Hearing of the
Subcommittee on Legislative and Budget Process
on Biennial Budgeting
Madam Chairman, thank you for convening this hearing today on biennial budgeting.
Many might quip that budget process reform is the best legislative remedy for insomnia, but in fact it is central to our very role as Members of Congress. Responsible budgeting is the single most important job of Congress, and an effective, efficient budget process is vital to accomplishing that job.
There are several important reform proposals before this and other committees, and the House will have an opportunity to debate them later in this Congress.
But in my view and the view of many of my colleagues, there is no more important reform than biennial budgeting, moving to the adoption of two-year budget and appropriation bills.
The case for biennial budgeting is solid:
- It will remove the bulk of budget and appropriations work from election years, thereby reducing runaway spending and political brinkmanship.
- It will encourage more responsible and long-term budget planning by Congress and federal agencies.
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It will significantly reduce the time wasted on routine and repetitive appropriations work for both Congress and executive agencies, thereby increasing time for better and more detailed review and oversight by Congress, and time for other substantive work by both Congress and federal agencies.
- Finally, it will provide greater budget stability for federal agencies and programs, as well as the states.
As a New Hampshire resident and a former member of the state's House and Senate, I know first hand the advantages of biennial budgeting. New Hampshire uses a biennial budget because it is a more efficient and less cumbersome process. In our experience, it reduces spending and leaves more time in the off-years for oversight of programs. The result is a smaller, leaner, more responsive and more efficient government. All Americans deserve the benefits that would result from biennial budgeting at the federal level.
I look forward to the debate on budget process reform during this Congress, and look forward to taking important steps forward such as enacting biennial budgeting.
