We've compiled what we hope is a helpful calendar of dates when legislative action is required by the debt ceiling legislation. We've focused on actions by the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction and requirements for expedited consideration of the committee's recommendations.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011. Date of Enactment of Budget Control Act
Tuesday, August 16, 2011. Co-Chairs and Committee Members Appointed
- Co-Chairs and members of the joint committee shall be appointed not later than 14 calendar days after the date of enactment of this Act.
- Not less than 7 days in advance of such hearing, the Co-Chairs of the joint committee shall make a public announcement of the date, place time and subject matter of any hearing to be conducted (unless good cause to begin such hearing at an earlier date).
- The Co-Chairs of the joint committee shall provide an agenda to the joint committee members not less than 48 hours in advance of any meeting.
- A witness appearing before the joint committee shall file a written statement of proposed testimony at least 2 calendar days before the appearance of the witness, unless the requirement is waved by the Co-Chairs.
- Not later than 45 calendar days after the date of enactment of this Act, the joint committee shall hold its first meeting.
- Not later than Friday, October 14, 2011, each committee of the House of Representatives and Senate may transmit to the joint committee its recommendations for changes in law to reduce the deficit
- At least 48 hours after a version of the report, recommendations, or legislative language has been made available to all members of the joint committee (as certified by the Co-Chairs) but not later than Wednesday, November 23, 2011, the Joint Committee shall vote on
(i) report that contains a detailed statement of the findings, conclusions, and recommendations of the joint committee and the estimate of the CBO of the legislation and the budgetary effect of the legislation beyond the year 2021.
(ii) proposed legislative language to carry out the above recommendations, including a statement of deficit reduction achieved by the legislation over the period of fiscal years 2012 to 2021.
It takes a vote by a majority of the members of the joint committee to approve the report and legislative language.
Saturday, November 26, 2011. Filing of additional views.- Within 3 calendar days of the vote of final joint committee vote on approval of the report and legislative language, members of the joint committee who have given notice may file supplemental, minority, or additional views.
- No later than Friday, December 2, 2011 the joint committee shall submit joint committee report and legislative language to the President, Vice President, Speaker of the House, and majority and minority leaders of each House -- assuming that the report and legislative language have been approved by the joint committee.
- Any committee of the House of Representatives to which the joint committee bill is referred shall report it to the House without amendment not later than Friday, December 9, 2011.
- Committees in the Senate shall report the bill without any revision and with a favorable recommendation, an unfavorable recommendation, or without recommendation, not later than Friday, December 9, 2011.
- Not later than 2 days of session after the date on which a joint committee bill is report or discharged from all committees (in the Senate) to which it was referred, the Senate majority leader (or designee) may move to proceed to consideration. Debate on the bill shall not exceed 30 hours.
- The vote on passage of the joint committee bill by the House of Representatives shall occur not later than Friday, December 23, 2011.
- If the Senate has voted to proceed to the joint committee bill, the vote on passage of the joint committee bill shall occur immediately following the conclusion of the debate on a joint committee bill, and a single quorum call at the conclusion of the debate if requested. The vote on passage of the joint committee bill shall occur not later than Friday, December 23, 2011.
- The Secretary of the Treasury may exercise authority to borrow an additional $900 billion, subject to the enactment of a joint resolution of disapproval. Upon submission of certification, the debt limit is increased by $400 billion.
- The debt limit may not be raised if, within 50 calendar days after the date on which Congress receives a certification, there is enacted into law a joint resolution disapproving the President's exercise of authority with respect to such additional amount.