July 19, 1979
Page 19471
By Mr. MUSKIE from the Committee on the Budget, without amendment, unfavorably:
S. Res. 190. A resolution waiving section 402(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 with respect to the consideration of S. 688.
Mr. MUSKIE. Mr. President, I wish to advise the Senate that a majority of the Budget Committee has voted to report unfavorably Senate Resolution 190, waiving section 402(a) of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 with respect to consideration of S. 688, a bill to authorize appropriations to the Department of Energy for civilian programs for fiscal year 1980 and fiscal year 1981. The committee recommends that the resolution not be adopted at this time to allow additional time for consideration of the budgetary impact of all energy legislation.
The committee believes it would be more orderly for the Senate to proceed to consideration of S. 1309 after our committee has had the opportunity to review the budgetary impact of synthetic
fuel and energy supply legislation now pending in the Congress. In addition, the committee will have the opportunity to include in its considerations the comprehensive Presidential energy initiatives expected shortly.
A delay in enactment of S. 688 is not expected to impede the appropriations for ongoing Department of Energy programs since many of the activities authorized in S. 688 already are authorized in existing law.
Under all these circumstances, Mr. President, the Budget Committee voted to report Senate Resolution 190 with an unfavorable recommendation at this time. This recommendation is made without prejudice to reconsideration when the total budgetary demands for 1980 energy legislation become clear after the report, expected very soon, of the additional major energy bills now being marked up by the Energy Committee.
BUDGET COMMITTEE CONSIDERATIONS
As Senators are aware, section 402(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 provides that it shall not be in order in either the House or the Senate to consider any bill or resolution which directly or indirectly authorizes the enactment of new budget authority for a fiscal year unless that bill or resolution is reported in the House or Senate, as the case may be, on or before May 15 preceding the beginning of such fiscal year. Since S. 688 authorizes the enactment of new budget authority which would become available in fiscal year 1980, and the bill was reported after May 15, 1979, a resolution waiving section 402(a) must be adopted before the Senate can consider the bill.
Mr. President. S. 688 authorizes appropriations of $8.1 billion in fiscal year 1980 for the civilian programs of the Department of Energy, including $0.1 billion for science programs and $7.4 billion for energy supply programs. This authorization level is estimated to result in offsetting receipts from energy supply activities of $1.6 billion in fiscal year 1980. Therefore, the net authorization is approximately $6.5 billion — $0.7 billion in science programs and $5.8 billion in energy supply.
If S. 688 were enacted and fully funded, net outlays are estimated at $2.9 billion in fiscal year 1980 and $2.7 billion in fiscal years 1981-82. In conjunction with enactment and full funding of other authorization bills assumed in the budget, S. 688 could exceed the fiscal year 1980 budget targets for energy programs by $2.6 billion in budget authority and $1.6 billion in outlays.
But, Mr. President, as we are all well aware, demands for Federal dollars to achieve energy independence for the United States are much greater than this bill.
The Budget Committee recognizes that changing national priorities with respect to energy will undoubtedly require upward adjustments to the Federal budget for fiscal year 1980 and beyond.
The committee has established an energy task force and is prepared to move expeditiously and work with other committees of the Congress to review the total budgetary outlook for energy programs over the next decade. But, Mr.President, it is important to avoid a piecemeal approach to this massive and complex problem.