1997 U.S. Code
Title 2 - THE CONGRESS
CHAPTER 20 - EMERGENCY POWERS TO ELIMINATE BUDGET DEFICITS
SUBCHAPTER I - ELIMINATION OF DEFICITS IN EXCESS OF MAXIMUM DEFICIT AMOUNT
Sec. 901 - Enforcing discretionary spending limits

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§901. Enforcing discretionary spending limits (a) Enforcement (1) Sequestration

Within 15 calendar days after Congress adjourns to end a session and on the same day as a sequestration (if any) under section 902 of this title and section 903 of this title, there shall be a sequestration to eliminate a budget-year breach, if any, within any category.

(2) Eliminating a breach

Each non-exempt account within a category shall be reduced by a dollar amount calculated by multiplying the baseline level of sequestrable budgetary resources in that account at that time by the uniform percentage necessary to eliminate a breach within that category; except that the health programs set forth in section 906(e) of this title shall not be reduced by more than 2 percent and the uniform percent applicable to all other programs under this paragraph shall be increased (if necessary) to a level sufficient to eliminate that breach. If, within a category, the discretionary spending limits for both new budget authority and outlays are breached, the uniform percentage shall be calculated by—

(A) first, calculating the uniform percentage necessary to eliminate the breach in new budget authority, and

(B) second, if any breach in outlays remains, increasing the uniform percentage to a level sufficient to eliminate that breach.

(3) Military personnel

If the President uses the authority to exempt any military personnel from sequestration under section 905(f) of this title, each account within subfunctional category 051 (other than those military personnel accounts for which the authority provided under section 905(f) of this title has been exercised) shall be further reduced by a dollar amount calculated by multiplying the enacted level of non-exempt budgetary resources in that account at that time by the uniform percentage necessary to offset the total dollar amount by which outlays are not reduced in military personnel accounts by reason of the use of such authority.

(4) Part-year appropriations

If, on the date specified in paragraph (1), there is in effect an Act making or continuing appropriations for part of a fiscal year for any budget account, then the dollar sequestration calculated for that account under paragraphs (2) and (3) shall be subtracted from—

(A) the annualized amount otherwise available by law in that account under that or a subsequent part-year appropriation; and

(B) when a full-year appropriation for that account is enacted, from the amount otherwise provided by the full-year appropriation.

(5) Look-back

If, after June 30, an appropriation for the fiscal year in progress is enacted that causes a breach within a category for that year (after taking into account any sequestration of amounts within that category), the discretionary spending limits for that category for the next fiscal year shall be reduced by the amount or amounts of that breach.

(6) Within-session sequestration

If an appropriation for a fiscal year in progress is enacted (after Congress adjourns to end the session for that budget year and before July 1 of that fiscal year) that causes a breach within a category for that year (after taking into account any prior sequestration of amounts within that category), 15 days later there shall be a sequestration to eliminate that breach within that category following the procedures set forth in paragraphs (2) through (4).

(7) Estimates (A) CBO estimates

As soon as practicable after Congress completes action on any discretionary appropriation, CBO, after consultation with the Committees on the Budget of the House of Representatives and the Senate, shall provide OMB with an estimate of the amount of discretionary new budget authority and outlays for the current year (if any) and the budget year provided by that legislation.

(B) OMB estimates and explanation of differences

Not later than 7 calendar days (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays) after the date of enactment of any discretionary appropriation, OMB shall transmit a report to the House of Representatives and to the Senate containing the CBO estimate of that legislation, an OMB estimate of the amount of discretionary new budget authority and outlays for the current year (if any) and the budget year provided by that legislation, and an explanation of any difference between the 2 estimates. If during the preparation of the report OMB determines that there is a significant difference between OMB and CBO, OMB shall consult with the Committees on the Budget of the House of Representatives and the Senate regarding that difference and that consultation shall include, to extent practicable, written communication to those committees that affords such committees the opportunity to comment before the issuance of the report.

(C) Assumptions and guidelines

OMB estimates under this paragraph shall be made using current economic and technical assumptions. OMB shall use the OMB estimates transmitted to the Congress under this paragraph. OMB and CBO shall prepare estimates under this paragraph in conformance with scorekeeping guidelines determined after consultation among the House and Senate Committees on the Budget, CBO, and OMB.

(D) Annual appropriations

For purposes of this paragraph, amounts provided by annual appropriations shall include any new budget authority and outlays for the current year (if any) and the budget year in accounts for which funding is provided in that legislation that result from previously enacted legislation.

(b) Adjustments to discretionary spending limits (1) Preview report

When the President submits the budget under section 1105 of title 31, OMB shall calculate and the budget shall include adjustments to discretionary spending limits (and those limits as cumulatively adjusted) for the budget year and each outyear to reflect changes in concepts and definitions. Such changes shall equal the baseline levels of new budget authority and outlays using up-to-date concepts and definitions minus those levels using the concepts and definitions in effect before such changes. Such changes may only be made after consultation with the committees 1 on Appropriations and the Budget of the House of Representatives and the Senate and that consultation shall include written communication to such committees that affords such committees the opportunity to comment before official action is taken with respect to such changes.

(2) Sequestration reports

When OMB submits a sequestration report under section 904(e), (f), or (g) of this title for a fiscal year, OMB shall calculate, and the sequestration report and subsequent budgets submitted by the President under section 1105(a) of title 31 shall include adjustments to discretionary spending limits (and those limits as adjusted) for the fiscal year and each succeeding year through 2002, as follows:

(A) Emergency appropriations

If, for any fiscal year, appropriations for discretionary accounts are enacted that the President designates as emergency requirements and that the Congress so designates in statute, the adjustment shall be the total of such appropriations in discretionary accounts designated as emergency requirements and the outlays flowing in all fiscal years from such appropriations. This subparagraph shall not apply to appropriations to cover agricultural crop disaster assistance.

(B) Special outlay allowance

If, in any fiscal year, outlays for a category exceed the discretionary spending limit for that category but new budget authority does not exceed its limit for that category (after application of the first step of a sequestration described in subsection (a)(2) of this section, if necessary), the adjustment in outlays for a fiscal year is the amount of the excess but not to exceed 0.5 percent of the sum of the adjusted discretionary spending limits on outlays for that fiscal year.

(C) Continuing disability reviews

(i) If a bill or joint resolution making appropriations for a fiscal year is enacted that specifies an amount for continuing disability reviews under the heading “Limitation on Administrative Expenses” for the Social Security Administration, the adjustments for that fiscal year shall be the additional new budget authority provided in that Act for such reviews for that fiscal year and the additional outlays flowing from such amounts, but shall not exceed—

(I) for fiscal year 1998, 0,000,000 in additional new budget authority and 8,000,000 in additional outlays;

(II) for fiscal year 1999, 0,000,000 in additional new budget authority and 0,000,000 in additional outlays;

(III) for fiscal year 2000, 0,000,000 in additional new budget authority and 0,000,000 in additional outlays;

(IV) for fiscal year 2001, 0,000,000 in additional new budget authority and 0,000,000 in additional outlays; and

(V) for fiscal year 2002, 0,000,000 in additional new budget authority and 0,000,000 in additional outlays.

(ii) As used in this subparagraph—

(I) the term “continuing disability reviews” means reviews or redeterminations as defined under section 401(g)(1)(A) of title 42 and reviews and redeterminations authorized under section 211 of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996;

(II) the term “additional new budget authority” means the amount provided for a fiscal year, in excess of 0,000,000, in an appropriations Act and specified to pay for the costs of continuing disability reviews under the heading “Limitation on Administrative Expenses” for the Social Security Administration; and

(III) the term “additional outlays” means outlays, in excess of 0,000,000 in a fiscal year, flowing from the amounts specified for continuing disability reviews under the heading “Limitation on Administrative Expenses” for the Social Security Administration, including outlays in that fiscal year flowing from amounts specified in Acts enacted for prior fiscal years (but not before 1996).

(D) Allowance for IMF

If an appropriation bill or joint resolution is enacted for a fiscal year through 2002 that includes an appropriation with respect to clause (i) or (ii), the adjustment shall be the amount of budget authority in the measure that is the dollar equivalent of the Special Drawing Rights with respect to—

(i) an increase in the United States quota as part of the International Monetary Fund Eleventh General Review of Quotas (United States Quota); or

(ii) any increase in the maximum amount available to the Secretary of the Treasury pursuant to section 286e–2 of title 22, as amended from time to time (New Arrangements to Borrow).

(E) Allowance for international arrearages (i) Adjustments

If an appropriation bill or joint resolution is enacted for fiscal year 1998, 1999, or 2000 that includes an appropriation for arrearages for international organizations, international peacekeeping, and multilateral development banks for that fiscal year, the adjustment shall be the amount of budget authority in that measure and the outlays flowing in all fiscal years from that budget authority.

(ii) Limitations

The total amount of adjustments made pursuant to this subparagraph for the period of fiscal years 1998 through 2000 shall not exceed ,884,000,000 in budget authority.

(F) EITC compliance initiative

If an appropriation bill or joint resolution is enacted for a fiscal year that includes an appropriation for an earned income tax credit compliance initiative, the adjustment shall be the amount of budget authority in that measure for that initiative and the outlays flowing in all fiscal years from that budget authority, but not to exceed—

(i) with respect to fiscal year 1998, 8,000,000 in new budget authority and 1,000,000 in outlays;

(ii) with respect to fiscal year 1999, 3,000,000 in new budget authority and 3,000,000 in outlays;

(iii) with respect to fiscal year 2000, 4,000,000 in new budget authority and 4,000,000 in outlays;

(iv) with respect to fiscal year 2001, 5,000,000 in new budget authority and 5,000,000 in outlays; and

(v) with respect to fiscal year 2002, 6,000,000 in new budget authority and 6,000,000 in outlays.

(G) Adoption incentive payments

Whenever a bill or joint resolution making appropriations for fiscal year 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, or 2003 is enacted that specifies an amount for adoption incentive payments pursuant to this subchapter for the Department of Health and Human Services—

(i) the adjustments for new budget authority shall be the amounts of new budget authority provided in that measure for adoption incentive payments, but not to exceed ,000,000; and

(ii) the adjustment for outlays shall be the additional outlays flowing from such amount.

(c) Discretionary spending limit

As used in this subchapter, the term “discretionary spending limit” means—

(1) with respect to fiscal year 1997, for the discretionary category, the current adjusted limits of new budget authority and outlays;

(2) with respect to fiscal year 1998—

(A) for the defense category: 9,000,000,000 in new budget authority and 6,823,000,000 in outlays;

(B) for the nondefense category: 2,357,000,000 in new budget authority and 2,853,000,000 in outlays; and

(C) for the violent crime reduction category: ,500,000,000 in new budget authority and ,592,000,000 in outlays;

(3) with respect to fiscal year 1999—

(A) for the defense category: 1,500,000,000 in new budget authority and 6,518,000,000 in outlays;

(B) for the nondefense category: 5,699,000,000 in new budget authority and 7,850,000,000 in outlays; and

(C) for the violent crime reduction category: ,800,000,000 in new budget authority and ,953,000,000 in outlays;

(4) with respect to fiscal year 2000—

(A) for the discretionary category: 2,693,000,000 in new budget authority and 8,711,000,000 in outlays; and

(B) for the violent crime reduction category: ,500,000,000 in new budget authority and ,554,000,000 in outlays;

(5) with respect to fiscal year 2001, for the discretionary category: 2,032,000,000 in new budget authority and 4,396,000,000 in outlays; and

(6) with respect to fiscal year 2002, for the discretionary category: 1,074,000,000 in new budget authority and 0,799,000,000 in outlays;

as adjusted in strict conformance with subsection (b) of this section.

(Pub. L. 99–177, title II, §251, Dec. 12, 1985, 99 Stat. 1063; Pub. L. 100–119, title I, §102(a), Sept. 29, 1987, 101 Stat. 754; Pub. L. 100–203, title VIII, §8003(f), Dec. 22, 1987, 101 Stat. 1330–282; Pub. L. 101–508, title XIII, §13101(a), (e)(2), Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1388–577, 1388–593; Pub. L. 103–66, title XIV, §14002(c)(1), Aug. 10, 1993, 107 Stat. 683; Pub. L. 103–87, title V, §571, Sept. 30, 1993, 107 Stat. 971; Pub. L. 103–306, title V, §562, Aug. 23, 1994, 108 Stat. 1649; Pub. L. 103–354, title I, §119(d)(1), Oct. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 3208; Pub. L. 104–121, title I, §103(b), Mar. 29, 1996, 110 Stat. 848; Pub. L. 104–193, title II, §211(d)(5)(B), Aug. 22, 1996, 110 Stat. 2191; Pub. L. 104–208, div. A, title I, §101(c) [title V, §577], Sept. 30, 1996, 110 Stat. 3009–121, 3009–169; Pub. L. 105–33, title X, §10203(a), (b), Aug. 5, 1997, 111 Stat. 698, 701; Pub. L. 105–89, title II, §201(b)(1), Nov. 19, 1997, 111 Stat. 2125.)

Termination of Section

For termination of section by section 275(b) of Pub. L. 99–177, as amended, see Effective and Termination Dates note set out under section 900 of this title.

References in Text

Section 211 of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, referred to in subsec. (b)(2)(C)(ii)(I), is section 211 of Pub. L. 104–193, which amended this section, section 665e of this title, and section 1382c of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, enacted provisions set out as a note under section 1382c of Title 42, and amended provisions set out as a note under section 401 of Title 42.

Codification

Pub. L. 101–508, §13101(e)(2), redesignated former subsec. (a)(6)(I) of this section as section 257(e) of Pub. L. 99–177, which is classified to section 907(e) of this title.

Amendments

1997—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 105–33, §10203(a)(1), struck out “Fiscal Years 1991–1998” before “Enforcement” in heading.

Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 105–33, §10203(a)(2), substituted “section 905(f)” for “section 905(h)” in two places.

Subsec. (a)(7). Pub. L. 105–33, §10203(a)(3), added par. (7) and struck out heading and text of former par. (7). Text read as follows: “As soon as practicable after Congress completes action on any discretionary appropriation, CBO, after consultation with the Committees on the Budget of the House of Representatives and the Senate, shall provide OMB with an estimate of the amount of discretionary new budget authority and outlays for the current year (if any) and the budget year provided by that legislation. Within 5 calendar days after the enactment of any discretionary appropriation, OMB shall transmit a report to the House of Representatives and to the Senate containing the CBO estimate of that legislation, an OMB estimate of the amount of discretionary new budget authority and outlays for the current year (if any) and the budget year provided by that legislation, and an explanation of any difference between the two estimates. For purposes of this paragraph, amounts provided by annual appropriations shall include any new budget authority and outlays for those years in accounts for which funding is provided in that legislation that result from previously enacted legislation. Those OMB estimates shall be made using current economic and technical assumptions. OMB shall use the OMB estimates transmitted to the Congress under this paragraph for the purposes of this subsection. OMB and CBO shall prepare estimates under this paragraph in conformance with scorekeeping guidelines determined after consultation among the House and Senate Committees on the Budget, CBO, and OMB.”

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 105–33, §10203(a)(4), added subsec. (b) and struck out heading and text of former subsec. (b) which provided that when the President submitted the budget for a budget year from 1992 to 1998, OMB was to calculate, and the budget was to include, adjustments to discretionary spending limits reflecting certain enumerated factors and provided that when OMB submitted a sequestration report for a fiscal year from 1991 to 1998, OMB was to calculate, and the sequestration report and subsequent budgets were to include, adjustments to discretionary spending limits reflecting certain enumerated factors.

Subsec. (b)(2)(G). Pub. L. 105–89 added subpar. (G).

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 105–33, §10203(b), added subsec. (c).

1996—Subsec. (b)(2)(G). Pub. L. 104–208 substituted “fiscal years 1994, 1995, and 1997” for “fiscal year 1994 and 1995” in two places.

Subsec. (b)(2)(H). Pub. L. 104–121 added subpar. (H).

Subsec. (b)(2)(H)(i). Pub. L. 104–193, §211(d)(5)(B)(i), substituted “5,000,000” for “,000,000” and “0,000,000” for “0,000,000” in subcl. (II), and “5,000,000” for “5,000,000” and “0,000,000” for “0,000,000” in subcl. (III).

Subsec. (b)(2)(H)(ii)(I). Pub. L. 104–193, §211(d)(5)(B)(ii), amended subcl. (I) generally. Prior to amendment, subcl. (I) read as follows: “the term ‘continuing disability reviews’ has the meaning given such term by section 401(g)(1)(A) of title 42;”.

1994—Subsec. (b)(2)(D)(i). Pub. L. 103–354 inserted at end “This subparagraph shall not apply to appropriations to cover agricultural crop disaster assistance.”

Subsec. (b)(2)(G). Pub. L. 103–306 substituted “1994 and 1995” for “1994” in two places.

1993—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 103–66, §14002(c)(1)(A), substituted “1998” for “1995” in heading.

Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 103–66, §14002(c)(1)(B)(i), in introductory provisions, substituted “1995, 1996, 1997, or 1998” for “or 1995” and “outyear through 1998” for “outyear through 1995”.

Subsec. (b)(1)(B)(iii). Pub. L. 103–66, §14002(c)(1)(B)(ii), added cl. (iii).

Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 103–66, §14002(c)(1)(B)(iii), in introductory provisions, substituted “1995, 1996, 1997, or 1998” for “or 1995” and “year through 1998” for “year through 1995”.

Subsec. (b)(2)(D)(i). Pub. L. 103–66, §14002(c)(1)(B)(iv), substituted “for any fiscal year,” for “for fiscal year 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, or 1995,”.

Subsec. (b)(2)(E)(iv). Pub. L. 103–66, §14002(c)(1)(B)(v), added cl. (iv).

Subsec. (b)(2)(F). Pub. L. 103–66, §14002(c)(1)(B)(vi), inserted before period at end “, and not to exceed 0.5 percent of the adjusted descretionary [sic] spending limit on outlays for the fiscal year in fiscal year 1996, 1997, or 1998”.

Subsec. (b)(2)(G). Pub. L. 103–87 added subpar. (G).

1990—Pub. L. 101–508, §13101(a), amended section generally, substituting subsecs. (a) and (b) relating to enforcement of discretionary spending limits for former subsecs. (a) to (e) relating to reporting of excess deficits.

Subsec. (a)(6)(I). Pub. L. 101–508, §13101(e)(2), redesignated subsec. (a)(6)(I) of this section as section 907(e) of this title.

1987—Pub. L. 100–119 amended section generally, substituting provisions consisting of subsecs. (a) to (e) relating to reports by Director of CBO to Director of OMB and to Congress and by Director of OMB to President and Congress for provisions consisting of subsecs. (a) to (g) relating to joint reports by Directors of CBO and OMB to Comptroller General and report by Comptroller General to President and Congress.

Subsec. (a)(6)(B). Pub. L. 100–203, §8003(f), struck out “and” before “contract authority” and inserted provision whereby the authority to provide insurance through the Federal Housing Administration Fund be continued.

Effective Date of 1997 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 105–89 effective Nov. 19, 1997, except as otherwise provided, with delay permitted if State legislation is required, see section 501 of Pub. L. 105–89, set out as a note under section 622 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare.

Effective Date of 1994 Amendment

Section 119(d)(1) of Pub. L. 103–354 provided that the amendment made by that section is effective Jan. 1, 1995.

Section Referred to in Other Sections

This section is referred to in sections 633, 643, 645, 691a, 691c, 900, 902, 903, 904, 907 of this title; title 16 section 556c; title 38 sections 113, 1729A; title 39 section 2009a; title 42 sections 5203, 8621, 14212; title 43 section 1474a.

1 So in original. Probably should be capitalized.