House Budget Committee Releases Discussion Drafts and Solicits Feedback on Legislation to Improve the Congressional Budget Process
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, on the 50th Anniversary of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 becoming law, the House Budget Committee and its Budget Process Reform Task Force released three discussion drafts outlining proposals to reform the congressional budget process and minimize budget gimmicks. These proposals would reinstate and enforce outlay caps, require sponsors of legislation to insert statements in the Congressional Record justifying any emergency spending, and eliminate the use of bad Changes in Mandatory Spending Programs (CHIMPs).
As part of this endeavor, the Task Force released a Request for Information (RFI) letter soliciting:
- Feedback from independent experts, stakeholders, and coalition groups on these discussion drafts; and
- Additional ideas to reform or reinforce the congressional budget process.
Request for Information:
The RFI, led by House Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington (R-TX) and Budget Process Reform Task Force Chairman Rudy Yakym (R-IN), reads in part:
“If you or your organization is interested in improving the budget process, please share your specific solutions. Responses could address but are not limited to the following:
- Suggestions for reforms that could enhance transparency, accountability, and efficiency in the budget process.
- Tools to limit the use of budget gimmicks that hide the true cost of legislation and circumvent fiscal controls.
- Approaches to help Congress better manage finite resources to budget within the nation’s means.
- Methods for reducing the national deficit without stifling economic growth or imposing burdens on taxpayers.
- Recommendations for achieving long-term fiscal stability.
- Perspectives on how to account for the rising cost of regulations and administrative actions in the budget process.”
Background on the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974:
The Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 (PL 93-344) was signed into law on July 12, 1974 by President Richard Nixon. The Budget Act permitted Congress to develop an independent means to analyze the Presidential budget, reconcile it with congressional plans, and develop a fiscal policy of its own.
The Budget Act also established permanent standing Budget Committees in both chambers of Congress, as well as a Congressional Budget Office to provide Congress with analyses needed to make informed budgetary decisions.
Background on the Budget Process Reform Task Force:
The Budget Process Reform Task Force was established within the House Budget Committee to focus on issues such as the timeliness of the budget process, better ways to address the debt limit, and the most effective models to address the long-term projected increase in the National debt.
More from the House Budget Committee:
Read more on the Budget Process Reform Task Force HERE.
Read the RFI letter HERE.
Read the discussion draft on reinstating and enforcing outlay caps HERE.
Read the discussion draft on requiring sponsors of legislation to justify any emergency spending HERE.
Read the discussion draft on eliminating the use of bad Changes in Mandatory Spending Programs (CHIMPs) HERE.
