03.07.16

Senate Budget Committee Postpones Action on FY 17 Budget Resolution

WASHINGTON D.C. – Senator Mike Enzi (R-WY), Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, announced today that the committee will postpone possible action on the FY 2017 budget resolution this month, but that discussions will continue on a path forward for the fiscal blueprint.

“The Senate Budget Committee will continue to discuss the budget as well as improvements to the budget process that would increase fiscal honesty, stability in government operations and the ability to help govern our nation,” said Chairman Enzi.  “The Senate already has top-line numbers and budget enforcement features available this year so that a regular order appropriations process can move forward while we continue to discuss broader budget challenges.” 

Last fall, Congress approved the Bipartisan Budget Act (BBA) of 2015, containing authority for the Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee to enforce the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 and points of order. This language names the topline spending numbers agreed to in the BBA and allows the Senate Appropriations Committee to begin its work on annual spending bills. The language can be filed anytime between April 15, 2016, and May 15, 2016.

The BBA filing does not preempt Senate consideration of a budget resolution. Under the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, a House-passed budget resolution can be placed directly on the Senate calendar after April 1.

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