JSCBAPR

CRS Report on the Joint Select Committee on
Budget and Appropriations Process Reform

CRS Report

WHAT ARE THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE COMMITTEE?

Meetings and Hearings

The committee is required to hold its first meeting not later than 30 calendar days after the date of enactment (March 11, 2018). ^[1] The co-chairs of the committee must provide an agenda to committee members at least 48 hours in advance of any meeting.

The committee is authorized and expected to hold hearings that may include testimony from witnesses. The committee is required to hold no fewer than “five public meetings or public hearings” and a minimum of “three public hearings, which may include field hearings.”^[2] The co-chairs of the committee are required to publicly announce the date, place, time, and subject matter of any hearing at least seven days in advance unless the co-chairs determine that there is “good cause” to hold a hearing at an earlier date.

Each co-chair is entitled to select an equal number of witnesses for each hearing. A witness appearing before the committee is required to file a written statement of proposed testimony at least two calendar days before his or her appearance. ^[3]

The law specifies that nine members of the committee shall constitute a quorum for purposes of voting and meeting, and five members of the committee shall constitute a quorum for holding hearings. ^[4]

Report and Recommendations

The act states that the committee shall provide recommendations and legislative language that will significantly reform the budget and appropriations process. By November 30, 2018, the committee is required to vote on (1) a report that contains a detailed statement of the findings, conclusions, and recommendations of the committee and (2) proposed legislative language to carry out those recommendations. ^[5]

The text of any report and proposed legislative language shall be publicly available in electronic form at least 24 hours prior to its consideration by the joint select committee. ^[6] The report and the proposed legislative language must be approved by a majority of each of (1) the committee members appointed by the Speaker of the House and the majority leader of the Senate and (2) the committee members appointed by the House and Senate minority leaders. ^[7] The law specifies that nine members of the committee shall constitute a quorum for purposes of voting. No proxy voting is permitted. ^[8]

Committee members may file supplemental, minority, or additional views to be included in the committee report. ^[9]

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CRS Notes

[1] §30442(b)(4)(E)(i).

[2] §30442(b)(4)(G).

[3] This requirement may be waived by the co-chairs if they determine that there is “good cause” for failure to comply with the requirement.

[4] §30442(b)(4)(C).

[5] §30442(b)(2)(B)(i).

[6] §30442(b)(2)(B)(ii)(II).

[7] §30442(b)(2)(B)(ii).

[8] §30442(b)(4)(D).

[9] §30442(b)(2)(B)(iii). A member of the joint committee who gives notice of an intention to file supplemental, minority, or additional views at the time of the final joint committee vote on the approval of the report and legislative language shall be entitled to two calendar days after the day of such notice in which to file such views in writing with the co-chairs. Such views shall then be included in the joint committee report and printed in the same volume, or part thereof, and their inclusion shall be noted on the cover of the report. In the absence of timely notice, the joint committee report may be printed and transmitted immediately without such views.

CRS – The Joint Select Committee on Budget and Appropriations Process Reform (R45111) February 21, 2018

CRS – The Joint Select Committee on Budget and Appropriations Process Reform (R45111) February 21, 2018 (BCR Annotated)

Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018, Pub. L. 115-123; 132 Stat. 64; February 9, 2018; H.R. 1892 (115th Congress)

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