Pete Domenici: “I rise to introduce the Biennial Budgeting and Appropriations Act, a bill to convert the budget and appropriations…”

“I rise to introduce the Biennial Budgeting and Appropriations Act, a bill to convert the budget and appropriations process to a 2-year cycle and to enhance oversight of Federal programs. One of the greatest challenges facing the 105th Congress and President Clinton is to balance the Federal budget by 2002 and maintain balance through the next century when we will need to confront the very serious fiscal problems associated with an aging America. Balancing the Federal budget will require long-term planning, tough choices, and steadfast effort. These decisions should not be made, indeed I contend cannot be made, using the current fractionated annual budget process. Congress should now act to streamline the system by moving to a 2-year, or biennial, budget process. This is the most important reform we can enact to streamline the budget process, to make the Congress a more deliberative and effective institution, and to make us more accountable to the American people.”