Overview
Title
To amend the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to modify the rules with respect to the consideration in the House of Representatives of any resolution providing for an adjournment period of more than three calendar days until the House of Representatives has approved annual appropriation bills, and for other purposes.
ELI5 AI
The "Do Our Job Act" wants to make sure that the people in the House of Representatives can’t take long breaks until they finish their important money-related tasks each year. It tries to keep them working on these until everything is decided, so they can't just leave work unfinished.
Summary AI
H. R. 8840, also known as the "Do Our Job Act," proposes changes to the Congressional Budget Act of 1974. It would prevent the House of Representatives from taking an adjournment of more than three days or having a break during July through December unless annual appropriation bills are approved. The bill also enforces that no rule can waive these new requirements and sets conditions for debating related motions.
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AnalysisAI
Summary of the Bill
H.R. 8840, titled the "Do Our Job Act," seeks to amend the Congressional Budget Act of 1974. This bill specifically targets the procedural operations of the House of Representatives concerning budget appropriations. The primary focus is to alter the rules governing the House's consideration of resolutions that involve adjournment periods longer than three calendar days. The intended reform aims to ensure that such adjournment periods are not entertained until the House has approved the necessary annual appropriation bills. The bill emphasizes increased accountability and efficiency in legislative budgeting processes.
Significant Issues
The bill, while seemingly straightforward, raises several concerns. One of the main issues lies in the definition and enforcement of what constitutes a "pro forma session." The lack of clarity in distinguishing these sessions could lead to varying interpretations and, consequently, inconsistent application of rules. This potentially impacts how the House operates during critical budget deliberations.
Moreover, the bill introduces a mechanism meant to enforce these new rules. However, it does not specify the consequences if these rules are violated, which could lead to uncertainty in enforcement and compliance. The text's complexity is another issue, as the amendments add new layers to the existing legal framework, making it potentially more challenging for legislators to navigate.
Another point of concern is the abbreviation in the discussion time for debating points of order. Limiting each party to only 10 minutes could curb comprehensive deliberations on important legislative concerns, potentially stifling thorough understanding and scrutiny.
Additionally, the short title "Do Our Job Act" is vague and does not convey the bill's specific aim or purpose. This lack of explicitness could hinder public understanding and involvement in the legislative changes being proposed.
Impact on the Public
Broadly speaking, the bill intends to enhance the accountability of the House of Representatives, ensuring budgetary processes are conducted more swiftly and efficiently. This could positively impact the public by promoting timely funding of government operations, potentially reducing inefficiencies and disruptions in government services that could arise from budgetary delays.
Impact on Stakeholders
For legislators and policy makers, the bill demands more rigor in processing appropriation bills before taking extended breaks, which could foster more discipline and reduce legislative backlogs. However, the bill's complexity might add challenges in understanding and implementing the new rules, potentially leading to confusion or misapplication.
For the general public, although the bill promises better budgetary management, the lack of clarity in certain definitions and procedures might translate to less transparency in legislative actions. This could result in diminished trust if the complexities lead to perceived inefficiencies.
Overall, while H.R. 8840 endeavors to streamline the legislative process concerning budget appropriations, the issues it raises must be addressed to ensure its effective implementation and understanding among both public officials and the citizens they serve.
Issues
The definition and enforcement of 'pro forma session' in Section 2 is unclear, which could lead to ambiguity regarding the specific circumstances under which the House can convene solely in this type of session. This uncertainty could impact the legislative process and needs to be clarified to ensure proper application and understanding (Section 2).
The enforcement mechanism described in Section 2, subsection (b) lacks specific details about consequences or actions that should be taken if subsection (a) is violated. Without clear enforcement guidelines, compliance might be inconsistent, potentially affecting the legislative process (Section 2).
The amendment of Section 309 introduces new subsections, potentially adding complexity to the existing legal framework. This increased complexity might make it more difficult for legislators and stakeholders to understand and navigate the processes being amended, impacting transparency and efficiency (Section 2).
The short title 'Do Our Job Act' in Section 1 does not provide any indication of the Act's content or purpose and could lead to ambiguity. This lack of clarity about the Act's intentions might hinder public understanding and engagement with the legislative changes being proposed (Section 1).
The section concerning debate time in Section 2, subsection (d) allows only 10 minutes of debate by the Member initiating the point of order and 10 minutes by an opponent. This limited debate time could restrict thorough discussion on critical points of order, which may affect legislative outcomes and limit comprehensive deliberation on important issues (Section 2).
Sections
Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.
1. Short title Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The first section of the act states that its official title is the “Do Our Job Act.”
2. Completion of House of Representatives action on regular appropriation bills Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 by adding rules that make it not allowed for the House of Representatives to consider certain resolutions or motions during specific times or prolonged pro forma sessions. It also details the enforcement of these rules and how points of order should be debated and decided.