Martin Sabo: “the Congressional Budget Act sets up procedures to allow the appropriations process to move forward in situations when…”

“the Congressional Budget Act sets up procedures to allow the appropriations process to move forward in situations when the budget resolution is behind schedule. I would like to inquire of the Chair whether these procedures have been followed. In particular, if the conference report on the budget resolution is not adopted by April 15, section 603 of the Budget Act directs the chairman of the Committee on the Budget to submit to the House a spending allocation to the Committee on Appropriations for the coming fiscal year. The allocation is to be based on the discretionary spending limits set by law. Its purpose is to allow the House to begin work on appropriation bills. Section 603 of the Budget Act requires this allocation to be filed as soon as practicable after April 15. When I was chairman of the Committee on the Budget, I submitted this allocation when it was required, and my predecessor, Leon Panetta, did as well. If we are to avoid running the Government on continuing resolutions again this year, it is essential that the appropriations process get started. The April 15 deadline set by the Budget Act for completion of the budget resolution passed more than a week ago, and the House markup has not even been scheduled. Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I would like to inquire whether a fiscal year 1997 spending allocation to the Committee on Appropriations has been submitted to the House as required by section 603 of the Congressional Budget Act.”