,i #aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #eagh ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,november #ai1 #bjai,mr4 ,burchett 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,case1 and ,mr4 ,womack7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,rules1 and in addition to the ,committee on the ,budget1 for a period to be subsequently determined by the ,speaker1 in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned ,a ,,bill ,to amend the ,congressional ,budget ,act of #aigd to provide for procedures to meet a target ratio of public debt to gross domestic product1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,reforming ,america's ,fiscal ,toolkit ,act of #bjai or the ,,raft ,act of #bjai4 #b4 ,ratio of public debt to ,,gdp included in concurrent resolution on the budget 7a7 ,in general ,section #cja7;a7 of the ,congressional ,budget ,act of #aigd is amended by striking and at the end of paragraph 7#f71 by striking the period and inserting 2 and at the end of paragraph 7#g71 and by adding after paragraph 7#g7 the following3 7#h7 the recommended ratio of the public debt to the estimated gross domestic product4 4 7b7 ,definition of gross domestic product ,section #c of the ,congressional ,budget and ,impoundment ,control ,act of #aigd is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph3 7#ab7 ,the term gross domestic product means the gross domestic product of the ,united ,states1 as determined by the ,bureau of ,economic ,analysis of the ,department of ,commerce4 4 #c4 ,instructions to committees on meeting target ratio of public debt to ,,gdp included in concurrent resolution on the budget 7a7 ,in general ,title ,,iii of the ,congressional ,budget ,act of #aigd is amended by adding at the end the following3 #caf4 ,instructions for ratio of the public debt to the estimated gross domestic product 7a7 ,in general ,a concurrent resolution on the budget for an even-numbered fiscal year shall either-- 7#a7 include instructions to one or more committees to determine and recommend changes in existing law necessary to achieve the ratio of the public debt to the estimated gross domestic product as set forth in that resolution2 or 7#b7 request that the ,speaker and the minority leader of the ,house of ,representatives and majority and minority leaders of the ,senate publish a statement in the ,congressional ,record establishing the ,joint ,select ,committee on ,fiscal ,responsibility under section #cag4 7b7 ,compliance ,the committee or committees 7as the case may be7 receiving instructions as described in subsection 7a7 shall be deemed to have complied with the required net reduction in the public debt set forth in such instructions1 as required by subsection 7a71 if-- 7#a7 the amount of changes are not less than #hj percent of the total amount of changes assigned to the committee or committees 7as the case may be7 in such instructions necessary to achieve the reduction in the debt2 and 7#b7 the chair of the ,committees on the ,budget of the ,house of ,representatives or the ,senate1 as applicable1 submits a statement to the ,congressional ,record certifying that paragraph 7#a7 has been complied with4 7c7 ,failure ,to comply ,the ,committee on the ,budget of the ,house of ,representatives or the ,senate shall recommend changes in existing law necessary to achieve changes specified by directives described in subsection 7a7 contained in a concurrent resolution on the budget if a minority of the committees so instructed fail to submit recommended changes to its ,committee on the ,budget pursuant to its instruction4 7d7 ,,cbo estimates ,the ,congressional ,budget ,office shall provide estimates of the legislative text considered under this section in accordance with sections #cjh7;a7 and #bja7;f74 7e7 ,legislative procedure ,if a concurrent resolution containing directives to one or more committees to determine and recommend changes in laws1 bills1 or resolutions is agreed to in accordance with subsection 7a71 and-- 7#a7 only one committee of the ,house or the ,senate is directed to determine and recommend changes1 that committee shall promptly make such determination and recommendations and report to its ,house legislation containing such recommendations2 or 7#b7 more than one committee of the ,house or the ,senate is directed to determine and recommend changes1 each such committee so directed shall promptly make such determination and recommendations and submit such recommendations to the ,committee on the ,budget of its ,house1 which upon receiving all such recommendations1 shall report to its ,house legislation carrying out all such recommendations4 7f7 ,expedited consideration in the ,senate 7#a7 ,motion to proceed ,notwithstanding ,rule ,,xxii of the ,standing ,rules of the ,senate1 it is in order1 not later than #c days of session after the date on which a bill is reported pursuant to subsection 7e7 from all committees to which it was referred1 for the majority leader of the ,senate or the majority leader's designee to move to proceed to the consideration of the bill4 ,it shall also be in order for any ,member of the ,senate to move to proceed to the consideration of the bill at any time after the conclusion of such #b-;day period4 ,a motion to proceed is in order even though a previous motion to the same effect has been disagreed to4 ,all points of order against the motion to proceed to the bill are waived4 ,the motion to proceed is not debatable4 ,the motion is not subject to a motion to postpone4 ,a motion to reconsider the vote by which the motion is agreed to or disagreed to shall not be in order4 ,if a motion to proceed to the consideration of the bill is agreed to1 the bill shall remain the unfinished business until disposed of4 7#b7 ,consideration ,all points of order against the bill and against consideration of the bill are waived4 ,consideration of the bill and of all debatable motions and appeals in connection therewith shall not exceed a total of #bj hours which shall be divided equally between the majority and minority leaders or their designees4 ,a motion further to limit debate on the bill is in order1 shall require an affirmative vote of three-fifths of the ,members duly chosen and sworn1 and is not debatable4 ,any debatable motion or appeal is debatable for not to exceed #a hour1 to be divided equally between those favoring and those opposing the motion or appeal4 ,all time used for consideration of the bill1 including time used for quorum calls and voting1 shall be counted against the total #bj hours of consideration4 7#c7 ,amendments ,it shall not be in order in the ,senate to offer any amendments4 7#d7 ,vote on passage ,passage of the bill shall require an affirmative vote of a simple majority of the ,members1 duly chosen and sworn4 7#e7 ,rulings of the chair on procedure ,appeals from the decisions of the ,chair relating to the application of the rules of the ,senate1 as the case may be1 to the procedure relating to a bill shall be decided without debate4 7g7 ,consideration by the ,senate 7#a7 ,in general ,if1 before passing the bill under this section1 the ,senate receives from the ,house of ,representatives a bill-- 7,a7 the bill of the ,house shall not be referred to a committee of jurisdiction2 and 7,b7 the procedure in the ,senate shall be the same as if no bill had been received from the ,house until the vote on passage1 when the bill received from the ,house shall supplant the bill of the ,senate4 7#b7 ,rules to coordinate action 7,a7 ,treatment of bill ,if the ,senate fails to introduce or consider a bill under this section1 the bill of the ,house of ,representatives shall be entitled to expedited floor procedures4 7,b7 ,vetoes ,if the ,president vetoes the bill1 debate on a veto message in the ,senate under this section shall be #a hour equally divided between the majority and minority leaders or their designees4 #cag4 ,joint ,select ,committee on ,fiscal ,responsibility 7a7 ,establishment ,if by the earlier of the date that a statement is published under section #caf7;a77#b7 or the date that is the last day of the first session of any ,congress 7beginning with the ,one ,hundred ,seventeenth ,congress7 a bill is not enacted into law pursuant to section #caf1 there is established a joint committee of ,congress to be known as the ,joint ,select ,committee on ,fiscal ,responsibility4 7b7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,joint committee ,the term joint committee means the ,joint ,select ,committee on ,fiscal ,responsibility established under subsection 7a74 7#b7 ,joint committee bill ,the term joint committee bill means a bill consisting of the legislative text of the joint committee recommended under subsection 7d77#a77;,b74 7c7 ,duties2 compliance2 recommendations 7#a7 ,duties ,the duty of the joint committee shall be to recommend changes in existing law to achieve the ratio of the public debt to the estimated gross domestic product in the most recently adopted concurrent resolution on the budget4 7#b7 ,compliance ,the joint committee shall be deemed to have complied with the required net reduction in the public debt set forth in the instructions in the most recently adopted concurrent resolution on the budget1 as required by section #caf of the ,congressional ,budget ,act of #aigd 7as added by section #cja7;b77#a77-- 7,a7 if the amount of changes are not less than #hj percent of the total amount of changes necessary to achieve the reduction in the debt2 and 7,b7 the chairs of the ,committees on the ,budget of the ,house of ,representatives and the ,senate jointly submit a statement to the ,congressional ,record certifying that subparagraph 7,a7 has been complied with4 7d7 ,report1 recommendations1 and legislative text 7#a7 ,in general ,by ,april #cj of an odd-numbered year1 the joint committee shall vote on-- 7,a7 a report that contains a detailed statement of the findings1 conclusions1 and recommendations of the joint committee and an estimate of the ,congressional ,budget ,office pursuant to paragraph 7#f72 and 7,b7 legislative text to carry out such recommendations as described in the duties set forth in subsection 7c77#a74 7#b7 ,approval ,the report of the joint committee and the legislative text described in paragraph 7#a7 shall only be approved upon receiving the votes of-- 7,a7 a majority of joint committee members appointed by the ,speaker of the ,house of ,representatives and the leader of the ,senate of the same political party as the ,speaker2 and 7,b7 a majority of joint committee members appointed by the minority leader of the ,house of ,representatives and the leader of the ,senate of the same political party as the minority leader of the ,house of ,representatives4 7#c7 ,additional views ,a member of the joint committee who gives notice of an intention to file supplemental1 minority1 or additional views at the time of the final joint committee vote on the approval of the report and legislative language under paragraph 7#b7 shall be entitled to #b calendar days after the day of such notice in which to file such views in writing with the co-chairs4 ,such views shall then be included in the joint committee report and printed in the same volume1 or part thereof1 and their inclusion shall be noted on the cover of the report4 ,in the absence of timely notice1 the joint committee report may be printed and transmitted immediately without such views4 7#d7 ,transmission of report and legislative text ,if the report and legislative text are approved by the joint committee pursuant to paragraph 7#b71 then not later than #aj days after the date of such approval1 the joint committee shall submit its report and legislative text described in paragraph 7#a7 to the ,speaker of the ,house of ,representatives and the majority and minority leaders of each ,house of ,congress4 7#e7 ,report and legislative language to be made public ,upon the approval or disapproval of the joint committee report and legislative text pursuant to paragraph 7#b71 the joint committee shall promptly make the full report and legislative text1 and a record of the vote1 available to the public4 7#f7 ,,cbo estimates ,the ,congressional ,budget ,office shall provide estimates of the legislative text considered under paragraph 7#a7 in accordance with sections #cjh7;a7 and #bja7;f74 7#g7 ,legislative procedure ,the procedures under section #caf shall apply to any legislative text submitted under paragraph 7#a71 except that subsection 7f77#d7 of such section shall be applied by substituting three-fifths for a simple majority4 7e7 ,membership 7#a7 ,in general ,the joint committee shall be composed of #af members appointed pursuant to paragraph 7#b74 7#b7 ,appointment ,members of the joint committee shall be as follows3 7,a7 ,four members from among ,members of the ,senate1 of which one shall be a member of the ,committee on ,finance and one shall be a member of the ,committee on the ,budget1 appointed by the majority leader of the ,senate4 7,b7 ,four members from among ,members of the ,senate1 of which one shall be a member of the ,committee on ,finance and one shall be a member of the ,committee on the ,budget1 appointed by the minority leader of the ,senate4 7,c7 ,four members from among ,members of the ,house of ,representatives1 of which one shall be a member of the ,committee on ,ways and ,means and one shall be a member of the ,committee on the ,budget1 appointed by the ,speaker of the ,house of ,representatives4 7,d7 ,four members from among ,members of the ,house of ,representatives1 of which one shall be a member of the ,committee on ,ways and ,means and one shall be a member of the ,committee on the ,budget1 appointed by the ,speaker of the ,house of ,representatives after consultation with the minority leader of the ,house of ,representatives4 7#c7 ,deadline ,members of the joint committee shall be appointed not later than #ae calendar days after the date of the establishment of the joint committee under this section4 ,any vacancy occurring in the membership of the joint committee shall be filled in the same manner in which the original appointment was made4 7#d7 ,co-chairs ,two of the appointed members of the joint committee will serve as co-chairs1 one of which shall be a member of the ,house of ,representatives and one of which shall be a member of the ,senate4 ,one co-chair shall be appointed by the ,speaker of the ,house of ,representatives and the leader in the ,senate of the same political party as the ,speaker4 ,the other co-chair shall be appointed by the minority leader of the ,house of ,representatives and the leader in the ,senate of the same political party as the minority leader of the ,house4 ,the co-chairs shall be appointed not later than #ad calendar days after the members of the joint committee are appointed under this subsection4 7#e7 ,vacancies ,any vacancy in the joint committee shall not affect its powers1 but shall be filled not later than #ad calendar days after the date on which the vacancy occurs1 in the same manner as the original appointment was made4 ,if a member of the joint committee ceases to be a ,member of the ,house of ,representatives or the ,senate1 as the case may be1 the member is no longer a member of the joint committee and a vacancy shall exist4 7f7 ,hearings and meetings 7#a7 ,in general ,the joint committee may1 for the purpose of carrying out this section1 hold such hearings and meetings1 sit and act at such times and places1 require attendance of witnesses and production of books1 papers1 and documents1 take such testimony1 receive such evidence1 and administer such oaths as the joint committee considers advisable4 7#b7 ,hearing and meeting procedures and responsibilities of co-chairs 7,a7 ,hearings ,the co-chairs of the joint committee shall make a public announcement of the date1 place1 time1 and subject matter of any hearing to be conducted1 not less than #g days in advance of such hearing1 unless the co-chairs determine that there is good cause to begin such hearing at an earlier date4 7i7 ,equal representation of witnesses ,each co-chair shall be entitled to select an equal number of witnesses for each hearing held by the joint committee4 7ii7 ,written statement ,a witness appearing before the joint committee shall file a written statement of proposed testimony at least #b calendar days before the appearance of the witness1 unless the requirement is waived by the co-chairs1 following their determination that there is good cause for failure to comply with such requirement4 7,b7 ,meetings ,the co-chairs of the joint committee shall make a public announcement of the date1 place1 and time of any public meeting to be held1 not less than #dh hours in advance of that meeting4 7#c7 ,member involvement ,if the co-chairs are unable to agree on a date1 place1 time1 or subject matter with respect to a hearing or meeting1 a majority of the members of the joint committee may decide 7in writing7 such issue and notify all such members of the decision4 7g7 ,technical assistance ,upon written request of the co-chairs1 a ,federal agency1 including legislative branch agencies1 shall provide technical assistance to the joint committee in order for the joint committee to carry out its duties4 7h7 ,staffing ,to enable the joint committee to carry out the purposes of this section1 the joint committee shall use the services of existing staff of the ,house of ,representatives and the ,senate4 7i7 ,expenses ,expenses of the joint committee shall be paid from-- 7#a7 the applicable accounts of the ,house of ,representatives upon vouchers signed by the co-chair of the joint committee who is appointed by the ,speaker2 and 7#b7 the contingent fund of the ,senate from the appropriations account ,miscellaneous ,items1 subject to the rules and regulations of the ,senate4 7j7 ,termination ,the joint committee shall cease to exist #cj days after legislative text is submitted under subsection 7d77#a74 4 7b7 ,clerical amendment ,the table of contents set forth in section #a7;b7 of the ,congressional ,budget and ,impoundment ,control ,act of #aigd 7#b ,u4,s4,c4 #fba note7 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section #cae the following new items3 #caf4 ,instructions for ratio of the public debt to the estimated gross domestic product4 #cag4 ,joint ,select ,committee on ,fiscal ,responsibility4 4