Budget Scorekeeping Report
Floor Speech
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Mr. WHITEHOUSE. Mr. President, I submit to the Senate a budget scorekeeping report. The report, which covers fiscal year 2024, was prepared by the Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section 308(b) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974. This information enables the Senate Budget Committee to determine if budgetary points of order lie against pending legislation.
CBO's report shows the effect on spending and revenues of congressional action through December 10, 2023, as compared to the levels that I filed on June 21 as authorized by section 121 of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023, or FRA. Since then, Congress has passed six pieces of legislation with small effects on direct spending. These include two continuing resolutions that were eligible for adjustments to enforceable levels as permitted under the FRA.
Tables 1 and 2 show that current budgetary levels are above allowable amounts for budget authority and within allowable amounts for outlays. The government is currently operating under a bipartisan short-term continuing resolution that extends the previous year's discretionary funding levels through early 2024. The budget authority level shown in the tables is artificially high because it reflects CBO's estimate of the continuing resolution, which for technical reasons is higher than the statutory limits. Enactment of full-year appropriations for fiscal year 2024 consistent with budget agreement surrounding the FRA would bring total budget authority in line with the allowable limits. These tables also reflect that there has been no change to Social Security.
Table 3 shows the Senate's pay-as-you-go-scorecard, which reflects $44 million of net deficit reduction over 10 years.
The Democratic staff of the Budget Committee prepared an addendum table to supplement CBO's report, which compares the mandatory spending of each authorizing committee against the enforceable allocations under section 302 of the Congressional Budget Act. It shows that 15 of the 16 authorizing committees are complying with their allocations, either because no legislation with significant budgetary costs was enacted, the legislation was deficit-neutral and qualified for an allocation adjustment that was subsequently filed, or the legislation reduced spending.
Congress, Congressional Budget Office, Washington, DC, December 13, 2023. Hon. Sheldon Whitehouse, Chairman, Committee on the Budget, U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: The enclosed report shows the effects of Congressional action on the fiscal year 2024 budget and is current through December 10, 2023. This report is submitted under section 308(b) and in aid of section 311 of the Congressional Budget Act, as amended.
The estimates of budget authority, outlays, and revenues are consistent with the allocations, aggregates, and other budgetary levels printed in the Congressional Record on November 29, 2023, pursuant to section 121 of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 (FRA, Public Law 118-5).
Since the enactment of the FRA, the Congress has cleared the following legislation that has significant effects on budget authority, outlays, or revenues in fiscal year 2024:
Continuing Appropriations Act, 2024 and Other Extensions Act (Public Law 118-15);
Further Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act, 2024 (Public Law 118-22); and
A joint resolution providing for Congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection relating to ``Small Business Lending Under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (Regulation B)'' (S.J. Res 32).
This is the first current level letter for fiscal year 2024. Sincerely, Phillip L. Swagel, Director.
Enclosure. TABLE 1.--SENATE CURRENT LEVEL REPORT FOR SPENDING AND REVENUES FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024, AS OF DECEMBER 10, 2023 [In billions of dollars] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Current Budget Current Level Over/ Resolution Level Under (-) Resolution ------------------------------------------------------------------------ On-Budget: Budget Authority............. 4,958.7 4,982.4 23.7 Outlays...................... 5,082.5 5,039.2 -43.3 Revenues..................... 3,651.8 3,651.8 0.0 Off-Budget: Social Security Outlays...... 1,322.7 1,322.7 0.0 Social Security Revenues..... 1,195.5 1,195.5 0.0 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Source: Congressional Budget Office. TABLE 2.--SUPPORTING DETAIL FOR THE SENATE CURRENT LEVEL REPORT FOR ON-BUDGET SPENDING AND REVENUES FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024, AS OF DECEMBER 10, 2023 [In millions of dollars] ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Budget Authority Outlays Revenues ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Previously Enacted: Revenues................................................. n.a. n.a. 3,651,961 Permanents and Other Spending Legislation................ 3,246,128 3,218,288 n.a. Prior-Year Outlays....................................... 0 815,333 n.a. Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 (P.L. 118-5)........... 200 -1,903 -123 Offsetting Receipts...................................... -1,262,969 -1,262,967 n.a. -------------------------------------------------- Total, Previously Enacted............................ 1,983,359 2,768,751 3,651,838 Enacted Legislation: a Authorizing Legislation Continuing Appropriations Act, 2024 and Other 642 257 n.a. Extensions Act (P.L. 118-15)........................ Further Continuing Appropriations and Other 1,589 954 n.a. Extensions Act, 2024 (P.L. 118-22).................. -------------------------------------------------- Subtotal, Authorizing Legislation................ 2,231 1,211 n.a. Appropriation Legislation: Continuing Appropriations Act, 2024 and Other 16,000 979 n.a. Extensions Act (P.L. 118-15)........................ Passed, Pending Signature: S.J. Res. 32--A joint resolution providing for -2 -2 n.a. congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection relating to ``Small Business Lending Under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (Regulation B)''.................... Continuing Resolution: Further Continuing Appropriations and Other 1,509,524 825,583 n.a. Extensions Act, 2024 (P.L. 118-22).................. Entitlements and Mandatories................................. 1,471,281 1,442,644 n.a. Total Current Level...................................... 4,982,393 5,039,166 3,651,838 Total Senate Resolution b................................ 4,958,655 5,082,455 3,651,838 -------------------------------------------------- Current Level Over Senate Resolution..................... 23,738 n.a. n.a. Current Level Under Senate Resolution.................... n.a. 43,289 n.a. Memorandum: Revenues, 2024-2033 Senate Current Level..................................... n.a. n.a. 45,331,678 Senate Resolution........................................ n.a. n.a. 45,331,678 -------------------------------------------------- Current Level Over Senate Resolution..................... n.a. n.a. n.a. Current Level Under Senate Resolution.................... n.a. n.a. n.a. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Source: Congressional Budget Office. n.a. = not applicable; P.L. = public law. For purposes of enforcing section 311 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (P.L. 93-344) in the Senate, the
aggregate spending and revenue levels for 2024 published in the Congressional Record on June 21, 2023, by the
Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Budget pursuant to section 121 of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of
2023 (FRA, P.L. 118-5) do not include budget authority, outlays, or revenues for off-budget amounts. As a
result, amounts in this current-level report do not include those items. In keeping with the 21st Century Cures Act (P.L. 114-255), certain funding for the Department of Health and
Human Services is excluded from estimates for the purposes of both the Budget Act and the Balanced Budget and
Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (BBEDCA P.L. 99-177), as amended. As a result, this report excludes $457
million in budget authority and $770 million in outlays. Similarly, in keeping with section 14003 of the
Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (P.L. 116-136, as modified by section 101 of division AA of
the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (P.L. 116260)), certain funding provided to the Army Corps of
Engineers is excluded from estimates for the purposes of both the Budget Act and the Deficit Control Act. As a
result, this report excludes $2,374 million in budget authority and $2,374 million in outlays. a Current-level amounts and allocations include budgetary effects designates as an emergency requirement in
keeping with section 251 of the Deficit Control Act. However, they exclude budgetary effects designated as an
emergency requirement pursuant to section 4001 of S. Con. Res. 14 (117th Congress), the concurrent resolution
on the budget for fiscal year 2022. In consultation with the Senate Committee on the Budget and in keeping
with section 103 of the FRA, current-level amounts and allocations also exclude amounts previously enacted and
designated as an emergency requirement for 2024 for allocation enforcement under the Budget Act. Those amounts
are as follows: Budget Authority Outlays Revenues ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Authorizing Legislation: Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 (P.L. 118-5)........... 0 -2,331 n.a. Appropriation Legislation: Congressional non-BBEDCA Emergencies..................... 70,983 2,798 n.a. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- b Section 121 of the FRA requires the Chair of the Senate Committee on the Budget to publish the aggregate
spending and revenue levels for fiscal year 2024; those aggregate levels were first published in the
Congressional Record on June 21, 2023. The Chair of the Senate Committee on the Budget has the authority to
revise the budgetary aggregates for the budgetary effects of certain revenue and spending measures pursuant to
the Budget Act and the FRA: Budget Authority Outlays Revenues ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Original Aggregates Printed on June 21, 2023:................ 4,878,570 5,056,741 3,651,838 Revisions: Published in the Congressional Record on September 12, 61,854 23,541 n.a. 2023.................................................... Published in the Congressional Record on October 24, 2023 16,642 1,219 n.a. Published in the Congressional Record on November 29, 1,589 954 n.a. 2023.................................................... -------------------------------------------------- Revised Senate Resolution.................................... 4,958,655 5,082,455 3,651,838 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TABLE 3.--SUMMARY OF THE SENATE PAY-AS-YOU-GO SCORECARD AS OF DECEMBER 10, 2023 [In millions of dollars] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2024 2024-2028 2024-2033 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Beginning Balance a ............. 0 0 0 Enacted Legislation b,c Providing Accountability * * * Through Transparency Act of 2023 (S. 111, P.L. 118-9)... 250th Anniversary of the 0 0 0 United States Marine Corps Commemorative Coin Act (H.R. 1096, P.L. 118-10).......... Continuing Appropriations * * * Act, 2024 and Other Extensions Act (H.R. 5860, P.L. 118-15) d ............. An act to amend title 38, 0 1 -1 United States Code, to extend and modify certain authorities and requirements relating to the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes (S. 2795, P.L. 118-19)................ Further Continuing * * * Appropriations and Other Extensions Act, 2024 (H.R. 6363, P.L. 118-22) e ....... A joint resolution providing -2 -21 -43 for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection relating to ``Small Business Lending Under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (Regulation B)''. (S.J.Res. 32)......................... -------------------------------------- -2 -20 -44 Impact on Deficit................ -2 -20 -44 Total Change in Outlays...... -2 -20 -44 Total Change in Revenues..... * * * ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Source: Congressional Budget Office. P.L. = public law; * = between -$500,000 and $500,000 a. On June 21, 2023 the Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Budget
reset the Senate's Pay-As-You-Go Scorecard to zero for all fiscal
years. b The amounts shown represent the estimated effect of the public laws on
the deficit. c Excludes off-budget amounts. d Section 2401(b) requires the budgetary effects of that division to be
excluded from the Senate's PAYGO scorecard; however, the revenue
effects from the immigration extensions included in division A are
included in the scorecard because division A does not fall within the
exclusion in section 2401 of division B. e Section 701(b) requires the budgetary effects of that division to be
excluded from the Senate's PAYGO scorecard; however, the revenue
effects from the immigration extensions included in division A are
included in the scorecard because division A does not fall within the
exclusion in section 701 of division B. ADDENDUM: SENATE AUTHORIZING COMMITTEE SPENDING COMPARED TO ALLOCATIONS
[$ in millions; positive numbers represent spending above enforceable limits] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2024 2024-2028 2024-2033 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry: Budget Authority............. 0 0 0 Outlays...................... 0 0 0 Armed Services: Budget Authority............. 0 0 0 Outlays...................... 0 0 0 Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Budget Authority............. -2 -21 -43 Outlays...................... -2 -21 -43 Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Budget Authority............. 0 0 0 Outlays...................... 0 0 0 Energy and Natural Resources: Budget Authority............. 0 0 0 Outlays...................... 0 0 0 Environment and Public Works: Budget Authority............. 0 0 0 Outlays...................... 0 0 0 Finance: Budget Authority............. 0 0 0 Outlays...................... 0 0 0 Foreign Relations: Budget Authority............. 0 0 0 Outlays...................... 0 0 0 Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: Budget Authority............. 0 0 0 Outlays...................... 0 0 0 Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: Budget Authority............. 0 0 0 Outlays...................... 0 0 0 Indian Affairs: Budget Authority............. 0 0 0 Outlays...................... 0 0 0 Intelligence: Budget Authority............. 0 0 0 Outlays...................... 0 0 0 Judiciary: Budget Authority............. 0 0 0 Outlays...................... 0 0 0 Rules and Administration: Budget Authority............. 0 0 0 Outlays...................... 0 0 0 Small Business and Entrepreneurship: Budget Authority............. 0 0 0 Outlays...................... 0 0 0 Veterans' Affairs: Budget Authority............. 0 1 -1 Outlays...................... 0 1 -1 Memo--all committees, total over allocation: Budget Authority............. -2 -20 -44 Outlays...................... -2 -20 -44 ------------------------------------------------------------------------
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