Bill Summary
This bill aims to amend the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, specifically to eliminate the section 251A sequestrations. Sequestration was originally created as a means to force an agreement on a comprehensive deficit reduction plan, but it has not been successful in achieving this goal. The Budget Control Act of 2011 was enacted to prevent a default on federal debt obligations, but because the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction failed to recommend legislation for an additional $1.2 trillion in deficit reduction, sequestration is now mandated. This bill argues that it is no longer effective or beneficial to rely on sequestration and its damaging cuts to various programs, as it disrupts regular order, creates economic uncertainty, and hinders economic recovery. The purpose of this bill is to eliminate sequestration and provide predictability for the economy and the government. It repeals section 251A of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 and makes a conforming amendment to the table of contents.
Possible Impacts
1. If this bill is passed, people may see an increase in spending for various programs, such as national security, education, and healthcare. This could potentially benefit individuals who rely on these programs for support and access to resources.
2. The repeal of section 251A sequestrations may also lead to more stability and predictability in the economy, which could benefit businesses and individuals who are affected by economic uncertainty.
3. On the other hand, some people may be negatively affected if the bill results in budget cuts for programs that they rely on, such as public safety or housing.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2110 Introduced in House (IH)]
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116th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2110
To amend the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985
to eliminate the section 251A sequestrations, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 4, 2019
Mr. Smith of Washington (for himself, Ms. DelBene, Mr. Cardenas, Mr.
Nadler, Mr. McGovern, Mr. Van Drew, Mrs. Davis of California, Mr.
Gallego, and Ms. Slotkin) introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on the Budget
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985
to eliminate the section 251A sequestrations, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Relief From Sequestration Act of
2019''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
(1) Sequestration was designed as a forcing mechanism for
an agreement on a comprehensive deficit reduction plan. It has
failed to produce the intended results.
(2) The Budget Control Act of 2011 was enacted to avert a
default on Federal debt obligations.
(3) Because the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction
failed to recommend legislation providing an additional $1.2
trillion in deficit reduction, Federal law mandates that the
additional savings be sequestered.
(4) Congress must enact a comprehensive, deficit reduction
plan to solve the country's fiscal challenges and to promote
national security, economic stability, and the continued growth
and prosperity of the United States.
(5) It no longer makes sense to rely on sequestration as a
forcing mechanism for a balanced solution. The costs to our
Government and to the economy are too great.
(6) Under sequestration, damaging cuts would be applied,
through fiscal year 2021, to a wide variety of discretionary
spending programs to achieve $1.2 trillion in savings,
forestalling the sound planning needed for prudent and
meaningful investments in national security, the workforce,
transportation infrastructure, education, health care, public
safety, housing, innovation, small business development, and
many other facets of enduring national strength.
(7) Even the prospect of sequestration is disruptive to
regular order and to the congressional appropriations process,
and it fosters damaging economic uncertainty, while short-term
solutions only suspend the prospect and continue to undermine
the certainty needed for economic recovery.
(b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are to--
(1) eliminate sequestration resulting from the failure of
the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction; and
(2) offer the Federal Government, industry, and the
American people the predictability that economic recovery
demands.
SEC. 3. REPEAL OF SECTION 251A SEQUESTRATIONS.
(a) Repealer.--Section 251A of the Balanced Budget and Emergency
Deficit Control Act of 1985 is repealed.
(b) Conforming Amendment.--The item relating to section 251A in the
table of contents set forth in section 250(a) of the Balanced Budget
and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 is repealed.
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