the joint committee bill
of the receiving House.
(2) Revenue measure.--This subsection shall not apply to
the House of Representatives if the joint committee bill
received from the Senate is a revenue measure.
(f) Rules To Coordinate Action With Other House.--
(1) Treatment of joint committee bill of other house.--If
the Senate fails to introduce or consider a joint committee
bill under this section, the joint committee bill of the House
shall be entitled to expedited floor procedures under this
section.
(2) Treatment of companion measures in the senate.--If
following passage of the joint committee bill in the Senate,
the Senate then receives the joint committee bill from the
House of Representatives, the House-passed joint committee bill
shall not be debatable. The vote on passage of the joint
committee bill in the Senate shall be considered to be the vote
on passage of the joint committee bill received from the House
of Representatives.
(3) Vetoes.--If the President vetoes the joint committee
bill, debate on a veto message in the Senate under this section
shall be 1 hour equally divided between the majority and
minority leaders or their designees.
(g) Loss of Privilege.--The provisions of this section shall cease
to apply to the joint committee bill if--
(1) the Committee fails to vote on the report or proposed
legislative language required under section 3 not later than
390 days after the date of enactment of this joint resolution;
or
(2) the joint committee bill does not pass both Houses not
later than 180 days.
SEC. 9. TERMINATION.
The Committee shall terminate 30 days after submitting its final
report.
SEC. 10. DEFINITION.
In this Act, the term ``appropriate congressional committees''
means--
(1) the Committees on Appropriations, Ways and Means,
Energy and Commerce, and Budget of the House of
Representatives; and
(2) the Committees on Appropriations, Finance, Commerce,
Science, and Transportation, and Budget of the Senate.
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