S. 2313 — Introduced in Senate

II 113th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 2313 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 8, 2014 Mr. Walsh introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs A BILL To prohibit congressional recesses until Congress adopts a concurrent resolution on the budget that results in a balanced federal budget by fiscal year 2024 and to control congressional travel budgets. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Do Your Job Act. 2. Findings Congress finds the following: (1) The Federal debt exceeds $17,000,000,000,000 and continues to grow. (2) It is the responsibility of Members of Congress to enact and implement policies that encourage economic growth and job creation, including a balanced budget. (3) In 2013, the House of Representatives was in session only 160 days and the Senate was in session only 156 days. (4) This means that, according to Federal Reserve Economic Data, the average American works 10 more weeks per year than Congress is in session. (5) Congressional recess in a time of excessive national debt is a lost opportunity to reach agreement about a balanced budget. 3. No congressional recesses (a) In general During the period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act and ending on the date specified in subsection (b), neither the Senate nor the House of Representatives may recess or stand adjourned for a period of longer than 24 hours. (b) Balanced budget agreed to The date described in this subsection is the date of enactment of a concurrent resolution on the budget that establishes a level of deficit of $0 or a surplus by not later than fiscal year 2024. (c) Rules of House of Representatives and Senate This section is enacted by Congress— (1) as an exercise of the rulemaking power of the Senate and House of Representatives, respectively, and as such it is deemed a part of the rules of each House, respectively, and it supersedes other rules only to the extent that it is inconsistent with such rules; and (2) with full recognition of the constitutional right of either House to change the rules (so far as relating to the procedure of that House) at any time, in the same manner, and to the same extent as in the case of any other rule of that House. 4. Congressional travel budgets (a) Definition In this section, the term employee, relating to a Member of Congress, means any individual employed by the Member of Congress in— (1) the office of the Member of Congress; (2) the office of a standing, select, or joint committee of Congress (or a subcommittee thereof); or (3) a leadership office of the Senate or the House of Representatives. (b) Submission of budget (1) In general Not later than the date by which the President is required to submit the budget of the President for a fiscal year under section 1105 of title 31, United States Code, each Member of Congress shall submit a budget for the fiscal year for official travel by the Member of Congress and employees of the Member of Congress in accordance with paragraph (2). (2) Submission The budget required under paragraph (1) shall— (A) in the case of a Senator, be submitted to the Secretary of the Senate; and (B) in the case of a Member of the House of Representatives, shall be submitted to the Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives. (c) Rescission of unspent travel funds Effective on October 1 of each fiscal year, any amounts made available for official travel by a Member of Congress or an employee of the Member of Congress during the previous fiscal year that are not obligated shall be rescinded and used for deficit reduction.