Appropriation Bill Procedures Amendment

Summary#

This bill would change rules for how Congress considers annual appropriations. It amends section 309 of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974. In the Senate, the bill makes the procedures in section 305 apply to annual appropriation bills and limits debate on any annual appropriation bill (and its amendments, debatable motions, and appeals) to not more than 20 hours. The Senate time limit would not apply to measures providing continuing appropriations. In the House, the bill would make it out of order to consider any resolution for an adjournment period of more than three calendar days during July until the House has approved annual appropriation bills that provide new budget authority under the jurisdiction of all subcommittees of the House Appropriations Committee for the fiscal year starting October 1. The House Appropriations Committee chairman must periodically advise the Speaker about changes in subcommittee jurisdiction. The bill also makes a conforming change to the table of contents of the Act.

What it means for you#

• Senators would have a firm 20-hour limit for debate on each annual appropriations bill, except for continuing appropriations measures.
• Members of the House could not take a July recess longer than three calendar days until the House has approved annual appropriation bills covering every Appropriations subcommittee's jurisdiction for the next fiscal year.
• The bill changes internal congressional procedures; it does not itself create or change program funding in federal agencies.

Expenses#

The bill does not itself appropriate funds. No publicly available information on estimated budget effects.

Proponents' View#

No publicly available information.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.