116th CONGRESS 1st Session |
To ensure timely completion of the concurrent resolution on the budget and regular appropriations bills, and for other purposes.
January 17, 2019
Ms. Ernst (for herself, Mr. Lankford, and Mr. Perdue) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
To ensure timely completion of the concurrent resolution on the budget and regular appropriations bills, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
This Act may be cited as the “No Budget, No Recess Act”.
Section 300 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 631) is amended—
(1) by striking “The timetable” and inserting the following:
“(a) In general.—The timetable”; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
“(1) LIMITS IN THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.—The procedures specified in paragraphs (2), (3), and (4) shall apply in the Senate and the procedures specified in paragraphs (2), (3), and (5) shall apply in the House of Representatives—
“(A) on and after April 15 of each year, if the Senate and House of Representatives have not adopted a concurrent resolution on the budget for the next fiscal year; and
“(B) on and after August 1 of each year, if the Senate and House of Representatives have not passed, individually or collectively, all the regular appropriations bills for the next fiscal year.
“(2) NO RECESS OR ADJOURNMENT.—During a period described in paragraph (1), it shall not be in order in the Senate or the House of Representatives to move to recess or to adjourn for more than 8 hours.
“(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subparagraph (B), during a period described in paragraph (1), no amounts may be obligated or expended for official travel by a Member of Congress.
“(B) RETURN TO DC.—If a Member of Congress is away from the seat of Government when a period described in paragraph (1) begins, funds may be obligated and expended for official travel by the Member of Congress to return to the seat of Government.
“(4) ADDITIONAL LIMITS IN THE SENATE.—
“(A) DETERMINATION OF PRESENCE OF A QUORUM.—Notwithstanding any provision of the Standing Rules of the Senate, in the Senate, during each day during a period described in paragraph (1), the Presiding Officer shall direct the Clerk to call the roll to ascertain the presence of a quorum—
“(i) at noon; and
“(ii) at 6:00 p.m.
“(i) IN GENERAL.—If, upon a calling of the roll under subparagraph (A), it shall be ascertained that a quorum is not present—
“(I) the Presiding Officer shall direct the Clerk to call the names of any absent Senators; and
“(II) following the calling of the names under subclause (I), the Presiding Officer shall, without intervening motion or debate, submit to the Senate by a yea-and-nay vote the question: ‘Shall the Sergeant-at-Arms be directed to request the attendance of absent Senators?’.
“(ii) DIRECTION TO COMPEL ATTENDANCE.—If a quorum is not present 30 minutes after the time at which the vote on a question submitted under clause (i)(II) starts, the Presiding Officer shall, without intervening motion or debate, submit to the Senate by a yea-and-nay vote the question: ‘Shall the Sergeant-at-Arms be directed to compel the attendance of absent Senators?’.
“(iii) ARREST OF ABSENT SENATORS.—Effective 30 minutes after the Sergeant-at-Arms is directed to compel the attendance of absent Senators under clause (ii), if any Senator not excused under rule XII of the Standing Rules of the Senate is not in attendance, the Senate shall be deemed to have agreed an order that reads as follows: ‘Ordered, That the Sergeant-at-Arms be directed to arrest absent Senators, that warrants for the arrests of all Senators not sick nor excused be issued under the signature of the Presiding Officer and attested by the Secretary, and that such warrants be executed without delay.’.
“(iv) REPORTS.—Not less frequently than once per hour during proceedings to compel the attendance of absent Senators, the Sergeant-at-Arms shall submit to the Senate a report on absent Senators, which shall—
“(I) be laid before the Senate;
“(II) identify each Senator whose absence is excused;
“(III) identify each Senator who is absent without excuse; and
“(IV) for each Senator identified under subclause (III), provide information on the current location of the Senator.
“(C) REGAINING THE FLOOR.—If a Senator had been recognized to speak at the time a call of the roll to ascertain the presence of a quorum was initiated under subparagraph (A), and if the presence of a quorum is established, that Senator shall be entitled to be recognized to speak.
“(D) NO SUSPENSION OF REQUIREMENTS.—The Presiding Officer may not entertain a request to suspend the operation of this paragraph by unanimous consent or motion.
“(E) CONSISTENCY WITH SENATE EMERGENCY PROCEDURES AND PRACTICES.—Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed in a manner that is inconsistent with S. Res. 296 (108th Congress) or any other emergency procedures or practices of the Senate.
“(5) ADDITIONAL LIMITS IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.—Notwithstanding any provision of the Rules of the House of Representatives, in the House of Representatives, during each day during a period described in paragraph (1), each Member of the House of Representatives shall record his or her presence for purposes of establishing a quorum at noon and 6:00 p.m.
“(6) NO WAIVER.—Notwithstanding section 904(b), paragraphs (2), (3), (4), and (5) of this subsection may not be waived or suspended in the Senate or the House of Representatives.
“(7) PERMANENT LAW.—Notwithstanding section 904(a), paragraph (3) of this subsection is not enacted as an exercise of the rulemaking power of the Senate or the House of Representatives.”.
SEC. 3. Completion of House action on regular appropriations bills.
Section 309 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 640) is amended by inserting “or August” after “July”.