Chairman Dreier: Biennial Budgeting is the Fiscally Responsible Approach

WASHINGTON, DC –The House Rules Committee’s Subcommittee on Legislative and Budget Process held a hearing today on H.R. 114, the Biennial Budgeting and Appropriations Act of 2011. This bill would put in place a two-year budget process that streamlines and improves the fiscal management and oversight of government programs. To further emphasize the need for budget reform, today marks the1000th day since the Democratic-controlled Senate has passed a budget.

Rules Committee Chairman David Dreier (R-CA), the sponsor of the legislation, made the following statement in support of H.R. 114:

“Our federal budget process is broken. The annual rush to complete action on budget, authorization and appropriations bills not only produces poor results, but also reduces the amount of time available for careful oversight and management of existing federal programs. Budgeting for a two-year period would give lawmakers more time to scrutinize government programs and eliminate wasteful spending. Biennial budgeting will also create stability by reducing the need for last-minute continuing resolutions and omnibus spending bills. This reform would by no means be a panacea, but it will create a budget process that is more accountable and transparent to taxpayers. I urge my colleagues to support this fiscally responsible approach.”

Under H.R. 114, the President would submit a two-year budget and Congress would consider a two-year budget resolution and two-year appropriations bills during the first session of Congress. The second session would be devoted to consideration of authorization bills, programmatic oversight of government agencies and emergency spending bills.

For Immediate Release: January 24, 2012
Contact Doug Andres 202.225.9191

Created:
Jan 24, 2012