Rules Subcommittee Examines Biennial Budgeting

WASHINGTON, DC – The Rules Committee’s Subcommittee on Legislative and Budget Process held a hearing today on legislation that would establish a biennial budgeting process. The hearing, which was chaired by Subcommittee Chairman Rob Woodall (R-GA), discussed H.R. 1869, the Biennial Budgeting and Enhanced Oversight Act of 2014, a bill  introduced by Representative Reid Ribble (R-WI).

“As Chairman of the Legislative and Budget Process Subcommittee, I am committed to finding and implementing ways in which we can more effectively accomplish the constitutionally mandated responsibility of providing a budget to the American people,” said Woodall.  “The Biennial Budget and Enhanced Oversight Act is one of those options and I was pleased to have the opportunity to review it in more detail today.”

“At a time when our nation faces many fiscal challenges, we must work toward budget reforms that increase government efficiency and accountability,” said Rules Committee Chairman Pete Sessions (R-TX). “Implementing a biennial budget system could help repair the broken budget process here in Washington. I want to thank Congressman Ribble for sponsoring this legislation along with his energetic leadership and hard work on this issue.”

The witnesses at today’s hearing were:  Representatives Reid Ribble (R-WI), David Price (D-NC), Ed Whitfield (R-KY), Tom Cole (R-OK); Maya C. MacGuineas, President of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget; Robert Bixby, Executive Director of the Concord Coalition; and Scott Lilly, Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress.

Background:

H.R. 1869 has a bipartisan group of 142 co-sponsors.  The bill would establish a two-year, “biennial” budgeting cycle for the U.S. government.

·         Year 1 of biennium (odd-numbered years): Congress would draft and adopt a budget plan covering the next two fiscal years. This plan would provide the framework for the consideration of legislation with fiscal implications over the course of the entire Congress.

·         Year 2 of biennium (even-numbered years): Congress would focus on conducting detailed oversight of government agencies and programs.

For more information on H.R. 1869, the Biennial Budgeting and Enhanced Oversight Act of 2014, see here.

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Created:
Jun 25, 2014