§907a Suspension in Event of War or Low Growth

Summary

When the CBO issues a low-growth report, the Senate Majority Leader must — and the House Majority Leader may — introduce a specific joint resolution that says the low-growth conditions are met and pauses certain budget rules. The resolution must use a prescribed text and title and have no preamble. It is sent to the appropriate committee, which must report it to its House without changes within five days the House is in session. If the committee does not act in five days, it is automatically removed from the bill and the resolution goes on the calendar. A final vote must occur by the close of the fifth calendar day after the resolution is reported or the committee is discharged. If one House gets the same resolution from the other House before it votes, it follows the same steps but votes on the other House’s version. In the Senate the resolution is privileged, cannot be reconsidered, cannot be amended, and debate is limited to five hours total (split between the majority and minority leaders), with one hour for most other debatable motions. When a declaration of war or this joint resolution becomes law, no new sequestration report or sequestration order may be issued, and certain budget-enforcement provisions are suspended — including sections 302(f), 310(d), 311(a), title VI of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, and section 1103 of title 31. If the suspension began because of a declaration of war, the suspensions end starting with the first fiscal year that begins in the session after the war is ended by the Senate’s ratification of the required treaties. If the suspension began because of the joint resolution, the suspensions end starting with the first fiscal year that begins at least 12 months after the resolution is enacted.