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                                                   Order Code RL33295




                  CRS Report for Congress
                                      Received through the CRS Web




                      Comparison of Selected Senate
                         Earmark Reform Proposals




                                                     March 6, 2006




                                                  Sandy Streeter
                        Analyst in American National Government
                                Government and Finance Division




Congressional Research Service ~ The Library of Congress
     Comparison of Selected Senate Earmark Reform
                       Proposals

Summary
      In response to reports of, and concern over, alleged irregularities in certain
lobbying and representational activities, the Senate is considering various lobby and
ethics reform proposals. Some have argued that the Senate should consider changes
to the process by which the Senate earmarks spending priorities as a part of the larger
focus on lobby and ethics reform.

      Proposals to modify the earmark processes have been included in some Senate
bills. On February 28, 2006, for example, the Senate Committee on Rules and
Administration ordered reported S. 2349, Legislative Transparency and
Accountability Act of 2006, which includes, in part, such proposed changes. In
addition, provisions in both S. 2261 and S. 2265, sponsored by Senator Barack
Obama and Senator John McCain, respectively, would also make changes in the
earmark process.

     This report provides a comparison of these three measures: S. 2349, S. 2261,
and S. 2265 with the current Senate rules and practices.

     This report will be updated to reflect any congressional action.
Contents
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1


List of Tables
Table 1. Comparison of Selected Senate Earmark Reform Proposals . . . . . . . . . . 2
   Comparison of Selected Senate Earmark
            Reform Proposals

                                 Introduction
      In response to reports of, and concern over, alleged irregularities in certain
lobbying and representational activities, the Senate is considering various lobby and
ethics reform proposals. Some have argued that the Senate should consider changes
to the process by which the Senate earmarks spending priorities as a part of the larger
focus on lobby and ethics reform.

      Proposals to modify the earmark processes have been included in some Senate
bills. On February 28, 2006, for example, the Senate Committee on Rules and
Administration ordered reported S. 2349, Legislative Transparency and
Accountability Act of 2006, which includes, in part, such proposed changes. In
addition, provisions in both S. 2261 and S. 2265, sponsored by Senator Barack
Obama and Senator John McCain, respectively, would also make changes in the
earmark process.

     This report provides a comparison of these three measures: S. 2349, S. 2261,
and S. 2265 with the current Senate rules and practices.
                                                                                      CRS-2

                                     Table 1. Comparison of Selected Senate Earmark Reform Proposals

Existing Senate Rule (and precedents)                         S. 2349                                       S. 2261                                        S. 2265
            or Public Law

Earmark Definition

(1) Currently, there is no formal            (1) A provision that specifies the identity   (1) A provision that requires or permits      (1) Generally, an appropriation that is
definition of "earmark," nor is there an     of a non-federal entity to receive            the obligation or expenditure of any          restricted or directed to, or authorized to
informal definition accepted by all          assistance (budget authority, contract        amount appropriated for the benefit of an     be obligated or expended for the benefit
practitioners and observers of the federal   authority, loan authority, other              identifiable person, program, project,        of, an identifiable person, program,
budget process. Broadly, "earmark" may       expenditures, tax expenditures, and other     entity, or jurisdiction by earmarking or      project, entity, or jurisdiction by
refer to provisions associated with          revenue items) and the amount of that         other specification, whether by name or       earmarking or other specification,
legislation (appropriations or general       assistance.                                   description, in a manner that:                whether by name or description, in a
legislation) that specify certain            (2) This definition would apply to any        (a) discriminates against other persons,      manner that:
congressional spending priorities or in      bill, including appropriation,                programs, projects, entities, or              (a) discriminates against other persons,
revenue bills that apply to a very limited   authorization, and revenue bills.             jurisdictions similarly situated that would   programs, projects, entities, or
number of individuals or entities.           (Section 3 of S. 2349.)                       be eligible, but for the requirement or       jurisdictions similarly situated that would
Earmarks may appear in either the                                                          permission, for the amount appropriated;      be eligible, but for the restriction,
legislative text or report language                                                        or                                            direction, or authorization, for the
(committee reports accompanying                                                            (b) applies only to a single identifiable     amount appropriated; or
reported bills and joint explanatory                                                       person, program, project, entity, or          (b) is so restricted, directed, or authorized
statement accompanying a conference                                                        jurisdiction, unless the identifiable         that it applies only to a single identifiable
report).                                                                                   person, program, project, entity, or          person, program, project, entity, or
                                                                                           jurisdiction is described or otherwise        jurisdiction, unless the identifiable
                                                                                           clearly identified in:                        person, program, project, entity, or
                                                                                           (i) a law, treaty stipulation, or an Act or   jurisdiction to which the restriction,
                                                                                           resolution previously passed by the           direction, or authorization applies is
                                                                                           Senate during the same session; or            described or otherwise clearly identified
                                                                                           (ii) the President's budget request           in:
                                                  CRS-3

Existing Senate Rule (and precedents)   S. 2349                      S. 2261                                   S. 2265
            or Public Law

                                                     submitted in accordance with law.       (i) a law, treaty stipulation, or an Act
                                                     (2) This definition would apply to      or resolution previously passed by
                                                     appropriations bills.a                  the Senate during the same session; or
                                                     (Section 2 of S. 2261 would add a new   (ii) the President's budget request
                                                     paragraph to Rule XVI, Appropriations   submitted in accordance with law.
                                                     and Amendments to General               These documents must specifically
                                                     Appropriations Bills.)                  provide for the restriction, direction, or
                                                                                             authorization of appropriation for such
                                                                                             person, program, project, entity, or
                                                                                             jurisdiction.
                                                                                             (2) This definition would apply to
                                                                                             general appropriations bills.
                                                                                             (Section 2 of S. 2265.)
                                                                      CRS-4

Existing Senate Rule (and precedents)                       S. 2349                    S. 2261                    S. 2265
            or Public Law

Prohibition Against Unauthorized
Appropriations

(1) On a point of order made by any           No changes.                No changes.             (1) On a point of order made by any
Senator, no amendment shall be received                                                          Senator, no unauthorized appropriation
to any general appropriations bill the                                                           may be included in any general
effect of which will be to increase an                                                           appropriations bill (House-passed or
appropriation in the bill, or add a new                                                          Senate bill), or any accompanying
appropriation that is unauthorized. Such                                                         amendment, conference report, or
funding is unauthorized, unless it is:                                                           amendment between the Houses. (This
(a) made to carry out the provisions of an                                                       would apply to the text of the House-
existing law, treaty stipulation, or act or                                                      passed bill and House amendments
resolution previously passed by the                                                              between the Houses.)
Senate during the same session of                                                                (2) Unauthorized appropriation means an
Congress;                                                                                        appropriation not:
(b) included in President's budget                                                               (a) specifically authorized by law, treaty
requests submitted in accordance with                                                            stipulation, or act or resolution
law; or                                                                                          previously passed by the Senate during
(c) moved by the Committee on                                                                    the same session of Congress; or
Appropriations or a committee with                                                               (b) included in the President's budget
legislative jurisdiction over the activity                                                       request submitted in accordance with
funded.                                                                                          law.
Funding exceeding spending levels                                                                The term unauthorized appropriation
provided in the above documents are also                                                         would also include the amount of the
considered unauthorized appropriations.                                                          appropriation that exceeds the
Under current Senate precedents, the                                                             authorization (or budget request) level in
term `specifically authorized' has no                                                            the above documents.
meaning distinct from `authorized.' An                                                           (3) The prohibition against unauthorized
appropriation in an appropriation bill                                                           appropriations would also apply to
                                                       CRS-5

Existing Senate Rule (and precedents)        S. 2349           S. 2261                     S. 2265
            or Public Law

may have more specificity than is                                        certain earmarks. An appropriation is not
provided in authorizing language.                                        specifically authorized if it is restricted or
Historically, legislation has authorized                                 directed to, or authorized to be obligated
government functions and implicitly                                      or expended for the benefit of, an
allowed for specific appropriations                                      identifiable person, program, project,
within those functions.                                                  entity, or jurisdiction by earmarking or
(2) A Senate amendment between the                                       other specification, whether by name or
Houses on a general appropriations bill is                               description, in a manner that:
subject to the prohibition against                                       (i) discriminates against other persons,
unauthorized appropriations on a general                                 programs, projects, entities, or
appropriations bill.(Under paragraph 1 of                                jurisdictions similarly situated that would
Senate Rule XVI.)                                                        be eligible, but for the restriction,
(3) Sustain an appeal of the Presiding                                   direction, or authorization, for the
Officer's ruling: majority vote. There is                                amount appropriated; or
currently no waiver mechanism in the                                     (ii) is so restricted, directed, or
Senate standing rules.                                                   authorized that it applies only to a single
                                                                         identifiable person, program, project,
                                                                         entity, or jurisdiction, unless the
                                                                         identifiable person, program, project,
                                                                         entity, or jurisdiction to which the
                                                                         restriction, direction, or authorization
                                                                         applies is described or otherwise clearly
                                                                         identified:
                                                                         (A) in a law, treaty stipulation, or an
                                                  CRS-6

Existing Senate Rule (and precedents)   S. 2349           S. 2261                    S. 2265
            or Public Law

                                                                    act or resolution previously passed by the
                                                                    Senate during the same session or
                                                                    (B) included in President's budget
                                                                    request submitted in accordance with
                                                                    law.
                                                                    These sources must specifically provide
                                                                    for the restriction, direction, or
                                                                    authorization of appropriation for such
                                                                    person, program, project, entity, or
                                                                    jurisdiction.
                                                                    (3) If point of order sustained: language
                                                                    would be stricken and a corresponding
                                                                    reduction in both the total amount of bill
                                                                    and Senate Committee on
                                                                    Appropriation's 302(a) allocation of
                                                                    discretionary budgetary resources would
                                                                    be made.b
                                                                    (4) Motion to waive or sustain an appeal
                                                                    of the Presiding Officer's ruling:
                                                                    affirmative vote of 3/5 of all Senators
                                                                    required.
                                                                    (5) The disposition of a point of order
                                                                    made under any Standing Rule of the
                                                                    Senate (including this one) that is not
                                                                    sustained, or is waived, does not
                                                  CRS-7

Existing Senate Rule (and precedents)   S. 2349           S. 2261                    S. 2265
            or Public Law

                                                                    preclude, or affect, a point of order made
                                                                    under this paragraph regarding the same
                                                                    matter.
                                                                    (6) Notwithstanding any other rule of the
                                                                    Senate, a Senator may raise a single point
                                                                    of order that several provisions of a
                                                                    general appropriation bill or
                                                                    accompanying conference report or
                                                                    amendments between the houses violate
                                                                    this paragraph. The Presiding Officer
                                                                    may sustain the point of order against all
                                                                    or some of the provisions.
                                                                    For special procedures regarding
                                                                    enforcement of this prohibition on
                                                                    conference reports, see Conference
                                                                    Reports, Result of Sustaining Point of
                                                                    Order, below.
                                                                    (Section 2 of S. 2265 replaces paragraph
                                                                    1 of Rule XVI, Appropriations and
                                                                    Amendments to General Appropriations
                                                                    Bills.)
                                                        CRS-8

Existing Senate Rule (and precedents)         S. 2349           S. 2261                    S. 2265
            or Public Law

Prohibition Against Legislation on a
General Appropriations Bill

(1) The Committee on Appropriations                                       In addition to existing Senate rule, bill
shall not report a general appropriations                                 would add the following:
bill containing amendments to such bill                                   (1) On a point of order made by any
proposing new or general legislation. A                                   Senator, no general appropriation bill
point of order may be made against the                                    (including House-passed bill or original
bill, and if sustained, the bill shall be                                 Senate bill) or conference report on a
recommitted to the appropriations                                         general appropriation bill may include
committee. A point of order may also be                                   new or general legislation.
made against a committee amendment                                        (2) If point of order sustained: language
and, if sustained, only the amendment                                     would be stricken and a corresponding
would fall. (Under paragraph 2 of Senate                                  reduction in both the total amount of bill
Rule XVI)                                                                 and Senate Committee on Appropriations
(2) On a point of order made by any                                       302(a) allocation of discretionary
Senator, no amendment offered by any                                      budgetary resources would be made.a
other Senator which proposes general                                      (3) Motion to waive or sustain an appeal
legislation shall be received to any                                      of the Presiding Officer's ruling:
general appropriation bill, nor shall any                                 affirmative vote of 3/5 of all Senators
amendment not germane or relevant to                                      required.
the subject matter contained in the bill be                               (4) The disposition of a point of order
received. (Paragraph 4 of Senate Rule                                     made under any Standing Rule of the
XVI.)                                                                     Senate (including this one) that is not
(3) A Senate amendment between the                                        sustained, or is waived, does not
Houses on a general appropriations bill is                                preclude, or affect, a point of order made
subject to the prohibition against                                        under this paragraph regarding the same
legislation on a general appropriations                                   matter.
bill. (Under Senate Rule XVI.)                                            (5) Notwithstanding any other rule of the
                                                      CRS-9

Existing Senate Rule (and precedents)       S. 2349           S. 2261                    S. 2265
            or Public Law

(4) If the legislation included in an                                   Senate, a Senator may raise a single point
amendment might be germane to a                                         of order that several provisions of a
provision(s) in the House-passed bill, a                                general appropriation bill or
Senator may raise the germaneness                                       accompanying conference report or
defense. Then, the question of                                          amendments between the Houses violate
germaneness of the amendment shall be                                   this paragraph. The Presiding Officer
submitted to the Senate and decided                                     may sustain the point of order against all
without debate. If the Senate agrees, by                                or some of the provisions.
majority vote, that the amendment is                                    For special procedures regarding
germane, the point of order against                                     enforcement of this prohibition on
legislation on the amendment falls and                                  conference reports, see Conference
the amendment may be considered. If                                     Reports, Result of Sustaining Point of
the Senate disagrees, the amendment falls                               Order, below.
because the Senate does not consider it                                 (Section 2 of S. 2265 replaces paragraph
germane. (Under paragraphs 2 and 4 of                                   1 of Rule XVI, Appropriations and
Senate Rule XVI.) There is currently no                                 Amendments to General Appropriations
waiver mechanism in the Senate standing                                 Bills.)
rules.
                                                      CRS-10

Existing Senate Rule (and precedents)       S. 2349                       S. 2261                      S. 2265
            or Public Law

Germaneness Requirement

(1) Under existing rules and precedents,                 (1) Prohibits consideration of an
germaneness is a parliamentary                           appropriation bill, unless all earmarks are
prohibition against adding a new subject                 germane to the bill.
to a bill, therefore germaneness only                    (2) Motion to waive: affirmative vote of
applies to amendments.                                   2/3 of all Senators required.
(2) There is no existing rule requiring                  (Section 2 of S. 2261 adds a new
earmarks offered as amendments to be                     paragraph to Rule XVI.)a
germane to a bill.
(3) More broadly, however, Rule XVI
does require all committee amendments,
as well as floor amendments, to a general
appropriations bill to be germane. On a
point of order made under Rule XVI, the
question of germaneness of an
amendment shall be submitted to the
Senate and decided without debate, by
majority vote.
(4) Under cloture, depending on the
procedural situation, certain committee
amendments to appropriations bills may
be required to be germane. In such cases,
the Presiding Officer rules on
germaneness. On appeal of the Presiding
Officer's ruling, a majority vote, a
quorum being present, is required to
sustain the ruling. (Paragraph 2 of Rule
XXII.)
                                                    CRS-11

Existing Senate Rule (and precedents)     S. 2349            S. 2261   S. 2265
            or Public Law

(5) There is currently no waiver
mechanism in the Senate standing rules.
                                                                                    CRS-12

Existing Senate Rule (and precedents)                        S. 2349                         S. 2261                   S. 2265
            or Public Law

Conference Reports

Layover Requirement

There is no general layover requirement     (1) Prohibits consideration of a                           (1) The motion to proceed to consider a
on conference reports.                      conference report unless the report is                     conference report shall not be in order
(1) The motion to proceed to consider a     made available on the Internet for at least                until after such report is filed and made
conference report is in order when copies   24 hours before its consideration.                         available 48 hours prior to consideration
of the conference report are available to   (Section 4 of S. 2349 adds a new                           of the motion. (Section 3 of S. 2265 adds
each Senator. (Under paragraph 1 of         paragraph to Rule XXVIII.)                                 a new paragraph to Rule XXVIII)
Rule XXVIII, Conference Committees;         (2) Prohibits consideration of any Senate
Reports; Open Meetings.)                    bill, Senate amendment, or conference
                                            report on such bill (including
                                            appropriations, revenue, and
                                            authorization bills), unless a list of all
                                            earmarks in such measure, identification
                                            of the Senator(s) proposing each
                                            earmark, and an explanation of the
                                            essential government purpose for the
                                            earmark are available on the Internet for
                                            at least 24 hours before consideration.
                                            (Section 3 of S. 2349 would add a new
                                            rule, Rule XLIV.)
                                                                                   CRS-13

Existing Senate Rule (and precedents)                        S. 2349                        S. 2261                     S. 2265
            or Public Law

New Matter and Non-Germane Matter

(1) Conferees shall not insert in their      (1) A point of order may be made by any                  (1) It shall not be in order to consider a
report matter not committed to them by       Senator against consideration of a                       conference report which includes matter
either House. (Paragraph 2 of Rule           conference report that includes any                      not committed to the conferees by either
XXVIII)                                      matter not committed to the conferees by                 house. (Section 3 of S. 2265 adds a new
(2) In any case in which a disagreement      either house. (Section 2 of S. 2349. This                paragraph to Rule XXVIII)
to an amendment in the nature of a           is a freestanding provision and does not                 (2) Adds provision regarding conference
substitute has been referred to conferees,   explicitly or directly amend any Senate                  reports on a general appropriation bill.
it shall be in order for the conferees to    rule.)                                                   On a point of order by any Senator, no
report a substitute on the same subject                                                               new matter or non-germane matter may
matter; but they may not include in the                                                               be included in a conference report on a
report matter not committed to them by                                                                general appropriation bill. The result of
either House. They may, however,                                                                      sustaining this point of order is different
include in their report matter which is a                                                             from the result provided under Rule
germane modification of subjects in                                                                   XXVIII, see comparison in next row.
disagreement. (Paragraph 3 of Rule                                                                    (Section 2 of S. 2265 replaces paragraph
XXVIII.)                                                                                              1 of Rule XVI)
                                                                                     CRS-14

Existing Senate Rule (and precedents)                         S. 2349                         S. 2261                     S. 2265
            or Public Law

Result of Sustaining a Point of Order
Against New Matter

(1) If new matter is inserted in a           Similar in effect to the application of the                Similar in effect to the application of the
conference report, a point of order may      Byrd Rule to conference reports on                         Byrd Rule to conference reports on
be made against the report, and if the       reconciliation bills.                                      reconciliation bills.
point of order is sustained, the report is   (1) If a point of order against the                        (1) If a point of order is sustained against
rejected or shall be recommitted to the      conference report is sustained, then:                      unauthorized appropriation, legislation,
committee of conference if the House of      (a) the new matter shall be deemed to                      new matter, or non-germane provision in
Representatives has not already acted        have been stricken;                                        a conference report, then:
thereon. (Paragraph 2 of Rule XXVIII.)       (b) when all other points of order under                   (a) the language shall be deemed to have
                                             this provision have been disposed of:                      been stricken; and
                                             (i) the Senate shall proceed to the                        (b) a corresponding reduction in total
                                             question as to whether the Senate shall                    amount of the bill and Senate
                                             recede from its position and concur with                   appropriations committee's 302(a)
                                             a further amendment consisting only of                     allocation of discretionary budgetary
                                             the portion of the conference report not                   resources shall be deemed made;
                                             stricken;                                                  (c) when all other points of order under
                                             (ii) the question shall be debatable;                      this paragraph have been disposed of:
                                             (iii) no further amendment shall be in                     (i) the Senate shall proceed to the
                                             order; and                                                 question as to whether the Senate shall
                                             (iv) if the Senate agrees to the                           recede from its position and concur with
                                             amendment, the bill and amendment shall                    a further amendment consisting only of
                                             be returned to the House.                                  the portion of the conference report not
                                             (2) Motion to waive or suspend the rule,                   stricken;
                                             or sustain an appeal of the Presiding                      (ii) the question shall be debatable;
                                             Officer's ruling: affirmative vote of 3/5                  (iii) no further amendment shall be in
                                                                               CRS-15

Existing Senate Rule (and precedents)                    S. 2349                        S. 2261                    S. 2265
            or Public Law

                                        of all Senators required. (Section 2 of S.                order; and
                                        2349. This is a freestanding provision                    (iv) if the Senate agrees to the
                                        and does not explicitly or directly amend                 amendment, the bill and amendment shall
                                        any Senate rule.)                                         be returned to the House.
                                                                                                  (2) Motion to waive or sustain an appeal
                                                                                                  of the Presiding Officer's ruling:
                                                                                                  affirmative vote of 3/5 of all Senators
                                                                                                  required.
                                                                                                  (3) The disposition of a point of order
                                                                                                  made under any Standing Rule of the
                                                                                                  Senate (including this one) that is not
                                                                                                  sustained, or is waived, does not
                                                                                                  preclude, or affect, a point of order made
                                                                                                  under this paragraph regarding the same
                                                                                                  matter.
                                                                                                  (4) Notwithstanding any other rule of the
                                                                                                  Senate, a Senator may raise a single point
                                                                                                  of order that several provisions of a
                                                                                                  general appropriation bill or
                                                                                                  accompanying conference report or
                                                                                                  amendments between the Houses violate
                                                                                                  this paragraph. The Presiding Officer
                                                                                                  may sustain the point of order against all
                                                                                                  or some of the provisions.
                                                                CRS-16

Existing Senate Rule (and precedents)                 S. 2349                       S. 2261                                       S. 2265
            or Public Law

Earmarks must be in bill (or Act)

Earmarks may appear in either the       No changes.                Establishes new rule language and a           Prohibits federal agencies from
legislative text or report language                                supermajority-vote requirement to waive.      obligating funds for appropriation
(committee reports accompanying                                    (1) Prohibits consideration of an             earmarks included only in congressional
reported bills and joint explanatory                               appropriation bill, unless all earmarks are   reports.
statement accompanying a conference                                contained in the text of the bill and not     (1) Prohibits any federal agency from
report).                                                           incorporated by reference or directed in      obligating any funds made available in an
                                                                   the committee report.                         appropriation act to implement an
                                                                   (2) Motion to waive: affirmative vote of      earmark included in reports filed by the
                                                                   2/3 of all Senators required.                 House and Senate Committees on
                                                                   (Section 2 of S. 2261 adds a new              Appropriations or joint explanatory
                                                                   paragraph to Rule XVI.)a                      statement, unless the earmark is also
                                                                                                                 included in the appropriation act.
                                                                                                                 (2) For purposes of this provision,
                                                                                                                 earmark is defined as a provision that
                                                                                                                 specifies the identity of an entity (which
                                                                                                                 includes a state or locality, but not any
                                                                                                                 federal agency) to receive a grant, loan,
                                                                                                                 loan guarantee, or contract and the
                                                                                                                 amount involved.
                                                                                                                 (3) This provision applies to
                                                                                                                 appropriation acts enacted after
                                                                                                                 December 31, 2006.
                                                                                                                 (Section 4 of S. 2265, note different
                                                                                                                 earmark definition under this section than
                                                                                                                 under section 2, see top cell.)
                                                                                      CRS-17

Existing Senate Rule (and precedents)                           S. 2349                                      S. 2261                                     S. 2265
            or Public Law

Disclosure

Layover Requirement.                           Layover Requirement.                         Layover Requirement.                       No requirement.
(1) Bill                                       (1) Prohibits consideration of any Senate    (1) Prohibits consideration of an
(a) Any non-privileged committee-              bill, Senate amendment, or conference        appropriation bill, unless a list of all
reported bill or House-passed bill shall lie   report on such bill (including               earmarks in such bill, the name of the
over for one legislative day, unless the       appropriations, revenue, and                 requestor, and a short justification for
Senate agrees to consider the measure          authorization bills), unless a list of all   each earmark are available on the
earlier by unanimous consent or a motion       earmarks in such measure, identification     Internet for at least 72 hours before
to suspend the rules, requiring 2/3 vote a     of the Senator(s) proposing each             consideration.
quorum being present (Paragraph 4 of           earmark, and an explanation of the           (2) Motion to waive: affirmative vote of
Rule XVII).                                    essential government purpose for the         2/3 of all Senators required.
(b) In addition, most committee-reported       earmark are available on the Internet for    (Section 2 of S. 2261 adds a new
bills that are accompanied by a written        at least 24 hours before consideration.      paragraph to Rule XVI.)a
report, can not be considered until the        (Section 3 of S. 2349 would add a new
report has been available for at least 2       rule, Rule XLIV.)
calendar days, unless the Majority and
Minority Leaders jointly agree to waive
this rule. (Paragraph 5 of Rule XVII.)
There is no rule in the Senate that
requires each reported bill to be
accompanied by a written report.
(2) Amendment between the Houses: No
layover requirement.
(3) Conference Report: (see Conference
Report, Layover Requirement, above)
                                                      CRS-18

Existing Senate Rule (and precedents)       S. 2349            S. 2261                     S. 2265
            or Public Law

(1) There is no rule in the Senate that                                  (1) Prohibits consideration of a general
requires each committee-reported bill to                                 appropriations bill or accompanying
be accompanied by a written report. The                                  amendments between the houses that
Senate Committee on Appropriations,                                      includes unauthorized appropriations,
however, typically files such a report on                                unless such bill is accompanied by a
general appropriation bills, except                                      report that provides a detailed listing of:
continuing resolutions. If the                                           (a) all unauthorized appropriations in
appropriations committee files such a                                    such bill;
report, the committee is required to                                     (b) an identification of the Member(s)
identify each recommended committee                                      who proposed the unauthorized
amendment that proposes an item of                                       appropriation; and
appropriation, which does not carry out                                  (c) an explanation of the essential
the provisions of existing law, a treaty                                 governmental purpose for the
stipulation, or an act or resolution                                     unauthorized appropriation.
previously passed by the Senate in the                                   This would include earmarks as defined
same session of Congress. (This does not                                 under Prohibition Against Unauthorized
apply to a bill.) (Paragraph 7 of Rule                                   Appropriations, above.
XVI.)                                                                    (Section 5(a) of S. 2265 adds a new
                                                                         paragraph to Rule XVI.)
                                                  CRS-19

Existing Senate Rule (and precedents)   S. 2349            S. 2261                   S. 2265
            or Public Law

                                                                     (2) Prohibits consideration of a
                                                                     conference report that includes
                                                                     unauthorized appropriations, unless the
                                                                     report is accompanied by a joint
                                                                     explanatory statement that provides a
                                                                     detailed listing of:
                                                                     (a) all unauthorized appropriations in
                                                                     such bill;
                                                                     (b) an identification of the member(s)
                                                                     who proposed the unauthorized
                                                                     appropriation; and
                                                                     (c) an explanation of the essential
                                                                     governmental purpose for the
                                                                     unauthorized appropriation.
                                                                     This would include earmarks as defined
                                                                     under the Prohibition Against
                                                                     Unauthorized Appropriations, above.
                                                                     (Section 5(b) adds is a new subparagraph
                                                                     to paragraph 4 of Rule XXVIII.)
                                                                       CRS-20

Existing Senate Rule (and precedents)                        S. 2349                       S. 2261                                    S. 2265
            or Public Law

Conflict of Interest

(1) No Senator, officer, or employee shall     No changes.                (1) No Senator may advocate to include        No changes.
knowingly use his official position to                                    an earmark in any bill or joint resolution,
introduce or aid the progress or passage                                  accompanying committee report,
of legislation, a principal purpose of                                    conference report, or joint explanatory
which is to further only his pecuniary                                    statement if the Member has a financial
interest, only the pecuniary interest of his                              interest in such earmark. (Section 3 of S.
immediate family, or only the pecuniary                                   2261 would add a new paragraph to
interest of a limited class of persons or                                 Senate Rule XXXVII.)
enterprises, when he, or his immediate                                    (2) No Senator shall condition inclusion
family, or enterprises controlled by them,                                of an earmark in any bill or joint
are members of the affected class.                                        resolution, accompanying committee
(Paragraph 4 of Senate Rule XXXVII,                                       report, conference report, or joint
Conflict of Interest.)                                                    explanatory statement on any vote cast
                                                                          by a Senator in whose state the project
                                                                          will be carried out. (Section 4 of S. 2261
                                                                          would add a new paragraph to Senate
                                                                          Rule XXXVII.)
                                                                                       CRS-21

  Existing Senate Rule (and precedents)                          S. 2349                                       S. 2261                                       S. 2265
              or Public Law

 Recipient of Federal Funds Reporting
 Requirement

 In general, each person who requests          No changes.                                    Requires a recipient of federal funds         Requires a recipient of federal funds
 and/or receives a federal contract, grant,                                                   constituting an award, grant, or loan to      constituting an award, grant, or loan to
 loan, loan guarantee, or cooperative                                                         file semiannual reports with the Secretary    file semiannual reports with the Secretary
 agreement from an agency shall file with                                                     of the Senate and Clerk of the House of       of the Senate and Clerk of the House of
 that agency the name of any registered                                                       Representatives containing the name of        Representatives containing the name of
 lobbyist who has lobbied on behalf of the                                                    any lobbyist registered under the             any lobbyist registered under the
 person for those items. If material                                                          Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 to            Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 to
 changes have occurred, the person is also                                                    whom the recipient paid money to lobby        whom the recipient paid money to lobby
 required to update the filing at the end of                                                  on behalf of federal funding received and     on behalf of federal funding received and
 each calendar quarter. (31 USC                                                               the amount of the money paid.                 the amount of the money paid.
 1352(b).)                                                                                    (Section 5 of S. 2261 adds the above to       (Section 5(c) of S. 2265 adds the above
                                                                                              section 5 of Lobbying Disclosure Act of       to section 5 of Lobbying Disclosure Act
                                                                                              1995, 2 USC 1604.)                            of 1995, 2 USC 1604.)

SOURCES: U.S. Congress, Senate, Senate Manual, S.Doc. 107-1, 107th Cong., 1st sess. (Washington: GPO, 2001), available at [http://www.gpoaccess.gov/smanual/index.html], visited
Feb. 24, 2006; S. 2349, as reported by the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration (109th Cong.); S. 2261, as introduced (109th Cong.); and S. 2265, as introduced (109th Cong.).

a. This provision would amend Senate Rule XVI. The existing requirements under Rule XVI apply only to general appropriations bills, not all appropriations bills. In the Senate,
       general appropriations bills are appropriations bills providing funds for more than a single purpose or agency, such as the annual regular appropriations bills, most supplemental
       measures, and continuing resolutions. There are also special appropriations bills that provide funds for a single purpose or agency.
b. In addition, S. 2265 would prohibit any points of order under the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 621 et seq.) against the striking of matter, the modification of total
       amounts of the bill, or reduction of the Senate Appropriations Committee's 302(a) allocation in discretionary budgetary resources provided under section 2 of S. 2265

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