House Rules Changes Affecting the Congressional Budget Process in the 108th Congress (H.Res. 5)

Publication Date: February 2003

Publisher: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Author(s):

Research Area: Government

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Abstract:

On the opening day of the 108th Congress, the House made several rules changes affecting the congressional budget process. The changes to House standing rules include: (1) requiring a Member from the Rules Committee to serve on the Budget Committee; (2) providing an exception to the limit on a Member's tenure on the Budget Committee to allow either the chair or ranking minority Member to serve in that leadership position for three consecutive Congresses; (3) requiring a "macroeconomic impact analysis" for revenue measures reported by the Ways and Means Committee; (4) clarifying that a "tax or tariff measure" for purposes of House Rule XXI includes an appropriations amendment that limits funding for the administration of a tax or tariff; and (5) providing for the automatic engrossment of public debt-limit legislation upon the adoption of a budget resolution by Congress.

In addition to these standing rules changes, the House agreed to several separate orders that clarify the applicability of certain points of order under the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, and deem the FY2003 budget resolution adopted by the House in the 107th Congress to have been agreed to by the 108th Congress for budget enforcement purposes.

This report will not be updated unless developments warrant.