Consideration of Budgetary Legislation During Presidential Transition Years: A Brief Overview

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Backgr ound ..................................................................................................................................... 1
Presidential Submission of Transition Budgets...............................................................................2
Submission Requirements for Transition Budgets....................................................................2
Budget Submissions During the Past Five Transitions.............................................................3
Overview of Budgetary Actions by Administration........................................................................4
Congressional Action on Major Budgetary Legislation..................................................................7
Budget Resolutions...................................................................................................................7
Budget Reconciliation Acts.......................................................................................................7
Annual Appropriations Acts......................................................................................................8
Revenue Acts.............................................................................................................................9
Debt-Limit Acts.........................................................................................................................9
Table 1. Overview of Timing of Budgetary Actions, by Administration.........................................5
Table 2. Dates of House and Senate Action on First Budget Resolutions......................................11
Table 3. Dates of House and Senate Action on Budget Reconciliation Acts.................................12
Table 4. Dates of House and Senate Action on Supplemental Appropriations Acts......................13
Table 5. Dates of House and Senate Action on Regular Appropriations Acts...............................15
Table 6. Dates of House and Senate Action on Continuing Appropriations Acts..........................20
Table 7. Dates of House and Senate Action on Selected Revenue Acts........................................22
Table 8. Dates of House and Senate Action on Debt-Limit Acts...................................................23
Author Contact Information..........................................................................................................25

When a presidential transition occurs, the incoming President usually submits the budget for the
upcoming fiscal year (under current practices) or revises the budget submitted by his predecessor
(under past practices). Under either circumstance, the details of the President’s budgetary
proposals typically are provided to Congress about two months later than would be the case in a
non-transition year. Consequently, concerns arise over the potential impact of delayed budget
submission on the timetable for budgetary actions taken by the House and Senate.
This report examines the timing of presidential budget submissions during the past five transition
years—including submissions by Presidents Jimmy Carter in 1977, Ronald Reagan in 1981,
George H.W. Bush in 1989, Bill Clinton in 1993, and George W. Bush in 2001—and the
timeliness of House and Senate actions in those years regarding the consideration of budgetary
measures.

When a new Congress convenes in January, one of its first orders of business is to receive the
annual budget submission of the President for the upcoming fiscal year, which begins later in the ¹
session. The President’s budget consists of a set of proposals pertaining to spending, revenue,
and debt levels. In the course of responding to the President’s budget, Congress may accept,
reject, or modify the proposals as it sees fit. While much of the spending and revenue in the
federal budget is derived automatically each year from existing law, the remainder is provided
through the enactment of legislation.
The deadline for submission of the budget has changed several times over the years, as is
discussed in more detail below. Currently, the deadline is the first Monday in February.
Following receipt of the President's budget, Congress begins the consideration of the budget
resolution and other budgetary legislation. The budget resolution, which takes the form of a
concurrent resolution, reflects the agreement of the House and Senate on a budgetary “blueprint”
that guides and constrains the subsequent consideration of individual spending, revenue, and debt
measures. The consideration of significant spending, revenue, and debt measures by the House
and Senate during a session may entail action on dozens of separate measures.
In establishing and revising the deadline for submission of the President’s budget, Congress has
sought to reconcile two conflicting objectives. First, Congress is motivated to set the deadline as
early as possible in order to maximize the time available to it for completing action on the budget
resolution and other budgetary legislation before the new fiscal year begins. Although the
completion of some budgetary legislation typically carries over into the period beyond the start of
the fiscal year, the goal is to enact as much significant budgetary legislation as possible in a
timely manner.
Second, Congress also is impelled to afford the President as much time as necessary to finalize
his budget submission following the completion of legislative action in the prior session. In recent
decades, the House and Senate sometimes have not completed action on significant budgetary
¹
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legislation until December; in some instances, several major bills spanning hundreds of pages
have been finalized in the last few days of the year.
Seeking to draw a balance between the two competing motivations, Congress has set the deadline
as early as the first week in January and as late as the first week in February. Under current law,
the President may submit the budget as early as the first Monday in January, but he must submit it
no later than the first Monday in February. Beginning with the FY1992 budget, Presidents have
taken advantage of the full amount of time afforded them under law and submitted their budgets
on the first Monday in February.
The Congressional Budget Act of 1974, as amended, establishes an annual timetable for
congressional action on budgetary legislation, beginning with the adoption of a budget resolution ²
by the House and Senate no later than April 15. In an effort to provide Congress with more time
to process budgetary legislation during the session, Section 501 (88 Stat. 321) of the act moved
the start of the fiscal year from July 1 to October 1. The change became effective for FY1976,
following a three-month transition quarter. The congressional budget process established by the

1974 act became fully effective in 1976 for FY1977, following a “dry run” in the prior year.

During the period that the congressional budget process under the 1974 act has been in effect,
five persons have assumed the presidency – Jimmy Carter in 1977, Ronald Reagan in 1981,
George H.W. Bush in 1989, Bill Clinton in 1993, and George W. Bush in 2001. The requirements
for budget submission applicable to these Presidents and the record of pertinent actions is
discussed briefly below.
The transition from one presidential administration to another raises special issues regarding the ³
annual budget submission. Key questions include, which President—the outgoing President or
the incoming one—is required to submit the budget, and how will the transition affect the timing
and form of the submission?
The deadline for submission of the budget, first set in 1921 as “on the first day of each regular
session,” has changed several times over the years:
• in 1950, to “during the first 15 days of each regular session”;
• in 1985, to “on or before the first Monday after January 3 of each year (or on or
before February 5 in 1986)”; and
• in 1990, to “on or after the first Monday in January but not later than the first
Monday in February of each year.”
²
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The 20^th Amendment to the Constitution, ratified in 1933, requires each new Congress to convene
on January 3 (unless the date is changed by the enactment of a law) and provides a January 20
beginning date for a new President’s four-year term of office. Therefore, under the legal
framework for the beginning of a new Congress, the beginning of a new President’s term, and the
deadline for the submission of the budget, all outgoing Presidents prior to the 1990 change were ⁴
obligated to submit a budget. All incoming Presidents before 1990, except for Roosevelt,
Truman, and Johnson, modified their predecessor’s policies by submitting budget revisions within
a few months after taking office. The 1990 change in the deadline made it possible for an
outgoing President to leave the annual budget submission to his successor.
During the period covering the past five presidential transitions, the three outgoing Presidents
required to submit a budget during this period (Ford, Carter, and Reagan) did so on or before the
statutory deadline. Two of the incoming Presidents during this period, Carter and Reagan,
submitted budget revisions and one, George H. W. Bush, did not. The FY1978 revisions by
President Carter (a 101-page document) were submitted on February 22, 1977, and the FY1982
revisions by President Reagan (an initial 159-page document and a subsequent 435-page
document) were submitted on March 10 and April 7, 1981, respectively.
Because President George H. W. Bush chose not to submit a budget for FY1994 (and was not
obligated to do so), President Clinton submitted the original budget for FY1994 rather than
budget revisions. Similarly, the budget for FY2002 was submitted by the incoming President
George W. Bush, rather than by outgoing President Clinton. Presidents Clinton and George W.
Bush submitted the original budgets for FY1994 and FY2002 on April 8, 1993 and April 9, 2001,
respectively.
The experience with transition budgets during the period that the congressional budget process
has been in operation is roughly comparable, in terms of timing, with the experience of earlier
years. Presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy, and Nixon submitted their revised budget messages to
Congress on April 30, March 24, and April 12 of their first year as President, respectively.
Although Presidents Reagan, Clinton, and George W. Bush did not submit detailed budget
proposals during their transitions until early April, each of them advised Congress regarding the
general contours of their economic and budgetary policies in special messages submitted to
Congress in February concurrently with a presentation made to a joint session of Congress:
• on February 18, 1981, President Reagan submitted a document containing an
economic plan and initial budget proposals for FY1982, America’s New
Beginning: A Program for Economic Recovery, in conjunction with an address to
a joint session of Congress.
• on February 17, 1993, President Clinton submitted to Congress a budgetary
document, A Vision of Change for America, to accompany his address to a joint
⁴
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session of Congress. The 145-page document outlined the President’s economic
plan and provided initial budget proposals in key areas.
• on February 28, 2001, President George W. Bush submitted a 207-page budget
summary to Congress, A Blueprint for New Beginnings: A Responsible Budget
for America’s Priorities, the day after his address to a joint session of Congress.
Although President George H. W. Bush did not submit a revision of President Reagan’s FY1990
budget, he submitted a 193-page message to Congress (Building a Better America) in conjunction
with a joint address to Congress on February 9, 1989. The message included revised budget
proposals.

In a typical year, the unfolding of the federal budget process reflects both instances of
cooperation and instances of conflict between the President and Congress (as well as between the
House and the Senate, and between factions within each chamber). Cooperation promotes timely
and successful action on budgetary legislation, while conflict leads to delay and ultimately may
prevent the enactment of such legislation.
In order to fully advance his budgetary agenda, a President must reach agreement with Congress
on legislation in several different phases of the budget process. Congress responds to the
President’s budgetary proposals by adopting an annual budget resolution, and then implements
budget resolution policies through the enactment of separate spending, revenue, and debt
legislation.
No President can be judged to be successful with respect to his budgetary agenda unless the
House and Senate complete action on the requisite legislation, with timely rather than tardy
enactment of legislation usually signifying greater success.
Table 1 summarizes legislative action on the major phases of the budget process during the past
five transition years. As Table 1shows, Congress and the President successfully completed action
on key budgetary legislation during each presidential transition year, with many, but not all,
actions completed in a timely manner:
• in each instance, the House and Senate reached final agreement on the annual
budget resolution, and did so no later than May 21;
• the optional budget reconciliation process was invoked in four of five years,
leading to the enactment of four budget reconciliation acts;
• regular, supplemental, and continuing appropriations acts were enacted in each
year, although few (or none) of the regular appropriations acts were enacted by
October 1 (the first day of the fiscal year) in four instances;
• in each instance, a major revenue bill was enacted (three of the five bills were
reconciliation measures); and
• between one and three debt-limit measures were enacted each year, except during
the George W. Bush Administration (when no such measures were needed).

Table 1. Overview of Timing of Budgetary Actions, by Administration

^Budget
^Transition^Budget^Recon^ciliation^Select^ed^Debt-Limi^t
^President^Budget^Resolution^{Act Annual}^App^rop^riations^A^cts^{Revenue Act}^Act(s)
^Carter^02-2^2-19⁷⁷^{May 1}⁷^[none]^{10 r}^{egular a}^pprop^{riations acts en}^{acted by Octo}^ber^{1; latest}^05-2^3-19^{77 10-0}^4-19⁷⁷
^{enacted on Octo}^ber^21.
^{3 continui}^{ng resolutions ena}^cted.
^{4 su}^ppleme^{ntal app}^{ropriations ac}^{ts enacted in Fe}^brua^ry,
^{March, a}^{nd May (two acts).}

^{Reagan 03-1}^0-19⁸¹^and^{May 2}¹^08-1^3-19⁸¹^{No regular a}^pprop^{riations acts e}^{nacted by}^October^{1; latest}^08-1^3-19⁸¹^02-0^7-19⁸¹^and
^04-0^7-19⁸¹^{enacted on Decem}^ber^29.^09-3^0-19⁸¹^(two
^acts)
ⁱ^{ki/CRS-R40085}^{3 continui}^{ng resolutions ena}^cted.
^g/w^{2 su}^ppleme^{ntal app}^{ropriations ac}^{ts enacted in}^Ju^{ne and J}^uly.
^s^.or
^le^ak^{G.H.W. Bush}^[none]^{May 1}⁸^12-1^9-19⁸⁹^{1 reg}^{ular ap}^{propriations act e}^nac^{ted by Octobe}^{r 1; latest}^12-1^9-19⁸⁹^08-0^8-19⁸⁹^and
^://wiki^{enacted on Novem}^ber^21.^11-0^8-19⁸⁹
^h^ttp^{3 continui}^{ng resolutions ena}^cted.
^{3 su}^ppleme^{ntal app}^{ropriations ac}^{ts enacted in A}^{pril, June, and}
^September.

^Clinton^04-0^8-19⁹³^{April 1}^08-1^0-19⁹³^{2 reg}^{ular ap}^{propriations acts e}ⁿ^a^{cted by Octo}^ber^{1; latest}^08-1^0-19⁹³^04-0^6-19⁹³^and
^{enacted on Novem}^ber^11.^08-1^0-19⁹³

^{3 continui}^{ng resolutions ena}^cted.
^{4 su}^ppleme^{ntal app}^{ropriations ac}^{ts enacted in A}^{pril, July,}
^{August, and Sept}^embe^r.

^Budget
^Transition^Budget^Recon^ciliation^Select^ed^Debt-Limi^t
^President^Budget^Resolution^{Act Annual}^App^rop^riations^A^cts^{Revenue Act}^Act(s)
^{G.W. Bush}^04-0^9-20⁰¹^{May 1}⁰^06-0^7-20⁰¹^{No regular a}^pprop^{riations acts e}^{nacted by}^October^{1; latest}^06-0^7-20^{01 [none]}
^{enacted on Ja}^nua^{ry 1}⁰^{of following year.}
^{8 continui}^{ng resolutions ena}^cted.
^{2 su}^ppleme^{ntal app}^{ropriations ac}^{ts enacted in}^{July and}
^September.
^Source:^Prepa^{red by t}^{he Congr}^{essional Research Service.}
^Notes^{: Dates refer to: (1) date transition budget s}^u^b^{mitted to Congress; (2) date of}^{final adoption of the b}^{udget resolution; or (3)}^d^{ate of enactme}^{nt of legislation into law.}
^{In the}^{case of t}^{he Septem}^ber¹⁹⁹³^su^ppleme^{ntal app}^{ropriations ac}^{t, suppleme}^{ntal app}^{ropriations w}^{ere provided in a se}^{parate titl}^{e of the Foreign O}^perations
^Approp^{riations Act for FY19}^94.

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The budgetary legislation typically considered by the House and Senate during a session may be
divided into several categories: budget resolutions, budget reconciliation acts, annual
appropriations and other spending acts, and revenue and debt-limit acts. Information on the
timing of House and Senate action on budgetary measures during each of the past five transition
years is provided below by category of legislation.
The Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 (P.L. 93-344, as amended)
requires that the House and Senate reach agreement each year on a concurrent resolution on the ⁵
budget. Originally, the act set a deadline of May 15 for completion of action on the budget
resolution; in 1985, the deadline was revised to April 15. During the period from 1984 through

1990, actions on several budget resolutions was not completed until August or October. In four ⁶

instances, the House and Senate were not able to reach agreement on a budget resolution.
As Table 2 (at the end of the report) shows, the House and Senate reached final agreement on a
budget resolution in each of the five transition years. In four years, final agreement was reached
in May (no later than May 21). During the first year of the Clinton Administration, the two
chambers reached agreement even earlier, on April 1. In this case, the agreement on the budget
resolution was reached a week before President Clinton submitted his budget to Congress, but
extensive negotiations between Congress and the President ensured that the budget resolution
accommodated his major budgetary proposals.
The budget reconciliation process is an optional procedure under the Congressional Budget and
Impoundment Control Act of 1974 that operates as an adjunct to the annual budget resolution
process. The chief purpose of the reconciliation process is to enhance Congress’s ability to
change current law in order to bring revenue and spending levels into conformity with the
policies of the budget resolution. Accordingly, reconciliation probably is the most potent budget
enforcement tool available to Congress for a large portion of the budget.
Reconciliation was first used by the House and Senate in calendar year 1980 for FY1981. As an
optional procedure, it has not been used every year. During the period from 1980 to 2008, 19
reconciliation measures were enacted into law and three were vetoed.
⁵
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^actⁱ^oⁿ^on^seco^nd^b^u^d^g^et^r^e^so^l^u^tⁱ^on^{s i}ⁿ¹⁹⁷⁷⁽^f^o^r^F^Y¹⁹⁷⁸⁾^and¹⁹⁸¹⁽^f^o^r^F^Y¹⁹⁸²⁾^.
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^Tool^{, by}^R^obe^r^t^K^e^it^h.

The congressional budget process timetable prescribes June 15 as the deadline for completing
action on any required reconciliation legislation, but there is no explicit requirement to that effect.
The record of experience with all 22 reconciliation measures passed by the House and Senate
since 1980 indicates considerable variation in the time needed to process such measures. The
interval from the date the reconciliation instructions take effect (upon final adoption of the budget
resolution) until the resultant reconciliation legislation is approved or vetoed by the President
ranged from a low of 27 days (for the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990) to a high of
384 days (for the Tax Increase Prevention and Reconciliation Act of 2005). On average, the
process was completed in nearly five months, more than twice the amount of time contemplated
by the congressional budget process timetable.
With respect to the five transition years, Table 3 (at the end of the report) shows that
reconciliation was used in four of the five instances. Reconciliation was not used during the
Carter transition. In three instances, an omnibus budget reconciliation act was enacted into law
between the spring and the summer recess. In 1989, an omnibus budget reconciliation was
enacted late in the session, on November 22.
Total federal spending encompasses discretionary spending, which is provided in annual
appropriations acts under the jurisdiction of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees,
and mandatory spending, which stems from substantive law under the jurisdiction of the
legislative committees of the House and Senate. This section provides information on the three
categories of annual appropriations legislation—regular, supplemental, and continuing
appropriations acts; information on mandatory spending legislation is excluded.
Under the congressional budget process timetable, the House and Senate begin consideration of
the regular appropriations acts following the adoption of the budget resolution with the aim of
completing action on them by the start of the fiscal year on October 1. In addition, the two
chambers act on at least one supplemental appropriations act, typically before consideration of the
regular appropriations acts begins. Finally, the House and Senate usually consider at least one
continuing resolution to provide stop-gap funding after the start of the fiscal year until action on
all of the regular appropriations acts is completed.
During the period that the congressional budget process has been in effect, the House and Senate
have completed action on the regular appropriations acts before the start of the year only four
times (for FY1977, FY1989, FY1995, and FY1997); action on unfinished regular appropriations
acts usually is completed by the end of the calendar year, but sometimes carries over into the
following session. Accordingly, multiple continuing resolutions are enacted in a typical year.
Table 4, Table 5, and Table 6 (at the end of the report) provide information regarding
congressional action on supplemental, regular, and continuing appropriations acts, respectively.
Table 4 shows that a total of 15 supplemental appropriations acts were enacted during the five
transition years, ranging from two to four such acts each year. All but four of the acts were
enacted between February and July; one was enacted in August and three were enacted in
September.
Table 5 shows that while all thirteen of the regular appropriations bills were enacted during the
transition years of the Carter, George H.W. Bush, Clinton, and George W. Bush administrations,

and nine of the thirteen were enacted during the transition year of the Reagan administration, not
all of this was accomplished in the prescribed timeframe. During the Carter administration, 10
appropriations acts were enacted by October 1, but the during the other administrations, the
number enacted by this date were none (Reagan, G.W. Bush), one (G.H.W. Bush), or two
(Clinton). While the appropriations process was completed under most administrations by the end
of the calendar year, the process extended into January under the G.W. Bush administration.
Table 6 shows that continuing appropriations acts were used in transition years during all five
administrations. Under the Carter, Regan, G.H.W. Bush, and Clinton administrations, three
continuing resolutions were enacted each year, while under the G.W. Bush administration eight
continuing resolutions were enacted. In the case of the G.W. Bush administration, the final
continuing resolution, enacted December 20, provided funding into January, when the last of his
regular appropriations acts were completed.
As required by the Constitution, legislation affecting revenues originates in the House of
Representatives, but the Senate has latitude to amend any revenue bills received from the House.
Most laws that establish revenue sources are permanent and continue each year without
legislative action, but in most years, Presidents propose changes in revenue law to alter tax rates,
modify the distribution of the tax burden, or make other changes in revenue policy.
Revenue acts can also be initiated through the reconciliation process provided for in the
Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974. The act provides for the adoption
of a budget resolution (discussed above), which may contain reconciliation directives instructing
the relevant congressional committees to report changes to existing revenue legislation to meet
the recommended levels of revenues. The reconciliation process was used to enact revenue
legislation under the G.H.W. Bush, Clinton, and G.W. Bush administrations.
The timing of action on major revenue legislation may vary considerably from one measure to the
next. Some revenue measures may be enacted after only a few months of consideration, while the
enactment of other revenue measures may not occur until well into the following year. This
pattern also holds true for revenue measures considered under the reconciliation process.
Table 7 illustrates that a major revenue measure was enacted into law during the transition year
of each of the five administrations. Three of these revenue acts, under G.H.W. Bush, Clinton, and
G.W. Bush, were reconciliation measures. Congressional action was fairly timely in four instances
(with enactment occurring between May and August), but the 1989 legislation (under President
G.H.W. Bush) was not enacted until November 22.
Almost all borrowing by the federal government is conducted by the Treasury Department, within
the restrictions established by a single, statutory limit on the total amount of debt that may be
outstanding at any time. Most adjustments to the debt limit have been increases, but sometimes ⁷
the change has been a reduction.
⁷
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⁽^c^onti^nue^d.^..)

The annual budget resolution includes recommended levels of the public debt limit for each fiscal
year covered by the resolution. Because a budget resolution does not become law, Congress and
the President must enact legislation in order to implement budget resolution policies. The House
and Senate may develop and consider legislation adjusting the debt limit in any one of three
ways: (1) under regular legislative procedures in both chambers, either as freestanding legislation
or as a part of a measure dealing with other topics; (2) pursuant to House Rule XXVII (the so-
called Gephardt rule); or (3) as part of the budget reconciliation process provided for under the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974. During the period from 1940 to the present, Congress and the
President have enacted a total of 88 measures adjusting the public debt limit—70 under regular
legislative procedures in both chambers, 14 under the Gephardt rule, and 4 under reconciliation
procedures.
The timing of legislative action on measures adjusting the debt limit is not as predictable as the
timing of action on other types of budgetary legislation. Legislative action can occur at any point
in the session as the need to adjust the debt limit requires.
Table 8 shows that between one and three debt limit measures were enacted during each
transition year, except during the G.W. Bush administration. All three methods of adjusting the
debt limit were employed, but only one of the measures (in 1993 during the Clinton transition
year) was a reconciliation act.

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^De^{bt Limit:}^{A Brie}^{f Ov}^e^r^vⁱ^e^w^{, by}^{Bill He}^nif^f^Jr.

Table 2. Dates of House and Senate Action on First Budget Resolutions
^Calendar^Year^{s 1977, 198}^{1, 1989, 19}^{93, and 2001}
^{Date House}^{Date Senat}^e
^{Date of Initial}^{Date of Initial}^{Agreed to}^{Agreed to}
^Calendar^House^Senate^Conferen^ce^Conferen^ce
^Measure^Year^Passage^Passage^Report^Report
^{President Jimmy Carter}
^{First Budget Resolution}¹⁹⁷⁷^{May 5}^{May 4}^{May 1}⁷^{May 1}³
^{for FY197}^{8 (S.Con.Res.}
¹⁹⁾
^{President Ronald Reagan}
^{First Budget Resolution}¹⁹⁸¹^{May 7}^{May 1}²^{May 2}⁰^{May 2}¹
^{for FY198}^{2 (H.Con.Res.}
¹¹⁵⁾
^{President George H.W. Bush}
^{Budget Resolution for}¹⁹⁸⁹^{May 4}^{May 4}^{May 1}⁷^{May 1}⁸
^FY1990^(H.Con.Res.
¹⁰⁶⁾
^{President Bi}^{ll Clinton}
^{Budget Resolution for}¹⁹⁹³^March¹⁸^March²⁵^March³¹^{April 1}
^FY1994^{(H.ConRes. 64)}
^{President George W. Bush}
^{Budget Resolution for}²⁰⁰¹^March²⁸^{April 6}^{May 9}^{May 1}⁰
^FY2002^(H.Con.Res.⁸³⁾
^Source:^{CRS Report RL30}²⁹^7,^{Congressional Budget Resolutions:}^{Selected Statistics and Information Guide}^{, by Bill}
^{Heniff J}^{r. and J}^{ustin M}^urra^y.
^Notes:^{During the early years}^of^{the congr}^{essional budget}^proces^{s, the House a}^{nd Senate we}^{re re}^{quired to}
^{adopt a second b}^{udget resolution in the fall. The pra}^{ctice was aba}ⁿ^{doned during the}¹⁹⁸⁰^{s. This table excludes}
^{House and Senat}^{e action on seco}^{nd budget}^{resolutions in 1}⁹⁷⁷^(fo^{r FY197}^{8) and}¹⁹^{81 (for}^FY198²⁾^{. In some}
^{instances, dates of initial Senate p}^{assage refer}^{to action on a comp}^{anion measur}^e.

Table 3. Dates of House and Senate Action on Budget Reconciliation Acts
^Calendar^Year^{s 1977, 198}^{1, 1989, 19}^{93, and 2001}
^{Date House}^{Date Senat}^e
^{Date of Initial}^{Date of Initial}^{Agreed to}^{Agreed to}
^Calendar^House^Senate^Conferen^ce^Conferen^ce
^Measure^Year^Passage^Passage^Report^Report
^{President Jimmy Carter}
^[none]¹⁹⁷⁷^{— — — —}
^{President Ronald Reagan}
^Omnibu^{s Budget}¹⁹⁸¹^{June 26}^{June 25}^July³¹^July³¹
^Reconciliat^{ion Act of}
¹⁹⁸^{1 (P.L. 97-3}^{5; Aug}^ust
^{13, 1}⁹⁸¹⁾
^{President George H.W. Bush}
^Omnibu^{s Budget}¹⁹⁸⁹^{October 5}^{October 13}^{November 22}^{November 22}
^Reconciliat^{ion Act of}
¹⁹⁸^{9 (P.L. 10}^1-23^9;
^{December 19,}¹⁹⁸⁹⁾
^{President Bi}^{ll Clinton}
^Omnibu^{s Budget}¹⁹⁹³^May²⁷^{June 25}^{August 5}^{August 6}
^Reconciliat^{ion Act of}
¹⁹⁹^{3 (P.L. 10}^3-66;
^{August 10,}¹⁹⁹³⁾
^{President George W. Bush}
^{Economic Growth}^and²⁰⁰¹^{May 1}⁶^{May 2}³^{May 2}⁶^{May 2}⁶
^{Tax Relief Reconciliat}^ion
^{Act of 20}^{01 (P.L. 10}^7-
^{16; J}^une^{7, 2}⁰⁰¹⁾
^Source:^{CRS Report RL33}⁰³^0,^{The Budget Reconciliation Proces}^{s: H}^{ouse and Senate Procedures}^{, by Robert Keith}
^{and Bill Heniff Jr.}
^Notes^{: The 1989,}¹⁹^{93, and}²⁰⁰¹^{reconciliation acts included rev}^{enue c}^hange^{s and also are includ}^{ed in . In}
^additi^{on, the 19}⁹³^{reconciliation act included an incr}^{ease in t}^{he de}^{bt limit and also is included in}^{Table 8}^{. In}
^{some instances, dates of initial Senate pas}^{sage refe}^{r to action on a}^{companion meas}^ure.

Table 4. Dates of House and Senate Action on Supplemental Appropriations Acts
^Calendar^Year^{s 1977, 198}^{1, 1989, 19}^{93, and 2001}
^{Date House}^{Date Senat}^e
^{Date of Initial}^{Date of Initial}^{Agreed to}^{Agreed to}
^Calendar^House^Senate^Conferen^ce^Conferen^ce
^Measure^Year^Passage^Passage^Report^Report
^{President Jimmy Carter}
^{Urgent Power}¹⁹⁷⁷^Februar^{y 7}^Februar^{y 7}^—^—
^Suppleme^{ntal, FY1977}
^{(P.L. 95-3; Februa}^ry^16,
¹⁹⁷⁷⁾
^{Urgent Disaster}¹⁹⁷⁷^March³^March¹¹^—^—
^Suppleme^{ntal, FY1977}
^{(P.L. 95-13; Mar}^ch^21,
¹⁹⁷⁷⁾
^Suppleme^{ntal, FY1977}¹⁹⁷⁷^March¹⁶^{April 1}^{April 21}^{April 22}
^{(P.L. 95-26; May}^4,
¹⁹⁷⁷⁾
^{Economic Stimulus}¹⁹⁷⁷^March¹⁵^{May 2}^{May 4}^{May 5}
^Approp^{riations, FY1977}
^{(P.L. 95-29; May}^13,
¹⁹⁷⁷⁾
^{President Ronald Reagan}
^Suppleme^ntal¹⁹⁸¹^{May 1}³^{May 2}¹^June⁴^June⁴
^Approp^{riations and}
^{Rescission Act, FY1981}
^{(P.L. 97-12; Ju}^ne^5,
¹⁹⁸¹⁾
^{Urgent Su}^pplemental,¹⁹⁸¹^{July 2}³^{July 2}³^—^—
^FY1981^{(P.L. 97-26;}^July
^{29, 1}⁹⁸¹⁾
^{President George H.W. Bush}
^{Act to Implement}^the¹⁹⁸⁹^{April 13}^{April 13}^—^—
^{Bipartisan Accord on}
^{Central America (P.L.}
^101-^{14; A}^{pril 18, 1}⁹⁸⁹⁾
^{Dire Emergen}^cy¹⁹⁸⁹^{May 1}⁸^{May 1}⁸^—^—
^Suppleme^{ntal, FY1989}
^{(P.L. 101-45;}^Ju^{ne 3}^0,
¹⁹⁸⁹⁾
^Continuing¹⁹⁸⁹^September²⁶^September²⁸^—^—

^Approp^{riations, FY1990,}
^{and Hu}^rricane^Hugo
^{Relief, F}^Y1989^{(P.L. 101-}
^{100; Se}^ptemb^{er 2}^9,
¹⁹⁸⁹⁾

^{Date House}^{Date Senat}^e
^{Date of Initial}^{Date of Initial}^{Agreed to}^{Agreed to}
^Calendar^House^Senate^Conferen^ce^Conferen^ce
^Measure^Year^Passage^Passage^Report^Report
^{President Bi}^{ll Clinton}
^Emerge^ncy¹⁹⁹³^March¹⁹^{April 21}^—^—
^Suppleme^{ntal, FY1994}
^{(P.L. 103-24; A}^{pril 23,}
¹⁹⁹³⁾
^Suppleme^{ntal, FY1993}¹⁹⁹³^{May 2}⁶^June²²^{July 1}^{July 1}
^{(P.L. 103-50; J}^{uly 2,}
¹⁹⁹³⁾
^Emerge^ncy¹⁹⁹^{3 July}²⁷^August⁴^—^—
^Suppleme^{ntal, FY1993}
^{(P.L. 103-75; A}^ugust¹^2,
¹⁹⁹³⁾
^{Foreign Operations,}¹⁹⁹³^June¹⁷^September²³^September²⁹^September³⁰
^FY1994^{(Title VI,}
^Suppleme^{ntal, FY1993)}
^{(P.L. 103-87; Sept}^embe^r
^{30, 1}⁹⁹³⁾
^{President George W. Bush}
^Suppleme^{ntal, FY2001}²⁰⁰¹^June²⁰^{July 1}⁰^{July 2}⁰^{July 2}⁰
^{(P.L. 107-20; J}^{uly 2}^4,
²⁰⁰¹⁾
^Emerge^ncy²⁰⁰¹^September¹⁴^September¹⁴^—^—
^Suppleme^{ntal, FY2001}
^{(P.L. 107-38; Sept}^embe^r
^{18, 2}⁰⁰¹⁾
^Source:^{Legislative Information}^{System and Congressional Budge}^{t Office,}^{Supplemental Appropriatio}^{ns in the}
^1970s^{(July 1}⁹⁸^1),^{Supplemental Appropriations in the 1980s}^(Febr^ua^{ry 1}⁹⁹^0),^{Supplemental Appropriations in the}
^1990s^(March²⁰⁰^{1), and}^{Supplemental Appropriations from 2000 t}^o²⁰⁰⁹^(October²⁰^08).
^Notes:^{In some instances, dates}^{of initial Senate passage refer}^{to action on a companion mea}^{sure. I}ⁿ^instan^ces
^where^{no confere}^{nce action occ}^u^{rred, either one c}^hamb^er^passed^{the meas}^{ure f}^{rom the ot}^{her c}^h^a^{mber without}
^{amendment, or t}^{he two cham}^ber^{s resolved their differen}^ces^{by m}^{eans of an}^“exc^{hange of a}^mendm^ents”
^procedure^rathe^{r tha}^{n a con}^fere^nce.

Table 5. Dates of House and Senate Action on Regular Appropriations Acts
^Calendar^Year^{s 1977, 198}^{1, 1989, 19}^{93, and 2001}
^{Date House}^{Date Senat}^e
^{Date of Initial}^{Date of Initial}^{Agreed to}^{Agreed to}
^Calendar^House^Senate^Conferen^ce^Conferen^ce
^Measure^Year^Passage^Passage^Report^Report
^{President Jimmy Carter}
^{Agriculture, FY19}⁷⁸¹⁹⁷⁷^{June 21}^{June 29}^July²⁷^July²⁹
^{(P.L. 95-97; Aug}^ust^12,
¹⁹⁷⁷⁾
^{Defense, FY19}^{78 (P.L.}¹⁹⁷⁷^June³⁰^{July 1}⁹^September⁸^September⁹
^95-1^{11; Sept}^embe^{r 2}^1,
¹⁹⁷⁷⁾
^{District of Columbia,}¹⁹⁷⁷^September¹⁶^October⁴^{May 1}⁶^{May 2}³
^FY1978^{(P.L. 95-28}^8;⁽¹⁹⁷⁸⁾⁽¹⁹⁷⁸⁾
^{June 5,}¹⁹⁷⁸⁾
^{Foreign Assistance,}¹⁹⁷⁷^{June 23}^{August 5}^{October 18}^{October 19}
^FY1978^{(P.L. 95-14}^8;
^{October 31,}¹⁹⁷⁷⁾
^{Interior, FY197}^{8 (P.L.}¹⁹⁷⁷^{June 9}^{June 17}^July¹²^July¹³
^95-7^4;^{July 26, 19}⁷⁷⁾
^{HUD, FY1978 (P.L. 95-}¹⁹⁷⁷^{June 15}^{June 24}^July¹⁹^September²³
^119;^October^{4, 1}⁹⁷⁷⁾
^{Labor, HEW, FY19}⁷⁸¹⁹⁷⁷^{June 17}^{June 29}^—^a^November³
^(H.R.⁷⁵⁵⁵⁾
^{Legislative Branch (P.L.}¹⁹⁷⁷^June²⁹^{July 1}⁸^{July 2}⁶^{July 2}⁶
^95-9^{4; Aug}^ust^{5, 19}⁷⁷⁾
^{Military Construction,}¹⁹⁷⁷^{June 21}^{June 29}^{August 5}^{August 5}
^FY1978^{(P.L. 95-10}^1;
^{August 15,}¹⁹⁷⁷⁾
^{Public Works (P.L. 95-}¹⁹⁷⁷^June¹⁴^{July 1}³^{July 2}⁵^{July 2}⁵
^{96; Aug}^ust^{7, 19}⁷⁷⁾
^{State, Justice (P.L. 95-86;}¹⁹⁷⁷^{June 13}^{June 24}^July¹⁸^July¹⁹
^{August 2,}¹⁹⁷⁷⁾
^{Transportation (P.L. 95-}¹⁹⁷⁷^{June 8}^{June 23}^July¹⁸^July²⁰
^{85; Aug}^ust^{2, 19}⁷⁷⁾
^{Treasury, Postal (P.L.}¹⁹⁷⁷^{June 8}^{June 20}^July¹⁴^July¹⁴
^95-8^1;^{July 31, 19}⁷⁷⁾
^{President Ronald Reagan}
^{Agriculture, FY19}⁸²¹⁹⁸¹^July²⁷^{October 30}^{December 15}^{December 15}
^{(P.L. 97-103; Decem}^ber
^{23, 1}⁹⁸¹⁾
^{Commerce, Justice,}¹⁹⁸^{1 September}⁹^—^b^—^b^—^b

^{State, FY1982 (H.R.}
⁴¹⁶⁹⁾

^{Date House}^{Date Senat}^e
^{Date of Initial}^{Date of Initial}^{Agreed to}^{Agreed to}
^Calendar^House^Senate^Conferen^ce^Conferen^ce
^Measure^Year^Passage^Passage^Report^Report
^{Defense, FY19}^{82 (P.L.}¹⁹⁸¹^{November 18}^{December 4}^{December 15}^{December 15}
^97-1^{14; Decem}^ber^29,
¹⁹⁸¹⁾
^{District of Columbia,}¹⁹⁸¹^September²²^{October 30}^{November 18}^{November 19}
^FY1982^{(P.L. 97-91;}
^{December 4,}¹⁹⁸¹⁾
^Energ^{y and Water,}¹⁹⁸¹^July²⁴^{November 5}^{November 20}^{November 21}
^FY1982^{(P.L. 97-88;}
^{December 4,}¹⁹⁸¹⁾
^{Foreign Assistance,}¹⁹⁸¹^{December 11}^{December 11}^{December 16}^{December 16}
^FY1982^{(P.L. 97-12}^1;
^{December 29,}¹⁹⁸¹⁾
^{HUD, FY1982 (P.L. 97-}¹⁹⁸¹^{July 2}¹^{July 3}⁰^September¹⁵^November²¹
^{101; Dec}^embe^{r 2}^3,
¹⁹⁸¹⁾
^{Interior, FY198}^{2 (P.L.}¹⁹⁸¹^July²²^{October 27}^{November 12}^{December 10}
^97-1^{00; Decem}^ber^23,
¹⁹⁸¹⁾
^{Labor, Health,}¹⁹⁸^{1 October}⁶^—^b^—^b^—^b
^{Education, FY198}^{2 (H.R.}
⁴⁵⁶⁰⁾
^{Legislative Branch,}¹⁹⁸¹^{[not considered by eithe}^{r c}^hamb^er]
^FY1982^{(H.R. 412}⁰⁾
^{Military Construction,}¹⁹⁸¹^September¹⁶^{December 4}^{December 15}^{December 15}
^FY1982^{(P.L. 97-10}^6;
^{December 23,}¹⁹⁸¹⁾
^{Transportation, FY198}²¹⁹⁸¹^September¹⁰^{November 3}^{December 14}^{December 14}
^{(P.L. 97-102; Decem}^ber
^{23, 1}⁹⁸¹⁾
^{Treasury, FY19}⁸²^(H.R.¹⁹⁸^{1 July}³⁰^—^c^—^c^—^c
⁴¹²¹⁾
^{President George H.W. Bush}
^{Agriculture, FY19}⁹⁰¹⁹⁸⁹^{July 1}⁸^{July 2}⁷^November¹⁶^November¹⁶
^{(P.L. 101-16}^1;
^{November 21, 19}⁸⁹⁾
^{Commerce, Justice,}¹⁹⁸⁹^{August 1}^September²⁹^{November 7}^{November 8}
^{State, Judiciary, FY1990}^{(second report)}^{(second report)}
^{(P.L. 101-16}^2;
^{November 21, 19}⁸⁹⁾
^{Defense, FY19}^{90 (P.L.}¹⁹⁸⁹^{August 4}^September²⁹^{November 15}^{November 17}
^101-¹⁶^{5; Novem}^ber^21,
¹⁹⁸⁹⁾
^{District of Columbia,}¹⁹⁸^{9 August}³^September¹⁴^—^d^—^d

^FY1990^{(P.L. 101-1}^68;
^{November 21, 19}⁸⁹⁾

^{Date House}^{Date Senat}^e
^{Date of Initial}^{Date of Initial}^{Agreed to}^{Agreed to}
^Calendar^House^Senate^Conferen^ce^Conferen^ce
^Measure^Year^Passage^Passage^Report^Report
^Energ^{y and Water,}¹⁹⁸⁹^June²⁸^{July 2}⁷^September¹²^September¹⁴
^FY1990^{(P.L. 101-1}^01;
^September²^{9, 19}⁸⁹⁾
^{Foreign Operations,}¹⁹⁸⁹^{July 2}¹^September²⁶^—^d^—^d
^FY1990^{(P.L. 101-1}^67;
^{November 21, 19}⁸⁹⁾
^{Interior, FY199}^{0 (P.L.}¹⁹⁸⁹^{July 1}²^{July 2}⁶^October³^October⁷
^101-¹²^{1; Octobe}^{r 2}^3,
¹⁹⁸⁹⁾
^{Labor, HHS, Education,}¹⁹⁸^{9 August}²^September²⁶^—^d^—^d
^FY1990^{(P.L. 101-1}^66;
^{November 21, 19}⁸⁹⁾
^{Legislative Branch,}¹⁹⁸⁹^{July 3}¹^September⁷^September²⁸^November¹
^FY1990^{(P.L. 101-1}^63;
^{November 21, 19}⁸⁹⁾
^{Military Construction,}¹⁹⁸⁹^{July 3}¹^September¹⁵^October²⁶^October²⁷
^FY1990^{(P.L. 101-1}^48;
^{November 10, 19}⁸⁹⁾
^{Transportation, FY199}⁰¹⁹⁸⁹^{August 3}^September²⁷^{October 31}^{November 9}
^{(P.L. 101-16}^4;
^{November 21, 19}⁸⁹⁾
^{Treasury, Postal,}¹⁹⁸⁹^July²⁸^{August 4}^{October 17}^{October 18}
^FY1990^{(P.L. 101-1}^36;
^{November 3,}¹⁹⁸⁹⁾
^{VA, HUD, FY1990 (P.L.}¹⁹⁸⁹^{July 2}⁰^September²⁸^October²⁴^October²⁷
^101-¹⁴^{4; Novem}^ber^9,
¹⁹⁸⁹⁾
^{President Bi}^{ll Clinton}
^{Agriculture, FY19}⁹⁴¹⁹⁹³^June²⁹^{July 2}⁷^August⁶^September²³
^{(P.L. 103-11}^{1; Octobe}^r
^{21, 1}⁹⁹³⁾
^{Commerce, Justice,}¹⁹⁹³^{July 2}⁰^{July 2}⁹^October¹⁹^October²¹
^{State, Judiciary, FY1994}
^{(P.L. 103-12}^{1; Octobe}^r
^{27, 1}⁹⁹³⁾
^{Defense, FY19}^{94 (P.L.}¹⁹⁹³^September³⁰^{October 21}^{November 10}^{November 10}
^103-¹³^{9; Novem}^ber^11,
¹⁹⁹³⁾
^{District of Columbia,}¹⁹⁹³^{June 30}^July²⁷^{October 27}^{October 27}
^FY1994^{(P.L. 103-1}^27;
^{October 29,}¹⁹⁹³⁾
^Energ^{y and Water,}¹⁹⁹³^{June 24}^September³⁰^{October 26}^{October 27}

^FY1994^{(P.L. 103-1}^26;
^October^{28, 1}⁹⁹³⁾

^{Date House}^{Date Senat}^e
^{Date of Initial}^{Date of Initial}^{Agreed to}^{Agreed to}
^Calendar^House^Senate^Conferen^ce^Conferen^ce
^Measure^Year^Passage^Passage^Report^Report
^{Foreign Operations,}¹⁹⁹³^June¹⁷^September²³^September²⁹^September³⁰
^FY1994^{(P.L. 103-8}^7;
^September³^{0, 19}⁹³⁾
^{Interior, FY199}^{4 (P.L.}¹⁹⁹³^{July 1}⁵^September¹⁵^October²⁰^November⁹
^103-¹³^{8; Novem}^ber^11,
¹⁹⁹³⁾
^{Labor, HHS, Education,}¹⁹⁹³^{June 30}^September²⁹^{October 7}^{October 18}
^FY1994^{(P.L. 103-1}^12;
^{October 21,}¹⁹⁹³⁾
^{Legislative Branch,}¹⁹⁹³^{June 10}^July²³^{August 6}^{August 6}
^FY1994^{(P.L. 103-6}^9;
^{August 11,}¹⁹⁹³⁾
^{Military Construction,}¹⁹⁹³^{June 23}^September³⁰^{October 13}^{October 19}
^FY1994^{(P.L. 103-1}^10;
^{October 21,}¹⁹⁹³⁾
^{Transportation,FY199}⁴¹⁹⁹³^September²³^{October 6}^{October 21}^{October 21}
^{(P.L. 103-12}^{2; Octobe}^r
^{27, 1}⁹⁹³⁾
^{Treasury, Postal,}¹⁹⁹³^{June 22}^{August 3}^September²⁹^{October 26}
^FY1994^{(P.L. 103-1}^23;
^{October 28,}¹⁹⁹³⁾
^{VA, HUD, FY1994 (P.L.}¹⁹⁹³^{June 29}^September²²^{October 19}^{October 21}
^103-¹²^{4; Octobe}^{r 2}^8,
¹⁹⁹³⁾
^{President George W. Bush}
^{Agriculture, FY20}⁰²²⁰⁰¹^July¹¹^{October 25}^{November 13}^{November 15}
^{(P.L. 107-76;}^Novembe^r
^{28, 2}⁰⁰¹⁾
^{Commerce, Justice,}²⁰⁰¹^{July 1}⁸^September¹³^November¹⁴^November¹⁵
^{State, Judiciary, FY2002}
^{(P.L. 107-77;}^Novembe^r
^{28, 2}⁰⁰¹⁾
^{Defense, FY20}^{02 (P.L.}²⁰⁰¹^{November 28}^{December 7}^{December 20}^{December 20}
^107-¹¹^{7; Jan}^uary¹^0,
²⁰⁰²⁾
^{District of Columbia,}²⁰⁰¹^September²⁵^{November 7}^{December 6}^{December 7}
^FY2002^{(P.L. 107-9}^6;
^{December 21,}²⁰⁰¹⁾
^Energ^{y and Water,}²⁰⁰¹^{June 28}^July¹⁹^{November 1}^{November 1}
^FY2002^{(P.L. 107-6}^6;
^{November 12, 20}⁰¹⁾
^{Foreign Operations,}²⁰⁰¹^July²⁴^{October 24}^{December 19}^{December 20}

^FY2002^{(P.L. 107-1}^15;
^Janua^{ry 1}^{0, 2}⁰⁰²⁾

^{Date House}^{Date Senat}^e
^{Date of Initial}^{Date of Initial}^{Agreed to}^{Agreed to}
^Calendar^House^Senate^Conferen^ce^Conferen^ce
^Measure^Year^Passage^Passage^Report^Report
^{Interior, FY200}^{2 (P.L.}²⁰⁰¹^{June 21}^July¹²^{October 17}^{October 17}
^107-^{63; Novembe}^r^5,
²⁰⁰¹⁾
^{Labor, HHS, Education,}²⁰⁰¹^{October 11}^{November 6}^{December 19}^{December 20}
^FY2002^{(P.L. 107-1}^16;
^Janua^{ry 1}^{0, 2}⁰⁰²⁾
^{Legislative Branch,}²⁰⁰¹^{July 3}¹^{July 1}⁹^November¹^November¹
^FY2002^{(P.L. 107-6}^8;
^{November 12, 20}⁰¹⁾
^{Military Construction,}²⁰⁰¹^September²¹^September²⁶^October¹⁷^October¹⁸
^FY2002^{(P.L. 107-6}^4;
^{November 5,}²⁰⁰¹⁾
^{Transportation, FY200}²²⁰⁰¹^{June 26}^{August 1}^{November 30}^{December 4}
^{(P.L. 107-87; Decem}^ber
^{18, 2}⁰⁰¹⁾
^{Treasury, Postal,}²⁰⁰¹^{July 2}⁵^September¹⁹^October³¹^November¹
^FY2002^{(P.L. 107-6}^7;
^{November 12, 20}⁰¹⁾
^{VA, HUD, FY2002 (P.L.}²⁰⁰¹^July³¹^{August 2}^{November 8}^{November 8}
^107-^{73; Novembe}^r²^6,
²⁰⁰¹⁾
^Source:^{Legislative Information}^{System and Calendars of t}^{he Hou}^{se of Represe}^ntatives.
^Notes:^{In some instances, dates}^{of initial Senate passage refer}^{to action on a companion mea}^{sure. I}ⁿ^instan^ces
^where^{no confere}^{nce action occ}^u^{rred, either one c}^hamb^er^passed^{the meas}^{ure f}^{rom the ot}^{her c}^h^a^{mber without}
^{amendment, or t}^{he two cham}^ber^{s resolved their differen}^ces^{by m}^{eans of an}^“exc^{hange of a}^mendm^ents”
^procedure^rathe^{r tha}^{n a con}^fere^nce.
^a.^{The Senate agreed to a t}^{hird con}^ference^report^{on the}^measu^{re o}ⁿ^Novem^ber^{3; the}^{House did no}^{t agree}
^{to the confer}^ence^{report a}^{nd f}^u^r^{ther actions to resolve t}^{he differ}^ences^between^{the two c}^hamb^er^{s on the}
^{bill were not succes}^sful.
^b.^{The Senate did not consider the}^{bill and no furt}^{her action occ}^urre^d.
^c.^{The Senate considered, b}^{ut did not pass, the}^{bill and no furt}^{her ac}^{tion occurred.}
^d.^Foll^{owing unsucce}^{ssful action on}^{initial version(s) of the act, a subs}^eque^{nt meas}^{ure was}^{passed in}^identical
^{form by t}^{he two c}^hambe^{rs, obviating the n}^{eed for a con}^feren^ce.

Table 6. Dates of House and Senate Action on Continuing Appropriations Acts
^Calendar^Year^{s 1977, 198}^{1, 1989, 19}^{93, and 2001}
^{Date House}^{Date Senat}^e
^{Date of Initial}^{Date of Initial}^{Agreed to}^{Agreed to}
^Calendar^House^Senate^Conferen^ce^Conferen^ce
^Measure^Year^Passage^Passage^Report^Report
^{President Jimmy Carter}
^Continuing¹⁹⁷⁷^{October 13}^{October 13}^—^—
^Approp^{riations for}
^FY1978^{(P.L. 95-13}^0;
^{October 13,}¹⁹⁷⁷⁾
^Further^Continuing¹⁹⁷⁷^{November 3}^{November 4}^—^—
^Approp^{riations for}
^FY1978^{(P.L. 95-16}^5;
^{November 9,}¹⁹⁷⁷⁾
^Further^Continuing¹⁹⁷⁷^{December 6}^{December 6}^—^—
^Approp^{riations for}
^FY1978^{(P.L. 95-20}^5;
^{December 9,}¹⁹⁷⁷⁾
^{President Ronald Reagan}
^Continuing¹⁹⁸¹^September¹⁶^September²⁵^September³⁰^September³⁰
^Approp^{riations for}
^FY1982^{(P.L. 97-51;}
^{October 1,}¹⁹⁸¹⁾
^Further^Continuing¹⁹⁸¹^{November 23}^{November 23}^—^—
^Approp^{riations for}
^FY1982^{(P.L. 97-85;}
^{November 23, 19}⁸¹⁾
^Further^Continuing¹⁹⁸¹^{December 10}^{December 11}^—^—
^Approp^{riations for}
^FY1982^{(P.L. 97-92;}
^{December 15,}¹⁹⁸¹⁾
^{President George H.W. Bush}
^Continuing¹⁹⁸⁹^September²⁶^September²⁸^—^—
^Approp^{riations for}
^FY1990^{(P.L. 101-1}^00;
^September²^{9, 19}⁸⁹⁾
^Further^Continuing¹⁹⁸⁹^{October 24}^{October 25}^—^—
^Approp^{riations for}
^FY1990^{(P.L. 101-1}^30;
^{October 26,}¹⁹⁸⁹⁾
^Further^Continuing¹⁹⁸⁹^{November 15}^{November 15}^—^—
^Approp^{riations for}
^FY1990^{(P.L. 101-1}^54;
^{November 15, 19}⁸⁹⁾
^{President Bi}^{ll Clinton}
^Continuing¹⁹⁹³^September²⁹^September²⁹^—^—

^Approp^{riations for}
^FY1994^{(P.L. 103-8}^8;
^September³^{0, 19}⁹³⁾

^{Date House}^{Date Senat}^e
^{Date of Initial}^{Date of Initial}^{Agreed to}^{Agreed to}
^Calendar^House^Senate^Conferen^ce^Conferen^ce
^Measure^Year^Passage^Passage^Report^Report
^Further^Continuing¹⁹⁹³^{October 21}^{October 21}^—^—
^Approp^{riations for}
^FY1994^{(P.L. 103-1}^13;
^{October 21,}¹⁹⁹³⁾
^Further^Continuing¹⁹⁹³^{October 28}^{October 28}^—^—
^Approp^{riations for}
^FY1994^{(P.L. 103-1}^28;
^{October 29,}¹⁹⁹³⁾
^{President George W. Bush}
^Continuing²⁰⁰¹^September²⁴^September²⁵^—^—
^Approp^{riations for}
^FY2002^{(P.L. 107-4}^4;
^September²^{8, 20}⁰¹⁾
^Further^Continuing²⁰⁰¹^{October 11}^{October 12}^—^—
^Approp^{riations for}
^FY2002^{(P.L. 107-4}^8;
^{October 12,}²⁰⁰¹⁾
^Further^Continuing²⁰⁰¹^{October 17}^{October 17}^—^—
^Approp^{riations for}
^FY2002^{(P.L. 107-5}^3;
^{October 22,}²⁰⁰¹⁾
^Further^Continuing²⁰⁰¹^{October 25}^{October 25}^—^—
^Approp^{riations for}
^FY2002^{(P.L. 107-5}^8;
^{October 31,}²⁰⁰¹⁾
^Further^Continuing²⁰⁰¹^{November 15}^{November 15}^—^—
^Approp^{riations for}
^FY2002^{(P.L. 107-7}^0;
^{November 17, 20}⁰¹⁾
^Further^Continuing²⁰⁰¹^{December 5}^{December 5}^—^—
^Approp^{riations for}
^FY2002^{(P.L. 107-7}^9;
^{December 7,}²⁰⁰¹⁾
^Further^Continuing²⁰⁰¹^{December 13}^{December 14}^—^—
^Approp^{riations for}
^FY2002^{(P.L. 107-8}^3;
^{December 15,}²⁰⁰¹⁾
^Further^Continuing²⁰⁰¹^{December 20}^{December 20}^—^—
^Approp^{riations for}
^FY2002^{(P.L. 107-9}^7;
^{December 21,}²⁰⁰¹⁾
^Source:^{Legislative Information}^{System and CRS Report RL32}⁶¹⁴^,^{Duration of Contin}^{uing Resolutions}^{in Recent}
^Years^{, by Robert Keith.}
^Notes:^{Under President Reagan, a fourth}^continui^{ng ap}^{propriations act for FY1}⁹⁸^{2 was}^{enacted in}^{the following}
^{calendar year (P.L. 97-1}^61;^Marc^h^{31, 1}⁹⁸^{2). In insta}^nces^where^no^confere^{nce action occu}^{rred, eith}^{er one}
^chambe^{r pas}^{sed the}^measu^{re fro}^{m the othe}^{r cha}^mber^{without am}^{endment, or the}^{two cham}^bers^r^{esolved their}
^differences^{by mea}^{ns of a}ⁿ^“exc^h^{ange of amendme}^nts”^procedur^e^{rather t}^han^{a confe}^rence.

Table 7. Dates of House and Senate Action on Selected Revenue Acts
^Calendar^Year^{s 1977, 198}^{1, 1989, 19}^{93, and 2001}
^{Date House}^{Date Senat}^e
^{Date of Initial}^{Date of Initial}^{Agreed to}^{Agreed to}
^Calendar^House^Senate^Conferen^ce^Conferen^ce
^Measure^Year^Passage^Passage^Report^Report
^{President Jimmy Carter}
^{Tax Reduction and}¹⁹⁷⁷^March⁸^{April 29}^{May 1}⁶^{May 1}⁶
^Simplificati^{on Act of}
¹⁹⁷^{7 (P.L. 95-3}^{0; May}
^{23, 1}⁹⁷⁷⁾
^{President Ronald Reagan}
^{Economic Recovery Act}¹⁹⁸¹^{July 2}⁹^{July 3}¹^August⁴^August³
^{of 19}^{81 (P.L. 97-3}^4;
^{August 13,}¹⁹⁸¹⁾
^{President George H.W. Bush}
^Omnibu^{s Budget}¹⁹⁸⁹^{October 5}^{October 13}^{November 22}^{November 22}
^Reconciliat^{ion Act of}
¹⁹⁸^{9 (P.L. 10}^1-23^9;
^{December 19,}¹⁹⁸⁹⁾
^{President Bi}^{ll Clinton}
^Omnibu^{s Budget}¹⁹⁹³^May²⁷^{June 25}^{August 5}^{August 6}
^Reconciliat^{ion Act of}
¹⁹⁹^{3 (P.L. 10}^3-66;
^{August 10,}¹⁹⁹³⁾
^{President George W. Bush}
^{Economic Growth}^and²⁰⁰¹^{May 1}⁶^{May 2}³^{May 2}⁶^{May 2}⁶
^{Tax Relief}
^Reconciliat^{ion Act of}
²⁰⁰^{1 (P.L. 10}^7-16;^Ju^ne
^{7, 20}⁰¹⁾
^Sources:^{Legislative Informatio}^{n System; Depart}^{ment of t}^{he Tre}^{asury, Of}^{fice of Tax Analysis,}^Rev^{enue Effects of}
^{Major Tax Bills}^{, by Jerry Tem}^{palski, OTA Working Paper 81, revise}^{d September}²⁰^{06, Table}^{2, pp.}¹^{6-17; a}^nd
^{CRS Report RL330}^30,^{The Budget Reconciliation Proce}^{ss: Hou}^{se and}^{Senate Procedures}^{, by Robert Keith and Bill}
^{Heniff J}^r.
^Notes:^{The 198}^{9, 19}^{93, and}²⁰⁰¹^reve^{nue a}^{cts also are reco}^ncilia^{tion acts and are incl}^{uded in}^Tab^{le 3}^.

Table 8. Dates of House and Senate Action on Debt-Limit Acts
^Calendar^Year^{s 1977, 198}^{1, 1989, 19}^{93, and 2001}
^{Date House}
^{Agreed to}^{Date Senat}^{e Agreed}
^{Date of Initial}^{Date of Initial Senate}^Conferen^ce^{to Conferen}^ce
^{Measure Calendar}^Year^{House Passage}^Passage^Report^Report
^{President Jimmy Carter}
^{An Act to In}^{crease t}^{he Tem}^{porary Debt}¹⁹⁷⁷^September²⁸^September³⁰^—^—
^{Limit (P.L. 95-120; Octob}^er^{4, 19}⁷⁷⁾
^{President Ronald Reagan}
^{A Bill t}^o^{Provide for a Temporary}¹⁹⁸¹^Februar^{y 5}^Februar^{y 6}^—^—
^Increase^{in the}^{Public Debt}^{Limit (P.L. 97-}
^{2; Febr}^uary^{7, 19}⁸¹⁾
^{A Bill t}^o^{Provide for a Temporary}¹⁹⁸¹^{May 2}¹^September²⁹^—^—
ⁱ^{ki/CRS-R40085}^Increase^{in the}^{Public Debt}^{Limit (P.L.}
^g/w^97-4^{8; Septem}^ber^{30, 1}⁹⁸¹⁾
^s^.or^{A Joint Resolution to Provide for}^a¹⁹⁸¹^{May 2}¹^September²⁹^—^—
^le^ak^{Temporary I}^ncrease^{in the}^Public^Debt
^{Limit (P.L. 97-49; Septembe}^{r 3}^0,¹⁹⁸¹⁾
^://wiki^{President George H.W. Bush}
^h^ttp^{To Increase t}^{he Statutory}^{Limit on the}¹⁹⁸⁹^{August 1}^{August 4}^—^—
^{Public Debt (P.L. 101-7}^{2; Aug}^ust^{7, 19}⁸⁹⁾
^Increasing^{the Stat}^{utory Limit on}^the¹⁹⁸^{9 May}¹⁷^November⁷^—^—
^{Public Debt (P.L. 101-1}^40;^Nove^mber^8,
¹⁹⁸⁹⁾
^{President Bi}^{ll Clinton}
^{To Provide for a Temporary Incr}^{ease in}¹⁹⁹³^{April 2}^{April 5}^—^—
^{the Pu}^{blic Debt Limit (P.L. 103-1}^{2; April}
^{6, 19}⁹³⁾
^Omnibu^{s Budget Reconciliation Act of}¹⁹⁹³^May²⁷^{June 25}^{August 5}^{August 6}

¹⁹⁹^{3 (P.L. 10}^{3-66, Sec. 1}³¹^{11; A}^ugust^10,
¹⁹⁹³⁾^a

^{Date House}
^{Agreed to}^{Date Senat}^{e Agreed}
^{Date of Initial}^{Date of Initial Senate}^Conferen^ce^{to Conferen}^ce
^{Measure Calendar}^Year^{House Passage}^Passage^Report^Report

^{President George W. Bush}
^{[none] 200}¹^—^—^—^—
^Sources:^{Legislative Informatio}^{n System a}^{nd Office of}^Managem^{ent and Budget,}^{Budget of the Unit}^{ed States Government, Fiscal Year 2009, Historical Tables}^{, February}^4,
²⁰⁰^{8,Table 7-3, p}^{p. 1}^30-1^33.
^Notes^{: In instances w}^here^{no confere}^{nce action occu}^{rred, either}^{one cham}^ber^{passed th}^{e meas}^ure^{from the ot}^{her c}^hambe^{r without}^amendm^{ent, or t}^{he two cha}^mbe^rs
^{resolved their difference}^{s by}^mea^{ns of an “}^exc^{hange of a}^mendmeⁿ^{ts” procedu}^{re rat}^{her t}^{han a}^conf^erence
^a.^{The second debt-limit increase in}¹⁹^{93 was}^{contained in a}^{reconciliation act that also is included in}^{Table 3}^.

ⁱ^{ki/CRS-R40085}
^g/w
^s^.or
^le^ak
^://wiki
^h^ttp

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