Democratic Amendments Offered to FY 2012 Budget at House Budget Committee Markup

Apr 6, 2011

TIER 1, AMDT NO 2

Amendment to the Chairman's Mark

Offered by Representatives Doggett, Castor, Shuler, and T. Ryan

End Off-Shoring of U.S. Jobs with a "Make it in America" Agenda that Creates Jobs, Makes the U.S. More Globally Competitive, and Reduces the Deficit

 

1.         In Title I, strike the recommended levels of revenue for FY 2012 through FY 2021, and increase the levels in billions of dollars, as follows:

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
6.000 11.000 11.500 12.000 12.000 13.000 14.000 14.000 15.500 16.000

 

2.         Increase budget authority and outlays for Function 500 by the following amounts in billions of dollars to expand access to higher education.

  2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
BA 50.000                  
Outlays 27.000 14.250 4.950 1.850 1.250 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000

 

3.         Increase budget authority and outlays for Function 400 by the following amounts in billions of dollars to expand infrastructure funding.

  2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
BA 13.000                  
Outlays 7.020 3.705 1.287 0.481 0.325 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000

 

4.         Increase budget authority and outlays for Function 250 by the following amounts in billions of dollars to expand scientific and research development.

  2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
BA 12.000                  
Outlays 6.480 3.420 1.188 0.444 0.300 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000

 

5.         In Title I, strike the Deficits for FY 2012 through FY 2021, and decrease the levels in billions of dollars, as follows:

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
0.500 5.000 5.000 5.000 4.500 5.000 6.000 5.500 6.500 7.000

 

6.         Make all necessary and conforming changes to the Chairman's mark.

7.         Amend the committee report to reflect the following policy assumptions:

 

The resolution closes corporate tax loopholes that allow companies to ship jobs, intellectual property, and profits overseas, including loopholes that allow multinational corporations to deduct interest on loans incurred to invest overseas while taxes on the profits are deferred indefinitely, and to move American intellectual property to tax havens to avoid U.S. taxes, as well as loopholes that allow Wall Street banks to avoid taxes on their overseas activities. The resolution directs some of those savings to: expand access to college education for all Americans; fund broad infrastructure investments to repair and modernize our nation's aging roads, bridges, transit systems, and ports; and enhance the capacity of our university and national laboratories. These initiatives will create jobs now while making investments that will make the U.S. even stronger and more globally competitive in the future. The resolution directs the remaining savings to deficit reduction.

 

 

TIER 1, AMDT NO 3

Amendment to the Chairman's Mark

Offered by Representatives Yarmuth, Tonko, McCollum, Castor, and Honda

Reduce the Deficit by Ending Tax Cuts for Millionaires

 

1.         In Title I, increase the recommended levels of revenue for FY 2013 through FY 2021, in billions of dollars, as follows:
 
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
15.000
20.000
30.000
35.000
40.000
45.000
50.000
55.000
60.000
 
           
 
 
2.         In Title I, decrease the amounts of deficits for FY2013 through FY2021, in billions of dollars, as follows:
 
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
15.000
20.000
30.000
35.000
40.000
45.000
50.000
55.000
60.000
           
 
 
 
3.         Make all necessary and conforming changes to the Chairman's mark.
 
4.         Amend the committee report to reflect the following policy assumptions:
 
The resolution cancels tax cuts for taxpayers with adjusted gross incomes above $1 million after calendar 2012. The resolution puts the savings to deficit reduction. At a time of record deficits when many Americans are struggling to find jobs to support their families and meet their commitments, the budget's priorities must be to pay down the deficit and ensure that the very wealthiest Americans pay their fair share.
 

 

 
Revised 4/6/11 at 11:28am
TIER 1, AMDT #4
Amendment to the Chairman's Mark
 
Offered by Representatives Schwartz,Moore, Castor, Shuler, Wasserman Schultz, and ________
 
Stop Cuts to Seniors in Nursing Homes

 

 
1.         Increase budget authority and outlays for Function 550 by the following amounts in billions of dollars to ensure that senior citizens and persons with disabilities will not lose critical financial assistance through the Medicaid program to cover the costs of nursing home care, home- and community-based services that provide seniors with better alternatives to expensive institutional care, and other important protections including assistance with premiums and out-of-pocket costs for low-income Medicare beneficiaries.
 

 

 
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
BA
1.000
13.000
45.000
63.000
73.000
82.000
102.000
112.000
131.000
150.000
Outlays
1.000
13.000
45.000
63.000
73.000
82.000
102.000
112.000
131.000
150.000

 

 
 
 

 

2.         Adjust the aggregate levels of revenue by amounts equal to the foregoing outlay changes in paragraph 1, reflecting the reduction or elimination of: 1) the Section 199 deduction for domestic production activities for the major integrated oil companies; 2) egregious tax earmarks such as tax deductions for corporate jets; 3) loopholes in our international corporate tax system that encourage the outsourcing of production and result in fewer American jobs to support the middle class; or 4) additional tax cuts for those with adjusted gross incomes above $250,000 annually.
 
3.         Make all necessary and conforming changes to the Chairman's mark.
 
4.         Amend the committee report to reflect the following policy assumptions:
 
The resolution rejects policies favoring tax cuts for the wealthiest members of our society at the expense of protecting access to long-term care and other critical health care services for senior citizens, persons with disabilities, low-income children and their families, and other vulnerable groups of people who rely on the health care safety net provided by Medicaid.
 
The resolution rejects any policy that would cut long-term care benefits for seniors and persons with disabilities, and it assumes that state governments should not cut long-term care for seniors as a way to control Medicaid spending. The resolution further rejects any policy that would sever the connection between Medicaid funding and the actual costs of necessary services used by seniors, persons with disabilities, and low-income children and families, including policies to convert Medicaid into a block grant or to impose a federal cap on Medicaid funding. Such policies do not represent reform, as they do nothing to reduce health costs. Rather, such policies would inevitably lead to a dramatic cut in health care support for people who depend on Medicaid, imposing serious financial hardship on them and their families. Seniors and persons with disabilities would be at particular risk of hardship, since they account for 25 percent of Medicaid beneficiaries but two-thirds of spending, and would therefore be a likely focus of service cuts to comply with a capped funding level. Much of the spending for seniors and persons with disabilities is for long-term care. Medicaid pays for nearly half (43 percent) of all long-term care provided in the United States, including nursing homes as well as home- and community-based supports that many seniors need and want as an alternative to expensive institutional care. At least 70 percent of persons over age 65 will likely need long-term care services at some point. 
 
 
The resolution accommodates the level of health care funding necessary to protect long-term care services for seniors and persons with disabilities, along with important health services for low-income children and other groups helped by Medicaid, by reducing or eliminating the following: the Section 199 deduction for domestic production activities for the major integrated oil companies; egregious tax earmarks such as tax deductions for corporate jets; loopholes in our international corporate tax system that encourage the outsourcing of production and result in fewer American jobs to support the middle class; and additional tax cuts for those with adjusted gross incomes above $250,000 annually.
 
 

 

 
REVISED 4-06-11 2:10 P.M.
 
TIER1
 
AMDT NO 5
Amendment to the Chairman's Mark
 
Offered by Representatives T. Ryan, McCollum, and Castor
 
Protect Working Americans
 

 

1.                  At the end of Title ___, add the following:
 
"Sense of the House Rejecting Any Tax Increases on Working Families"
 
(a) The House finds that---
 
(1)   American families lost ground during the 2000s as median incomes slipped 4.9 percent in real terms between 2000 and 2009. 
 
(2)   According to a 2010 analysis by the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO), in 2007 the share of all after-tax income in the economy going to the top 1 percent attained its highest level (17.1 percent) since 1979, while the share going to the middle one-fifth of Americans shrank to its lowest level during this period (14.1 percent).
 
(3)   According to CBO, between 1979 and 2007 average after-tax incomes for the top 1 percent rose by 281 percent after adjusting for inflation — an increase in income of $973,100 per household — compared with increases of 25 percent for the middle fifth of households and 16 percent for the bottom fifth. 
 
 
(b) It is the sense of that House that this resolution should not allow taxes to be raised on any individual with adjusted gross income below $200,000 or any married couple with adjusted gross income below $250,000. Raising taxes on working families while slashing spending on the services that benefit them – all for the purpose of continuing to provide millionaires with hundreds of billions in tax cuts – will have serious negative effects, including the following:
 
(1)   Unduly burdening the finances of working families, making it even harder for them to make ends meet.
 
(2)   Reducing consumer spending, which will greatly weaken economic growth and cost the economy millions of jobs over the coming years.
 
(3)   Weakening or eliminating incentives in the tax code that promote work and family, resulting in diminished levels of employment – particularly in the lower rungs of the economic ladder – and worse economic outcomes for child-raising.
 
(4)   Weakening or eliminating incentives in the tax code that promote homeownership and home retention, hurting all homeowners and kicking the housing industry when it is already so far down.
 
(5)   Threatening employer-sponsored health insurance coverage by weakening or eliminating the exclusion of employer contributions for medical insurance premiums and medical care.
 
(6)   Making the tax code more regressive and further widening the income gap between the wealthiest households and the middle class.
 
 
2.         Amend the committee report to reflect the following policy assumptions:
 
The resolution would not allow taxes to be raised on any individual with adjusted gross income below $200,000 or any married couple with adjusted gross income below $250,000.
 

 

 
TIER 1, AMDT NO 6 – updated 06/04/2011 10:34 AM
 
Amendment to the Chairman's Mark
 
Offered by Representatives Tonko, Pascrell, Moore, Castor, Schwartz, and ________
 
Protect health care for seniors, military servicemembers and their families, and veterans
 

 

2.                  At the end of Title ___, add the following:
 
"Sec.___. Sense of the House on saving health care for seniors, military, and veterans
 
(a) The House finds that---
 
(1)    Senior citizens and persons with disabilities highly value the Medicare program and rely on Medicare to guarantee their health security; and
 
(2)   Active duty military servicemembers and their families value the high-quality health care they receive through Tricare and other programs run by the Defense Department, and veterans rely on the health service network run by the Department of Veterans Affairs to address their unique health needs.
 
(b) It is the sense of that House that the Congress should reject legislation that protects  tax cuts for the wealthy and special interests while shifting health care costs onto seniors through a policy to replace Medicare with vouchers or premium support for the purchase of private insurance; or by damaging the excellent care provided to the men and women who are serving and who have served the country in uniform; and that any future health care legislation that eliminates quality federal health care programs and either replaces them with vouchers or premium support for the purchase of private insurance or that sets caps on federal health care spending shall exclude programs for seniors, military service members and their families, and veterans.
 
2.         Amend the committee report to reflect the following policy assumptions:
 
The resolution expresses the sense of the House that quality health care programs for seniors, members of the military and their families, and veterans should be protected, and should be excluded from any legislation that either eliminates these health programs and replaces them with vouchers for the purchase of private insurance or that sets caps on spending for these programs.
 
 

 

 
Revised 06/04/2011 11:13 AM
TIER 1, AMDT #7
 
Amendment to the Chairman's Mark
 
Offered by Reps. Honda,McCollum, Pascrell, Moore, Castor, Shuler, and Tonko
 
Stop Cuts to Elementary and Secondary Education
and to Head Start

 

 
1.         Increase budget authority and outlays for Function 500 by the following amounts in billions of dollars to block any cuts to federally funded education services to elementary and secondary students and to Head Start.
 

 

 
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
BA
4.329
 
 
 
 
Outlays
2.338
1.234
0.429
0.160
0.108

 

 
 

 

2.         Adjust the aggregate levels of revenue by amounts equal to the foregoing outlay changes in paragraph 1, reflecting the reduction or elimination of: 1) the Section 199 deduction for domestic production activities for the major integrated oil companies; 2) egregious tax earmarks such as tax deductions for corporate jets; 3) loopholes in our international corporate tax system that encourage the outsourcing of production and result in fewer American jobs to support the middle class; or 4) additional tax cuts for those with adjusted gross incomes above $1 million annually.
 
3.         Make all necessary and conforming changes to the Chairman's mark.
 
4.         Amend the committee report to reflect the following policy assumptions:
 
The resolution provides sufficient funding to block all cuts below the 2010 level to federal funding elementary and secondary education services and for Head Start. Federal funding for Head Start and for K-12 education not only bolsters student achievement but supports tens of thousands of teaching jobs that are in jeopardy due to the recession's impact on state and local budgets. For example, Title I (Education for the Disadvantaged) supports several hundred thousand jobs helping to teach 20 million students in more than 90 percent of all school districts across the country. Special education funding under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act helps ensure that the nearly 7 million children with disabilities have access to high quality public education.   In addition, Head Start employs 228,000 people working hard to ensure that almost 1 million low-income children enter school ready to learn and succeed.
 
The resolution accommodates this necessary level of education funding by reducing or eliminating the following: the Section 199 deduction for domestic production activities for the major integrated oil companies; egregious tax earmarks such as tax deductions for corporate jets; loopholes in our international corporate tax system that encourage the outsourcing of production and result in fewer American jobs to support the middle class; and additional tax cuts for those with adjusted gross incomes above $1 million annually.
 
 

 

 
Revised 06/04/2011 11:15 AM
TIER 1, AMDT 8
 
Amendment to the Chairman's Mark
 
Offered by Representatives Wasserman Schultz, McCollum, Yarmuth, Castor, Schwartz, Shuler, Honda, and ________
 
Stop Cuts to Research for Cures for Cancer, Stroke, Diabetes, Heart Disease, and other Illnesses at the National Institutes for Health

 

 
1.         Increase budget authority and outlays for Function 550 by the following amounts in billions of dollars to ensure that this resolution does not require or assume any cuts to research for cures to cancer, stroke, diabetes, heart disease, and all of the other illnesses that is being conducted by the National Institutes for Health.
 

 

 
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
BA
1.629
 
 
 
 
Outlays
0.880
0.464
0.161
0.060
0.041

 

 

 

2.         Adjust the aggregate levels of revenue by amounts equal to the foregoing outlay changes in paragraph 1, reflecting the reduction or elimination of: 1) the Section 199 deduction for domestic production activities for the major integrated oil companies; 2) egregious tax earmarks such as tax deductions for corporate jets; 3) loopholes in our international corporate tax system that encourage the outsourcing of production and result in fewer American jobs to support the middle class; or 4) additional tax cuts for those with adjusted gross incomes above $1 million annually.
 
3.         Make all necessary and conforming changes to the Chairman's mark.
 
4.         Amend the committee report to reflect the following policy assumptions:
 
The resolution blocks all cuts to the life-saving research into the cures for cancer, stroke, diabetes, heart disease, and other illnesses that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is sponsoring. NIH research prolongs life, reduces disability, and strengthens the economy. It is the largest single source of biomedical research, not only in the United States but in the world. The results of its research continue to develop new treatments to a wide range of illnesses and diseases, revolutionizing patient care and reducing health care costs. The important research into the cures of the illnesses that plague us also contributes to economic growth, producing well-paying jobs for individuals, bringing intellectual and economic growth to communities across America, and helping to keep the United States globally competitive.  Boom and bust cycles are wasteful and inefficient strategies for funding science. Sustained, predictable funding for research will maximize the return on this investment in our nation's future.
 
The resolution accommodates this necessary level of funding for life-saving health research by reducing or eliminating the following: the Section 199 deduction for domestic production activities for the major integrated oil companies; egregious tax earmarks such as tax deductions for corporate jets; loopholes in our international corporate tax system that encourage the outsourcing of production and result in fewer American jobs to support the middle class; and additional tax cuts for those with adjusted gross incomes above $1 million annually.

 

 
Revised 4/6/2011 11:18 AM
TIER 1, AMDT #9
 
Amendment to the Chairman's Mark
 
Offered by Representatives McCollum, Pascrell, Moore, Castor, Honda, and _____
 
Stop Cuts that Jeopardize Safety of Our Food Supply

 

 
1.         Increase budget authority and outlays for Function 550 by the following amounts in billions of dollars to ensure that the government will be able to protect the safety of the nation's food supply.
 

 

 
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
BA
0.628
 
 
 
 
Outlays
0.339
0.179
0.062
0.023
0.016

 

 
 

 

2.         Adjust the aggregate levels of revenue by amounts equal to the foregoing outlay changes in paragraph 1, reflecting the reduction or elimination of: 1) the Section 199 deduction for domestic production activities for the major integrated oil companies; 2) egregious tax earmarks such as tax deductions for corporate jets; 3) loopholes in our international corporate tax system that encourage the outsourcing of production and result in fewer American jobs to support the middle class; or 4) additional tax cuts for those with adjusted gross incomes above $1 million annually.
 
3.         Make all necessary and conforming changes to the Chairman's mark.
 
4.         Amend the committee report to reflect the following policy assumptions:
 
The resolution assumes sufficient funding for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to be able to carry out its responsibility to protect the safety of the nation's food supply.  The FDA Food Safety Modernization Act, which the President signed into law in January 2011, is historic legislation that will improve the FDA's ability to protect the public's health by Ftarimproving the safety of the nation's food supply. The law allows the FDA to focus more on prevention of food safety problems rather than merely reacting to these problems after they occur. For the first time, the FDA will have the ability to require that food manufacturers implement procedures to prevent food safety problems at their facilities. The resolution assumes a total of $1.4 billion for food safety activities, consistent with the President's 2012 budget, providing the resources necessary to fulfill the mission of improving the safety of the American food supply.
 
The resolution accommodates this necessary level of funding for food safety by reducing or eliminating the following: the Section 199 deduction for domestic production activities for the major integrated oil companies; egregious tax earmarks such as tax deductions for corporate jets; loopholes in our international corporate tax system that encourage the outsourcing of production and result in fewer American jobs to support the middle class; and additional tax cuts for those with adjusted gross incomes above $1 million annually.

 

 
Revised 4/6/2011 11:20 AM
TIER 1, AMDT #10
 
Amendment to the Chairman's Mark
 
1.    Offered by Representatives Pascrell, Tonko, McCollum, Castor, Schwartz, Shuler, and Honda
Stop Cuts to Police and Firefighters
 
1.         Increase budget authority and outlays for Function 750 by the following amounts in billions of dollars to ensure communities can keep police officers on the beat.
 
 
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
BA
0.298
 
 
 
 
 
Outlays
0.011
0.068
0.077
0.063
0.046
0.029
 

 

2.         Increase budget authority and outlays for Function 450 by the following amounts in billions of dollars to stop cuts to firefighter grants that fund veteran personnel and provide necessary equipment and training.
 
 
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
BA
0.810
 
 
 
 
 
Outlays
0.029
0.185
0.209
0.171
0.125
0.078
 
 
3.                  Adjust the aggregate levels of revenue by amounts equal to the foregoing outlay changes in paragraphs 1 and 2, reflecting the reduction or elimination of: 1) the Section 199 deduction for domestic production activities for the major integrated oil companies; 2) egregious tax earmarks such as tax deductions for corporate jets; 3) loopholes in our international corporate tax system that encourage the outsourcing of production and result in fewer American jobs to support the middle class; or 4) additional tax cuts for those with adjusted gross incomes above $1 million annually.
 
4.         Make all necessary and conforming changes to the Chairman's mark.
 
5.         Amend the committee report to reflect the following policy assumptions:
 
The resolution assumes funding no lower than $298 million for the Community Oriented Policing Services hiring program and $810 million for Firefighter Assistance Grants so that communities keep these vital first responders at the ready. These programs keep our communities safe from crime, terrorist attack, and natural disaster. Cuts to these programs would result in the laying off of thousands of firefighters and police officers, and would affect adequate training and equipment for those remaining.
 
The resolution accommodates this necessary level of funding for firefighters and police by reducing or eliminating the following: the Section 199 deduction for domestic production activities for the major integrated oil companies; egregious tax earmarks such as tax deductions for corporate jets; loopholes in our international corporate tax system that encourage the outsourcing of production and result in fewer American jobs to support the middle class; and additional tax cuts for those with adjusted gross incomes above $1 million annually.

 

 
Revised 04/06/11 11:18am
TIER II, AMDT #12
 
Amendment to the Chairman's Mark
 
Offered by Representatives Bass, McCollum, Castor, Honda and ________
 
Stop Harmful Cuts to Veterans

 

 
1.         Increase budget authority and outlays for Functions 600 and 700 by the following amounts in billions of dollars to prevent the Chairman's mark from denying an estimated 10,000 homeless veterans annually access to housing and supportive services to help rebuild their lives, and denying health care to thousands of America's veterans by failing to provide the President's requested funding as more veterans return from Iraq and Afghanistan in need of health care:
 
Function 600:
 
 
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
BA
0.075
0.075
0.075
0.075
0.075
0.075
0.075
0.075
0.075
0.075
Outlays
0.067
0.075
0.075
0.075
0.075
0.075
0.075
0.075
0.075
0.075



 

 
Function 700:
 
 
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
BA
0.000
0.726
1.214
1.676
2.072
2.294
2.418
2.592
2.772
3.083
Outlays
0.000
0.958
1.259
1.615
1.972
2.181
2.341
2.512
2.721
3.009
 
 

 

2.         Adjust the aggregate levels of revenue by amounts equal to the foregoing outlay changes in paragraph 1, reflecting the reduction or elimination of: 1) the Section 199 deduction for domestic production activities for the major integrated oil companies; 2) egregious tax earmarks such as tax deductions for corporate jets; 3) loopholes in our international corporate tax system that encourage the outsourcing of production and result in fewer American jobs to support the middle class; or 4) additional tax cuts for those with adjusted gross incomes above $1 million annually.
 
3.         Make all necessary and conforming changes to the Chairman's mark.
 
4.         Amend the committee report to reflect the following policy assumptions:
 
The resolution assumes that, in each of the years 2012-2021, the same level of funding, $75 million, is provided for supportive housing for homeless veterans as Congress appropriated for each of Fiscal Years 2008, 2009, and 2010, and that the President has requested for 2012 (Function 600). The resolution rejects the harmful elimination of this funding for 2011 that the House passed in H.R. 1, as that cut would deny 10,000 homeless veterans housing and supportive services in 2011. During 2009, an estimated 136,000 veterans spent at least one night in an emergency shelter or transitional housing program. Since 2008, the Housing and Urban Development-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing program has helped approximately 30,000 homeless veterans to rebuild their lives by providing them a rental voucher as well as case management and clinical services.
 
The resolution assumes that the same level of funding is provided for veterans' health care and other discretionary services (Function 700) as the President requested for each of Fiscal Years 2012-2021. The resolution affirms the President's request for veterans so that America's veterans will not be denied health care, particularly at a time when the number of veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan seeking health care continues to grow.
 
The resolution accommodates this necessary level of veterans funding by reducing or eliminating the following: the Section 199 deduction for domestic production activities for the major integrated oil companies; egregious tax earmarks such as tax deductions for corporate jets; loopholes in our international corporate tax system that encourage the outsourcing of production and result in fewer American jobs to support the middle class; and additional tax cuts for those with adjusted gross incomes above $1 million annually.

 

 
TIER II
 
AMDT NO 13
 
Amendment to the Chairman's Mark
 
Offered by Representative Rep. Van Hollen, on behalf of the Democratic Members of the Committee
 
Rejecting Cuts to Medicare Benefits for Seniors such as Help with Prescription Drug Costs
 

 

3.                  At the end of Title ___, add the following:
 
"Sense of the House on Rejecting Cuts to Medicare Benefits for Seniors such as Help with Prescription Drug Costs
 
(a) The House finds that---
 
(1)   The Affordable Care Act provides many important new benefits and protections for seniors, including: help with prescription drug costs, coverage of key preventive services and annual wellness visits with no co-pays or deductibles, better coordinated care for chronic diseases, expanded support for alternatives to nursing homes, and protections against abuse for nursing home residents;
(2)   The Affordable Care Act will reduce average out-of-pocket costs for senior citizens by more than $650 annually by 2019, and it will reduce average out-of-pocket costs for seniors who would otherwise fall into the Medicare prescription drug benefit's coverage gap, or "donut hole," by $3,000 by 2020 by gradually closing the coverage gap; and
(3)   Repeal of the Affordable Care Act would take away these important benefits and increase out-of-pocket costs for seniors by hundreds or thousands of dollars.
 
(b) It is the sense of that House that the important benefits for seniors provided by the Affordable Care Act – including the gradual closing of the prescription drug coverage gap, coverage of key preventive services and annual wellness visits with no co-pays or deductibles, better coordinated care for chronic diseases, expanded support for alternatives to nursing homes, and protections against abuse for nursing home residents – should not be repealed.
 
2.         Amend the committee report to reflect the following policy assumptions:
 
The resolution expresses the Sense of the House on the importance of rejecting repeal of important benefits for seniors provided by the Affordable Care Act, including the gradual closing of the prescription drug coverage gap, coverage of key preventive services and annual wellness visits with no co-pays or deductibles, better coordinated care for chronic diseases, expanded support for alternatives to nursing homes, and protections against abuse for nursing home residents. Under no circumstances does the resolution accommodate the elimination of these benefits.

 

 
TIER II
 
AMDT NO.  14
 
Amendment to the Chairman's Mark
 
Offered by Representatives Castor, Pascrell, Tonko, Moore, Schwartz, Honda, Wasserman Shultz, ________
 
Protecting Workers and Retirees from the Risks of Privatization.
 

 

4.                  At the end of Title ___, add the following:
 
"Sense of the House on Social Security Privatization
 
(a) The House finds that---
 
(4)   Social Security is America's most important retirement resource, especially for seniors, because it provides an income floor to keep them, their spouses and their survivors out of poverty during retirement – benefits earned based on their past payroll contributions;
 
(5)   In 2010, 53 million people relied on Social Security;
 
(6)   Social Security benefits are modest, with an average annual benefit for retirees of about $14,000, while the average total retirement income is only about $25,000 per year;
 
(7)   Diverting workers' payroll contributions toward private accounts undermines the social safety net by subjecting the workers' retirement decisions and income to the whims of the stock market;
 
(8)   Diverting trust fund payroll contributions toward private accounts jeopardizes Social Security because the program will not have the resources to pay full benefits to current retirees; and
 
(9)   Privatization increases federal debt because the Treasury will have to borrow additional funds from the public to pay full benefits to current retirees.
 
(b) It is the sense of that House that Social Security privatization is fiscally irresponsible and would put the retirement security of seniors at risk, and that any Social Security reform legislation shall reject partial or complete privatization of the program that includes private accounts funded by current payroll taxes.
 
 
2.         Amend the committee report to reflect the following policy assumptions:
 
The resolution assumes that any Social Security reform legislation rejects privatization proposals, because the diversion of payroll contributions and reliance on the financial markets undermines the federal budget and the social safety net.
 

 

 
TIER II, AMDT #15
 
Amendment to the Chairman's Mark
 
Offered by Representatives Blumenauer, McCollum, Castor, Honda, _______
 
Stop Cuts to Clean Transportation

 

 
1.         Increase budget authority and outlays for Function 400 by the following amounts in billions of dollars to prevent the Republican budget from denying clean transportation alternatives to families as gas prices soar.
 

 

 
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
BA
1.000
 
 
 
 
Outlays
0.540
0.285
0.099
0.037
0.025

 

 
 

 

2.         Adjust the aggregate levels of revenue by amounts equal to the foregoing outlay changes in paragraph 1, reflecting the reduction or elimination of tax subsidies for alcohol-based fuels, such as those provided under 26 U.S.C. 6426(b), or elimination of other egregious tax earmarks.
 
3.         Make all necessary and conforming changes to the Chairman's mark.
 
4.         Amend the committee report to reflect the following policy assumptions:
 
The resolution rejects $1 billion in harmful cuts to clean, innovative transportation projects approved by House Republicans in H.R. 1. That $1 billion creates jobs through the material purchases, construction and repair of transit and bus systems.   Federal funds support transportation alternatives that reduce costs to working families and businesses, reduce wear on roads, reduce congestion, and limit our dependency on foreign oil. Capital programs like New Starts will help families and workers who are struggling with $4.00 per gallon gas even before the summer "driving" season arrives. New Starts allows communities to build, improve, or expand their transit systems with light rail and bus options. 
 
The resolution accommodates this necessary level of job creating and job supporting funding by beginning to phase out the tax subsidies for alcohol-based fuels, such as the Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit (VEETC), which, since 1980 has cumulatively cost taxpayers more than $40 billion without delivering any promised environmental benefits, barely replacing any of the demand in fossil fuel, and driving up commodity costs for food producers and consumers.

 

 
Revised 4/6/11 11:19am
TIER II, AMDT 16
 
Amendment to the Chairman's Mark
 
Offered by Representatives Moore, Schwartz, Honda, Castor, _______
 
Stop Cuts to Wall Street Watchdogs and Consumer Protection

 

 
1.         Increase budget authority and outlays for Function 370 by the following amounts to stop cuts to the watchdog agencies that protect consumers' interests and that regulate Wall Street
 

 

 
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
BA
0.112
 
 
 
 
Outlays
0.060
0.032
0.011
0.004
0.003

 

 
 

 

2.         Adjust the aggregate levels of revenue by amounts equal to the foregoing outlay changes in paragraph 1, reflecting the reduction or elimination of: 1) the Section 199 deduction for domestic production activities for the major integrated oil companies; 2) egregious tax earmarks such as tax deductions for corporate jets; 3) loopholes in our international corporate tax system that encourage the outsourcing of production and result in fewer American jobs to support the middle class; or 4) additional tax cuts for those with adjusted gross incomes above $1 million annually.
 
3.         Make all necessary and conforming changes to the Chairman's mark.
 
4.         Amend the committee report to reflect the following policy assumptions:
 
The resolution rejects cuts to the financial regulatory agencies responsible for protecting the public from financial market malfeasance. It stops the funding cuts in H.R. 1 to the Securities Exchange Commission, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, and the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau because those cuts would undermine and defund the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. In particular, the new Consumer Finance Protection Bureau was created in July 2010 with the sole purpose of protecting consumers from the types of unscrupulous or indecipherable financial products that helped create the financial crisis of 2008. Any cuts in 2012 would kill the Bureau before it can come on-line.  
 
The resolution accommodates this necessary level of financial market oversight funding by reducing or eliminating the following: the Section 199 deduction for domestic production activities for the major integrated oil companies; egregious tax earmarks such as tax deductions for corporate jets; loopholes in our international corporate tax system that encourage the outsourcing of production and result in fewer American jobs to support the middle class; and additional tax cuts for those with adjusted gross incomes above $1 million annually.

 

 
TIER II, AMDT #17
 
Amendment to the Chairman's Mark
 
Offered by Representatives Kaptur, Doggett, and Honda
 
To prioritize the investigation and prosecution of financial crimes.

 

 
1.         Increase budget authority and outlays for Function 750 by the following amounts in billions of dollars to ensure that the Federal Bureau of Investigation has adequate personnel, including agents and forensic experts, to investigate corporate, securities, and mortgage fraud, and associated violations of law relating to the United States financial markets.
 

 

 
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
BA
0.250
 
 
 
 
Outlays
0.200
0.033
0.012
0.005
0.000

 

 
 

 

2.         Adjust the aggregate levels of revenue by amounts equal to the foregoing outlay changes in paragraph 1, reflecting the reduction or elimination of: 1) the Section 199 deduction for domestic production activities for the major integrated oil companies; 2) egregious tax earmarks such as tax deductions for corporate jets; 3) loopholes in our international corporate tax system that encourage the outsourcing of production and result in fewer American jobs to support the middle class; or 4) additional tax cuts for those with adjusted gross incomes above $1 million annually.
 
3.         Make all necessary and conforming changes to the Chairman's mark.
 
4.         Amend the committee report to reflect the following policy assumptions:
 
The resolution assumes that the Federal Bureau of Investigation will have adequate resources to hire and maintain adequate personnel, including agents and forensic experts, to investigate corporate, securities, and mortgage fraud, and associated violations of law relating to the United States financial markets. 
                                                                                                              
The resolution accommodates this necessary level of FBI funding by reducing or eliminating the following: the Section 199 deduction for domestic production activities for the major integrated oil companies; egregious tax earmarks such as tax deductions for corporate jets; loopholes in our international corporate tax system that encourage the outsourcing of production and result in fewer American jobs to support the middle class; and additional tax cuts for those with adjusted gross incomes above $1 million annually.

 

 
AMENDMENT TO THE CHAIRMAN'S MARK OFFERED BY MR. SHULER OF NORTH CAROLINA
At the appropriate place, insert the following new section:
SEC.___. ACHIEVING FISCAL SUSTAINABILITY.
It is a sense of the House that—
(1) this and future budget resolutions should
achieve and maintain the following benchmarks of
fiscal sustainability—
 (A) cut the national debt by $4 trillion by
FY2022, based on the national debt as of the
date of adoption of this resolution;
(B) reduce the national debt as a percent­-
age of GDP to 60 percent by 2024;
(C) return to 2008 spending levels by
FY2013;
(D) reduce the deficit to 2.3 percent of  
GDP by FY2016; and
(E) achieve deficit reduction with two-­
thirds spending cuts, one-third tax reform; and
(2) in order to maximize the reduction of over­-
all Government spending and attain long term finan-­
cial security, it is necessary that we address changes
to discretionary spending, entitlement spending, the
tax code, other mandatory spending, and potential
process reforms.

 

 
Revised 4/6/11 at 5:10pm
 
TIER II, AMDT #20
 
Amendment to the Chairman's Mark
 
Offered by Rep.Van Hollen, on behalf of the Democratic members of the Committee.
 
 
POINT OF ORDER AGAINST CONSIDERATION OF A BUDGET RESOLUTION UNTIL THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE CERTIFIES THAT SPENDING AND REVENUE LEVELS WILL NOT RESULT IN LOSS OF AMERICAN JOBS
 
 
1. At the end of the Resolution, add the following:
 
"Sec. ___. CBO Certification on Jobs ---
 
In the House, it shall not be in order to proceed to consideration of any Concurrent Resolution on the Budget unless the Congressional Budget Office certifies that enacting the spending and revenue levels contained therein will not result in a loss of American jobs in the current or budget year."
 
2.   Amend the committee report to read as follows:
 
Economists agree that Republican bill, H.R. 1, would eliminate anywhere from 200,000 to 700,000 American jobs. Before the House votes on more Republican budgetary proposals, it should be fully aware of the extent to which those proposals will reverse the country's economic recovery and lead to the loss of American jobs. The committee believes such certification is essential before the House proceeds to consider this resolution, and also wants to ensure that future budget resolutions are subject to this important review.  The House should ensure that this information is provided by the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office, so that all Members and the American people can understand the impact of the Republican budget on American jobs.
 
 
         
 
 
 

 

 
TIER II
 
AMDT NO #21
 
Amendment to the Chairman's Mark
 
Offered by Representative Van Hollen
 
Responsible Deficit Reduction should address spending for National Security Agencies
 

 

5.                  At the end of Title ___, add the following:
 
"Sec. ___. Sense of the House on a Responsible Deficit Reduction Plan Must Consider All Programs, Including those at the Pentagon and the other National Security Agencies
 
It is the sense of the House that—the nation's debt is an immense security threat to our country, just as Admiral Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has stated; the Government Accountability Office has recently issued a report documenting billions of dollars of waste and duplication at government agencies, including the Department of Defense, and the Department of Defense has never passed a clean audit; the bipartisan National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform and the bipartisan Rivlin-Domenici Debt Reduction Task Force were correct in concluding that all programs, including national security, should be "on the table" as part of a deficit reduction plan; and any budget plan serious about reducing the deficit must follow this precept to consider all programs, including national security programs, the largest segment of discretionary spending."
 
 
 

 

 
TIER3
 
AMDT NO 23
Amendment to the Chairman's Mark
 
Offered by Representative Moore
 
At the end of Title 5, add the following:
SEC. __. SENSE OF THE HOUSE REGARDING THE IMPORTANCE OF CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT.
It is the sense of the House that--
(1) additional legislative action is needed to ensure that States have the necessary resources to collect all child support that is owed to families and to allow them to pass 100 percent of support on to families without financial penalty; and
(2) when 100 percent of child support payments are passed to the child, rather than administrative expenses, program integrity is improved and child support participation increases.

 

 
TIER III, AMDT #36
 
Amendment to the Chairman's Mark
 
Offered by Representative(s) Bass and ________
 
Match the President's Budget for Veterans Discretionary Funding

 

 
1.         Increase budget authority and outlays for Function 700 by the following amounts in billions of dollars to provide the President's requested funding level for each year over the period 2012-2021, and change budget authority and outlays for Function 920 by the following amounts in billions of dollars:



 

Function 700:
 
 
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
BA
0.000
0.726
1.214
1.676
2.072
2.294
2.418
2.592
2.772
3.083
Outlays
0.000
0.958
1.259
1.615
1.972
2.181
2.341
2.512
2.721
3.009
 
Function 920:
 
 
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
BA
0.000
-0.726
-1.214
-1.676
-2.072
-2.294
-2.418
-2.592
-2.772
-3.083
Outlays
0.000
-0.958
-1.259
-1.615
-1.972
-2.181
-2.341
-2.512
-2.721
-3.009
 

 

2.         Make all necessary and conforming changes to the Chairman's mark.
 
3.         Amend the committee report to reflect the following policy assumptions:
 
The resolution matches the funding level for veterans' health care and other discretionary services in Function 700 that the President requested for each of the Fiscal Years 2012-2021.