September 5, 1979
Page 22885
Mr. MUSKIE. Mr. President, this seemed to be an opportune time to present the Budget Committee's statement on the pending measure. Perhaps it will create the impression in the offices, if they are tuned in, that action on the bill is underway, and we might be able to get things moving.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Who yields time?
Mr. CHILES. I yield the Senator from Maine such time as he may need.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Maine is recognized.
Mr. MUSKIE. Mr. President, the Senate has before it H.R. 4393, which provides fiscal year 1980 appropriations for the Treasury Department, Postal Service, Executive Office, and Independent
Agencies. I want to take a few moments to comment on the relationship of this bill to the first budget resolution. Before I do, however; let me say that I support the bill. I congratulate the chairman of the subcommittee, Senator CHILES, and the ranking minority member, Senator SCHMITT, as well as the full Appropriations Committee, for reporting this fiscally responsible legislation.
Mr. President, the bill as reported provides $8.8 billion in new budget authority. Outlays associated with the bill total $8.4 billion.
Under section 302(b) of the Budget Act, the Appropriations Committee divides among its subcommittees the total budget authority and outlays allocated to the committee under the first budget resolution. The Appropriations Committee has allocated $9.3 billion in budget authority and $9.2 billion in outlays to the Treasury/Postal Service Subcommittee.
The funds provided by H.R. 4393 as reported, plus action already completed, put the subcommittee $0.5 billion under its 302(b) budget authority and $0.4 billion under its outlay allocations. But I would call your attention to the fact that possible later requirements known at this time are expected to boost the subcommittee above its present allocation by $0.1 billion in budget authority and outlays.
I ask unanimous consent that a table showing the relationship of this bill and possible later requirements to the subcommittee allocation be printed in the RECORD.
There being no objection, the table was ordered to be printed in the RECORD, as follows:
[Table omitted]
Mr. MUSKIE. Mr. President, I think it is important to remind the Senate of the point I have made on previous fiscal 1980 appropriations bills that have been before us. It appears that the full Appropriations Committee may exceed the amount allocated to it under the first budget resolution when all the regular appropriation bills and expected supplemental requirements are taken into account.
These appropriations excesses could increase the fiscal 1980 deficit, and, in fact, combined with the apparent economic slowdown threaten to drive the fiscal 1980 deficit higher than fiscal 1979. The reconciliation recommendation contained in the second resolution is the Budget Committee's solution to this threat of a higher deficit.
As reported, the second resolution compares to this subcommittee bill in exactly the same fashion, and considerable restraint will be necessary for the Senate to stay within the Budget Committee's recommendation. The further effect on this subcommittee of the reconciliation recommendation is still uncertain.
Senator CHILES has been one of the strongest supporters of the budget process, and voted in support of the committee's recommendations for the second resolution. I am confident that he will continue that support.
I congratulate the Senator on his foresight in staying under the section 302(b) allocation to provide room for possible later requirements. However, I am concerned that reductions in the possible later requirements associated with this bill will be difficult to achieve. I am aware that possible later requirements include funding for the pay raise, the payment to the civil service retirement and disability fund, and the purchase of materials for the strategic stockpile, the authorization for which has not yet been reported by the Armed Services Committee. At this time, it is also not forseeable what the effect of the reconciliation recommendation of the second concurrent resolution will be on this subcommittee, because the Appropriations Committee's own allocation of the savings assumed has yet to be made. Consequently, there does appear to be some flexibility and uncertainty regarding further actions.
Therefore, I ask the Senator from Florida if he can be more specific as to how his subcommittee intends to stay within its section 302(b) allocation.
Mr. CHILES. I thank the distinguished Senator for his kind remarks and attempt to respond to his question. The bill as reported is more than $450 million under the allocation from both the first and second concurrent resolutions. This should be an adequate amount to cover the pay raise which is the one mandatory item for the remainder of fiscal year 1980 for this bill. Other possible funding items are neither certain at this time nor would they be mandatory in any case. It is fair to say, however, that any additional supplementals for this bill, other than the pay raise, will have very slim chances and would almost certainly have to be accompanied by offsetting reductions, as I intend to recommend and advance all actions that I possibly can to stay within our allocations.
The point that the Senator made in regard to the reconciliation is the one thing that at this stage of the game, not knowing what the allocations are going to be from the savings by the full committee, I cannot entirely answer other than to say that the subcommittee is going to try to see that any share that is given to us of those savings we try to meet those savings from the best means at our disposal.
Mr. MUSKIE. Mr. President, I appreciate that reply which comes as no surprise. I have come to expect that kind of fiscal restraint from the distinguished floor manager of the bill and it is because he is in charge, so to speak, that I am willing to support the bill in its present form and in its present form I reemphasize what both of us have said; that it is around $450 million below the 302(b) allocation in budget authority and around $0.4 billion below in outlays.
I thank the Senator.