[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 473 Introduced in House (IH)]
110th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 473
To establish a commission to develop legislation designed to reform tax
policy and entitlement benefit programs and ensure a sound fiscal
future for the United States, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 16, 2007
Mr. Wolf (for himself, Mr. Tiberi, Mr. Coble, Mrs. Myrick, and Mr.
Culberson) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on the Budget, and in addition to the Committee on Rules, 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 a commission to develop legislation designed to reform tax
policy and entitlement benefit programs and ensure a sound fiscal
future for the United States, and for other purposes.
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 ``Securing America's Future Economy
Commission Act'' or the ``SAFE Commission Act''.
SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT.
There is established a commission to be known as the ``Securing
America's Future Economy Commission'' (hereinafter in this Act referred
to as the ``Commission'').
SEC. 3. DUTIES OF COMMISSION.
(a) Mandatory Legislation Development.--
(1) Issues to address.--The Commission shall examine the
long-term fiscal challenges facing the United States and
develop legislation designed to address the following issues:
(A) The unsustainable imbalance between long-term
Federal spending commitments and projected revenues.
(B) Increasing net national savings to provide for
domestic investment and economic growth.
(C) The implications of foreign ownership of debt
instruments issued by the United States Government.
(D) Improving the budget process to place greater
emphasis on long-term fiscal issues.
(2) Policy solutions.--Legislation developed to address the
issues described in paragraph (1) may include the following:
(A) Reforms that limit the growth of entitlement
spending to ensure that the programs are fiscally
sustainable.
(B) Reforms that strengthen the safety net
functions of entitlement programs to provide assistance
to the neediest people.
(C) Reforms that make United States tax laws more
efficient and more conducive to encouraging economic
growth.
(D) Incentives to increase private savings.
(E) Any other reforms designed to address the
issues described in paragraph (1).
(b) Optional Development of Cost Estimate Alternatives.--
(1) In general.--The Commission shall by an affirmative
vote of 5 members develop not more than 2 methods for
estimating the cost of legislation as an alternative to the
method currently used by the Congressional Budget Office.
(2) Specifically.--Any such alternative method must--
(A) be designed to address any shortcomings in the
method currently used with regard to estimating the
positive economic effects of legislation; and
(B) consider the use of automatic stabilizers or
triggers to enforce spending and revenue targets, in
the event that policies based on the alternative method
fail to achieve targets for outlays and revenues.
(3) Limitation.--Any alternative developed pursuant to this
subsection shall generally comply with subsections (b), (c),
and (d) of section 14.
SEC. 4. INITIAL TOWN HALL STYLE PUBLIC HEARINGS.
(a) In General.--The Commission shall hold at least 1 town hall
style public hearing within each Federal reserve district, and shall,
to the extent feasible, ensure that there is broad public participation
in the hearings.
(b) Hearing Format.--During each hearing, the Commission shall
present to the public, and generate comments and suggestions regarding,
the issues described in section 3, policies designed to address the
issues, and tradeoffs between the policies.
SEC. 5. REPORT.
The Commission shall, not later than 1 year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, submit a report to Congress and the President
containing the following:
(1) A detailed description of the activities of the
Commission.
(2) A summary of comments and suggestions generated from
the town hall style public hearings.
(3) A detailed statement of any findings of the Commission
as to public preferences regarding the issues, policies, and
tradeoffs presented in the town hall style public hearings.
(4) A detailed description of the long-term fiscal problems
faced by the United States.
(5) A list of policy options for addressing those problems.
(6) Criteria for the legislative proposal to be developed
by the Commission.
SEC. 6. LEGISLATIVE PROPOSAL.
(a) In General.--Not later than 60 days after the date the report
is submitted under section 5 and by a vote of three-fourths of the
members, the Commission shall submit a legislative proposal to Congress
and the President designed to address the issues described section 3.
(b) Proposal Requirements.--The proposal must, to the extent
feasible, be designed--
(1) to achieve generational equity and long-term economic
stability;
(2) to address the comments and suggestions of the public;
and
(3) to meet the criteria set forth in the Commission
report.
(c) Inclusion of Cost Estimate.--The Commission shall submit with
the proposal--
(1) a long-term CBO cost estimate prepared under section 14
for the proposal; and
(2) if an alternative cost estimate method is developed by
the Commission, a 50-year cost estimate using such method.
SEC. 7. MEMBERSHIP AND MEETINGS.
(a) In General.--The Commission shall be composed of 16 voting
members appointed pursuant to paragraph (1) and 2 nonvoting members
described in paragraph (2).
(1) Voting members.--The Commission shall be composed of 16
voting members of whom--
(A) one shall be the Director of the Office of
Management and Budget;
(B) one shall be the Secretary of the Treasury;
(C) four shall be appointed by the Speaker of the
House of Representatives;
(D) three shall be appointed by the Minority Leader
of the House of Representatives;
(E) four shall be appointed by the Majority Leader
of the Senate; and
(F) three shall be appointed by the Minority Leader
of the Senate.
(2) Nonvoting members.--The Comptroller General of the
United States and the Director of the Congressional Budget
Office shall each be nonvoting members of the Commission and
shall advise and assist at the request of the Commission.
(3) Chair and co-chair.--The President shall designate 2
co-chairpersons of the Commission from the members appointed
under paragraph (1), one of whom must be a Republican and one
of whom must be a Democrat.
(b) Limitations as to Members of Congress.--
(1) Four members of congress on commission.--Each
appointing authority described in subsection (a)(1) who is a
Member of Congress shall appoint 1 Member of Congress to the
Commission but may not appoint more than 1 Member of Congress
to the Commission.
(2) Continuation of voting membership.--In the case of an
individual appointed pursuant to subsection (a)(1) who was
appointed as a Member of Congress under paragraph (1), if such
individual ceases to be a Member of Congress, that individual
shall cease to be a member of the Commission.
(c) Date for Original Appointment.--The appointing authorities
described in subsection (a)(1) shall appoint the initial members of the
Commission not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this
Act.
(d) Terms.--
(1) In general.--The term of each member is for the life of
the Commission.
(2) Vacancies.--A vacancy in the Commission shall be filled
not later than 30 days after such vacancy occurs and in the
manner in which the original appointment was made.
(e) Pay and Reimbursement.--
(1) No compensation for members of commission.--Except as
provided in paragraph (2), a member of the Commission may not
receive pay, allowances, or benefits by reason of their service
on the Commission.
(2) Travel expenses.--Each member shall receive travel
expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence under
subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code.
(f) Meetings.--The Commission shall meet upon the call of the
chairperson or a majority of its voting members.
(g) Quorum.--Six voting members of the Commission shall constitute
a quorum, but a lesser number may hold hearings.
SEC. 8. DIRECTOR AND STAFF OF COMMISSION.
(a) Director.--
(1) In general.--Subject to subsection (c) and to the
extent provided in advance in appropriation Acts, the
Commission shall appoint and fix the pay of a director.
(2) Duties.--The director of the Commission shall be
responsible for the administration and coordination of the
duties of the Commission and shall perform other such duties as
the Commission may direct.
(b) Staff.--In accordance with rules agreed upon by the Commission,
subject to subsection (c), and to the extent provided in advance in
appropriation Acts, the director may appoint and fix the pay of
additional personnel.
(c) Applicability of Certain Civil Service Laws.--The director and
staff of the Commission may be appointed without regard to the
provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing appointments in
the competitive service, and may be paid without regard to the
provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of that title
relating to classification and General Schedule pay rates, except that
pay fixed under subsection (a) may not exceed $150,000 per year and pay
fixed under subsection (b) may not exceed a rate equal to the daily
equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay for level V of the Executive
Schedule under section 5316 of title 5, United States Code.
(d) Detailees.--Any Federal Government employee may be detailed to
the Commission without reimbursement from the Commission, and such
detailee shall retain the rights, status, and privileges of their
regular employment without interruption.
(e) Experts and Consultants.--In accordance with rules agreed upon
by the Commission and to the extent provided in advance in
appropriation Acts, the director may procure the services of experts
and consultants under section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code,
but at rates not to exceed the daily equivalent of the annual rate of
basic pay for level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of
title 5, United States Code.
SEC. 9. POWERS OF COMMISSION.
(a) Hearings and Evidence.--The Commission may, for the purpose of
carrying out this Act, hold such hearings in addition to the town hall
style public hearings, sit and act at such times and places, take such
testimony, and receive such evidence as the Commission considers
appropriate. The Commission may administer oaths or affirmations to
witnesses appearing before it.
(b) Powers of Members and Agents.--Any member or agent of the
Commission may, if authorized by the Commission, take any action which
the Commission is authorized to take under this section.
(c) Mails.--The Commission may use the United States mails in the
same manner and under the same conditions as other departments and
agencies of the United States.
(d) Administrative Support Services.--Upon the request of the
Commission, the Administrator of General Services shall provide to the
Commission, on a reimbursable basis, the administrative support
services necessary for the Commission to carry out its responsibilities
under this Act.
(e) Contract Authority.--To the extent provided in advance in
appropriation Acts, the Commission may enter into contracts to enable
the Commission to discharge its duties under this Act.
(f) Gifts.--The Commission may accept, use, and dispose of gifts or
donations of services or property.
SEC. 10. TERMINATION.
The Commission shall terminate the earlier of--
(1) 60 days after submitting its legislative proposal; or
(2) the date on which the Comptroller General of the United
States determines and publishes in the Federal Register a
statement that new legislation has been enacted that is
estimated to reduce the fiscal gap by--
(A) 1 percent of gross domestic product, measured
over the 20-year period beginning with the first fiscal
year after the date of enactment of such legislation;
and
(B) 2 percent of gross domestic product, measured
over the 50-year period beginning with the first fiscal
year after the date of enactment of such legislation.
SEC. 11. ALTERNATIVE LEGISLATIVE PROPOSAL OF PRESIDENT.
The President may, not later than 90 calendar days after the
Commission submits its legislative proposal, submit to Congress an
alternative to the legislative proposal submitted by the Commission.
SEC. 12. ALTERNATIVE LEGISLATIVE PROPOSAL FROM THE COMMITTEE ON THE
BUDGET.
(a) From Committee.--The Committee on the Budget of either House
may, in consultation with the relevant committees of their respective
House and not later than 90 calendar days after the Commission submits
its legislative proposal, have published in the Congressional Record an
alternative to the legislative proposal submitted by the Commission.
(b) From Ranking Member of the Committee.--The ranking minority
member of the Committee on the Budget of either House may, not later
than 90 calendar days after the Commission submits its legislative
proposal, have published in the Congressional Record an alternative to
the legislative proposal submitted by the Commission.
SEC. 13. CONSIDERATION OF LEGISLATION.
(a) Introduction.--Not later than the fifth legislative day after
the Commission submits its legislative proposal, the majority leader of
each House, or his designee, shall introduce (by request) the
legislation submitted by the Commission.
(b) In the House of Representatives.--
(1) Privileged consideration.--In the House of
Representatives, the legislation shall be reported to the
Committee on the Budget, which shall report the bill without
substantive revision. If the Committee on the Budget has not
reported the legislation before the expiration of the 90-day
period described in section 12, then--
(A) that committee shall be discharged from
consideration of the legislation;
(B) the legislation shall be placed on the
appropriate calendar; and
(C) a motion to proceed to the consideration of the
legislation shall be highly privileged and shall not be
debatable, and a motion to reconsider the vote by which
the motion is disposed of shall not be in order.
(2) Consideration consistent with congressional budget
act.--Consideration of such legislation shall be pursuant to
the procedures set forth in paragraphs (2), (5), and (6) of
section 305(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to the
extent not inconsistent with this Act.
(3) Amendments limited.--
(A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph
(B), an amendment to the legislation may not be offered
in the House of Representatives.
(B) Permitted amendments.--(i) Any Member may
offer, as an amendment in the nature of a substitute,
the alternative legislative proposal submitted by the
President.
(ii) The chairman of the House Committee on the
Budget may offer, as an amendment in the nature of a
substitute, the alternative legislative proposal
published in the Congressional Record by the House
Committee on the Budget.
(iii) The ranking minority member of the House
Committee on the Budget may offer, as an amendment in
the nature of a substitute, the alternative legislative
proposal published in the Congressional Record by such
ranking minority member.
(C) Point of order.--
(i) In general.--An amendment offered under
subparagraph (B) is subject to a point of order
if--
(I) the amendment is not
accompanied by a long-term CBO cost
estimate of the amendment or a long-
term revenue estimate of the amendment,
which includes the information
described in section 14, by the Joint
Committee on Taxation; or
(II) it would increase the deficit
or cause a deficit either for the
period of the first 20 fiscal years
beginning with the first fiscal year
after the current fiscal year or for
the period of the first 50 fiscal years
beginning with the first fiscal year
after the current fiscal year, as
judged against the baseline.
(ii) Baseline.--For purposes of clause
(i)(II), the baseline shall be calculated using
the assumption that the legislation submitted
by the Commission has been enacted into law,
subject to the limitation imposed by section
14(d).
(iii) Waiver.--A point of order raised
under clause (i) may only be waived or
suspended in the House of Representatives by a
resolution devoted solely to the subject of
waiving that point of order.
(D) Multiple amendments.--If more than one
amendment is offered under this paragraph, then each
amendment shall be considered separately, and the
amendment receiving both a majority and the highest
number of votes shall be the amendment adopted.
(4) Transmittal to the senate.--If the legislation passed
in the House of Representatives pursuant to this section, the
Clerk of the House of Representatives shall cause the
legislation to be engrossed, certified, and transmitted to the
Senate not later than 1 calendar day after the day on which the
legislation is passed. Such legislation shall be referred to
the Senate Committee on the Budget.
(c) In the Senate.--
(1) Automatic discharge of senate budget committee.--If the
Senate Committee on the Budget has not reported the legislation
before the expiration of the 90-day period described in section
12, then--
(A) the committee shall be discharged from
consideration of the legislation; and
(B) a motion to proceed to the consideration of the
legislation is highly privileged and is not debatable.
(2) Consideration.--Consideration of such legislation shall
be pursuant to the procedures set forth in paragraphs (1), (2),
(5), and (6) of section 305(b) of the Congressional Budget Act
of 1974 to the extent not inconsistent with this Act.
(3) Amendments limited.--
(A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph
(B), an amendment to the legislation may not be offered
in the Senate.
(B) Permitted amendments.--(i) Any Member may
offer, as an amendment in the nature of a substitute,
the alternative legislative proposal submitted by the
President.
(ii) The chairman of the Senate Committee on the
Budget may offer, as an amendment in the nature of a
substitute, the alternative legislative proposal
published in the Congressional Record by the Senate
Committee on the Budget.
(iii) The ranking minority member of the Senate
Committee on the Budget may offer, as an amendment in
the nature of a substitute, the alternative legislative
proposal published in the Congressional Record by such
ranking minority member.
(C) Point of order.--
(i) In general.--An amendment offered under
subparagraph (B) is subject to a point of order
if--
(I) the amendment is not
accompanied by a long-term CBO cost
estimate of the amendment or a long-
term revenue estimate of the amendment,
which includes the information
described in section 14, by the Joint
Committee on Taxation; or
(II) it would increase the deficit
or cause a deficit either for the
period of the first 20 fiscal years
beginning with the first fiscal year
after the current fiscal year or for
the period of the first 50 fiscal years
beginning with the first fiscal year
after the current fiscal year, as
judged against the baseline.
(ii) Baseline.--For purposes of clause
(i)(II), the baseline shall be calculated using
the assumption that the legislation submitted
by the Commission has been enacted into law,
subject to the limitation imposed by section
14(d).
(iii) Waiver of point of order.--A point of
order raised under clause (i) may only be
waived or suspended in the Senate by an
affirmative vote of 3/5 of the Members duly
chosen and sworn.
(D) Multiple amendments.--If more than one
amendment is offered under this paragraph, then each
amendment shall be considered separately, and the
amendment receiving both a majority and the highest
number of votes shall be the amendment adopted.
(d) Prohibition on Concurrent Consideration of Other Budget-Related
Legislation.--
(1) In general.--Until a bill or joint resolution
considered pursuant to the procedures of this section or a
conference report thereon has been enrolled and presented to
the President of the United States, it shall not be in order in
either the House of Representatives or the Senate to consider
any bill or joint resolution, amendment or motion thereto, or
conference report thereon that--
(A) provides new budget authority for any fiscal
year;
(B) provides for an increase in outlays for any
fiscal year;
(C) provides a decrease in revenues during any
fiscal year; or
(D) provides an increase in the public debt limit
to become effective during any fiscal year.
Subparagraphs (A) through (D) shall be applied on a provision-
by-provision basis.
(2) Exceptions.--Paragraph (1) does not apply--
(A) to any measure under consideration prior to the
introduction, in either House, of a bill or joint
resolution considered pursuant to the procedures of
this section;
(B) to any measure considered after a bill or joint
resolution considered pursuant to the procedures of
this section has been defeated in either House; or
(C) to any general appropriation bill or amendment
thereto, but only to the extent of discretionary new
budget authority provided for the budget year or for
the first or second fiscal year after the budget year.
(3) Waiver.--
(A) House of representatives.--In the House of
Representatives, if a special rule is considered that
would waive points of order pursuant to paragraph (1),
a motion to strike the provision waiving such points of
order shall be in order.
(B) Senate.--In the Senate, a point of order
properly raised pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be
waived only by an affirmative vote of 2/3 of the
Members senators duly chosen and sworn.
(e) Application of Congressional Budget Act.--To the extent that
they are relevant and not inconsistent with this Act, the provisions of
title III of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 shall apply in the
House of Representatives and the Senate to any bill or joint
resolution, any amendment thereto, and any conference report thereon
that is considered pursuant to this section.
(f) Rules of Senate and House of Representatives.--This section is
enacted by Congress--
(1) as an exercise of the rulemaking power of the Senate
and the House of Representatives, respectively, and is deemed
to be part of the rules of each House, respectively, but
applicable only with respect to the procedure to be followed in
that House in the case of a bill introduced pursuant to this
section, and it supersedes other rules only to the extent that
it is inconsistent with such rules; and
(2) with full recognition of the constitutional right of
either House to change the rules (so far as they relate to the
procedure of that House) at any time, in the same manner, and
to the same extent as in the case of any other rule of that
House.
SEC. 14. LONG-TERM CBO COST ESTIMATE.
(a) Preparation and Submission.--When the Commission, the
President, or the chairman or ranking minority member of the Committee
on the Budget of either House submits a written request to the Director
of the Congressional Budget Office for a long-term CBO cost estimate of
legislation proposed under this Act or an amendment referred to in
section 13(b)(3)(B) or section 13(c)(3)(B), the Director shall prepare
the estimate and have it published in the Congressional Record as
expeditiously as possible.
(b) Content.--A long-term CBO cost estimate shall include--
(1) an estimate of the cost of each provision (if
practicable) or group of provisions of the legislation or
amendment for first fiscal year it would take effect and for
each of the 49 fiscal years thereafter; and
(2) a statement of any estimated future costs not reflected
by the estimate described in paragraph (1).
(c) Form.--To the extent that a long-term CBO cost estimate
presented in dollars is impracticable, the Director of the
Congressional Budget Office may instead present the estimate in terms
of percentages of gross domestic product, with rounding to the nearest
1/10 of 1 percent of gross domestic product.
(d) Limitations on Discretionary Spending.--A long-term CBO cost
estimate shall only consider the effects of provisions affecting
revenues and direct spending (as defined by the Balanced Budget and
Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985), and shall not assume that any
changes in outlays will result from limitations on, or reductions in,
annual appropriations.
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