Budget Reform Milestone on Eve of Fiscal Cliff

Statement

U.S. Representatives Reid Ribble (WI-08) and Kurt Schrader (OR-05) announced a major victory in congressional budgeting reform with over 218 bipartisan cosponsors on H.R. 1610, the Biennial Budgeting and Enhanced Oversight Act, just as Congress fails once again to complete its work on time.

"America is a tremendous economic engine, and our federal budget needs consistency, reliability, and thorough oversight to function efficiently. I introduced the Biennial Budgeting and Enhanced Oversight Act to take budgeting out of election years and force Congress to conduct better oversight of federal agencies," Representative Ribble (WI-08) said. "As our government teeters on the brink of yet another unnecessary funding cliff, I am proud to announce that this sensible reform now has 220 bipartisan cosponsors, and I am hopeful that we can continue to push forward together in getting our nation's fiscal house in order."

"When I chaired the Budget Committee in the Oregon Legislature, we operated with a biennial budget system, and it worked very well. There is no reason we should not be doing the same in this body," said Congressman Schrader (OR-05). "We're facing budget crisis after budget crisis and by adopting this bill we would able to avoid stress and uncertainty, not only for our government, but for the American people who expect us to do our jobs."

The Biennial Budgeting and Enhanced Oversight Act of 2015

*Establishes a two-year, "biennial" budgeting cycle for U.S. federal government.

*Year 1 of biennium (odd-numbered years): Congress would adopt a budget resolution that would apply to the next two years. It would then debate and pass 12 appropriations bills that would apply to two years rather than the usual one.

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

*A biennial process would provide more budget stability and certainty by doing away with the current inconsistent appropriations process. Federal departments and agencies would know a full year in advance the resources they will have available, giving them the ability to plan into the future and implement cost-saving measures to make the most of every dollar.

Biennial budgeting is a practical reform that has already been implemented by fifteen states, including Wisconsin, whose legislatures meet annually but choose to budget biennially. It has strong bipartisan and bicameral support.

In the last Congress, Rep. Ribble's legislation passed the Budget Committee on a bipartisan vote of 22-10 and also received a hearing in the Rules Committee.

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