PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Received in the Senate and read twice and referred jointly to the Committees on Budget; Governmental Affairs pursuant to the order of August 4, 1977, with instructions that if one Committee reports, the other Committee have thirty days to report or be discharged.
Congressional Research Service
Version 19 · Reported to House amended, Part II · Jan 30, 1995
Line Item Veto Act - Grants the President legislative line item veto rescission authority. Authorizes the President to rescind all or part of any discretionary budget authority or veto any targeted tax benefit if the President determines that such rescission: (1) would help reduce the Federal budget deficit; (2) will not impair any essential Government functions; and (3) will not harm the national interest. Requires the President to notify the Congress of such a rescission or veto by special message after enactment of an appropriations Act providing such budget authority or a revenue or reconciliation Act containing a targeted tax benefit. Allows the President in each special message to propose to reduce the appropriate discretionary spending limit by an amount that does not exceed the total amount of discretionary budget authority rescinded by that message. Requires the President to submit a separate special message for each appropriations Act and for each revenue or reconciliation Act. Makes such a rescission effective unless the Congress enacts a rescission disapproval bill. Describes: (1) information to be included in the President's message; and (2) procedures to govern consideration of rescission-receipts disapproval legislation in the Senate and the House of Representatives. Requires the Comptroller General, beginning January 6, 1996, and annually thereafter, to report to the Congress on: (1) a list of each proposed presidential rescission of discretionary budget authority and veto of a targeted tax benefit submitted through special messages for the fiscal year ending during the preceding calendar year, together with their dollar value, and an indication of whether each rescission of discretionary budget authority or veto of a targeted tax benefit was accepted or rejected by Congress;(2) the total number of proposed presidential rescissions of discretionary budget authority and vetoes of a targeted tax benefit submitted through special messages for the fiscal year ending during the preceding calendar year, together with their total dollar value; (3) the total number of presidential rescissions of discretionary budget authority or vetoes of a targeted tax benefit submitted through special messages for the fiscal year ending during the preceding calendar year and approved by Congress, together with their total dollar value; (4) a list of rescissions of discretionary budget authority initiated by Congress for the fiscal year ending during the preceding calendar year, together with their dollar value, and an indication of whether each such rescission was accepted or rejected by Congress; (5) the total number of rescissions of discretionary budget authority initiated and accepted by Congress for the fiscal year ending during the preceding calendar year, together with their total dollar value; and (6) a summary of the information provided by paragraphs (2), (3), and (5) for each of the ten fiscal years ending before the fiscal year during this calendar year.
People & committees
Rep. Clinger, William F., Jr. [R-PA-5] · R–PA
Rep. Blute, Peter I. [R-MA-3] · R–MA
Rep. Neumann, Mark W. [R-WI-1] · R–WI
Rep. Parker, Mike [D-MS-4] · D–MS
Legislative record
A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.
Received in the Senate and read twice and referred jointly to the Committees on Budget; Governmental Affairs pursuant to the order of August 4, 1977, with instructions that if one Committee reports, the other Committee have thirty days to report or be discharged.
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
On passage Passed by recorded vote: 294 - 134 (Roll no. 95).
House roll call 95 · Individual votesPassed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by recorded vote: 294 - 134 (Roll no. 95).
House roll call 95 · Individual votesOn motion to recommit with instructions Failed by recorded vote: 185 - 241 (Roll no. 94). (consideration: CR H1264)
House roll call 94 · Individual votesThe previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection.
DEBATE - House proceeded with ten minutes of debate motion to recomit the bill to committee, with instructions.
Mrs. Collins (IL) moved to recommit with instructions to Government Reform.
DEBATE - By unanimous consent, the House proceeded with ten minutes of further debate, equally divided between Ms. Collins (IL) and Mr. Clinger.
The House adopted the amendment in the nature of a substitute as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.
The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 2.
Pursuant to a previous unanimous consent agreement, the Chair announced the order of business to be the further considera tion of amendments on which action had been postponed.
PROCEEDINGS POSTPONED - The Chair put the question on agreeing to the Stenholm amendment and anounced that, by voice vote, the amendment was not agreed to. Mr. Stenholm demanded a recorded vote and, pursuant to the preceeding unanimous consent agreement, the vote was postponed.
DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of debate on the Stenholm amendment.
DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with 30 minutes of debate on the Traficant amendment.
DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with 30 minutes of debate on the Tauzin amendment.
PROCEEDINGS POSTPONED - The Chair put the question on agreeing to the Waters amendment and anounced that, by voice vote, the amendment was not agreed to. Ms. Waters demanded a recorded vote and, pursuant to the preceeding unanimous consent agreement, further proceedings were postponed.
DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with 30 minutes of debate on the Waters amendment.
PROCEEDINGS POSTPONED - The Chair put the question on agreeing to the Orton amendment and anounced that, by voice vote, the amendment was not agreed to. Mr. Orton demanded a recorded vote and, pursuant to the preceeding unanimous consent agreement, further proceedings were postponed.
DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of debate on the Orton amendment.
ORDER OF PROCEDURE - Pursuant to the unanimous consent agreement of Friday, February 3, 1995, only the following amendments shall be in order for consideration, if offered, in the order and manner specified: 1. Mr. Orton (1 hour of debate), 2. Ms. Waters (30 minutes), 3. Mr. Tauzin (30 minutes), 4. Mr. Traficant (30 minutes), Ms. Slaughter (1 hour), 5. Mr. Stenholm (1 hour). No amendment to the proposed amendments shall be in order. Recorded votes on said amendments, if ordered, shall be postponed until after 5 p.m. today.
The House resolved into Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for further consideration.
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H1225-1264)
ORDER OF PROCEDURE - Mr. Armey asked unanimous consent that when the Committee of the Whole House meets under the five-minute rule on Monday, Feb. 6, 1995, only the following amendments, if offered, will be considered: an amendment offered by Mr. Orton, debatable for one hour; an amendment offered by Ms. Waters, debatable for 30 minutes; an amendment offered by Mr. Tauzin, debatable for 30 minutes; an amendment offered by Mr. Traficant, debatable for 30 minutes; an amendment in the nature of a substitute offered by Ms. Slaughter, debatable for one hour; and an amendment in the nature of a substitute offered by Mr. Stenholm, debatable for one hour. No amendment to any of the specified amendments shall be in order. All specified debate time will be equally divided and controlled. The Stenholm amendment will not be offered prior to 5 p.m. and all further recorded votes on amendments, if ordered will be postponed until at least
Mr. Armey asked unanimous consent That during further consideration of H.R. 2 pursuant to House Resolution 55 the chairman of the Committee of the Whole may postpone until a time during further consideration in the Committee of the Whole a request for a recorded vote on any amendment, and that the chairman of the Committee of the Whole may reduce to not less than five minutes the time for voting by electronic device on any postponed question that immediately follows another vote by electronic device on the first in any series of questions shall be not less than 15 minutes. Agreed to without objection.
Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union rises leaving H.R. 2 as unfinished business.
The House resolved into Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for further consideration.
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H1168-1191)
Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union rises leaving H.R. 2 as unfinished business.
On motion that the Committee rise Agreed to by voice vote.
Mr. Clinger moved that the Committee rise.
GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with two hours of general debate.
The Speaker designated the Honorable John A. Boehner to act as Chairman of the Committee.
House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 55 and Rule XXIII.
Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 2 with 2 hours of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Providing for consideration of the bill in the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union. Measure will be considered read. Bill is open to amendments. In lieu of the amendments recommended by the Committee on Government Reform and Oversight and the Committee on Rules, it shall be in order to consider as an original bill for the purpose of amendment the amendment in the nature of a substitute printed in the report of the Committee on Rules accompanying this resolution. The amendment shall be considered read. The Chairman of the Committee of the Whole may accord priority in recogition on the basis of whether the Member offering an amendment has caused it to be printed in the Congress...
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 55. (consideration: CR H1086-1142)
Rule H. Res. 55 passed House.
Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 55 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 2 with 2 hours of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Providing for consideration of the bill in the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union. Measure will be considered read. Bill is open to amendments. In lieu of the amendments recommended by the Committee on Government Reform and Oversight and the Committee on Rules, it shall be in order to consider as an original bill for the purpose of amendment the amendment in the nature of a substitute printed in the report of the Committee on Rules accompanying this resolution. The amendment shall be considered read. The Chairman of the Committee of the Whole may accord priority in recogition on the basis of whether the Member offering an amendment has caused it to be printed in the Congress...
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H902)
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 5.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Government Reform. H. Rept. 104-11, Part II.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Government Reform. H. Rept. 104-11, Part II.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Rules. H. Rept. 104-11, Part I.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Rules. H. Rept. 104-11, Part I.
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 9 - 4.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 30 - 11.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Joint Hearings Held by the Committee on Government Reform and Oversight and by the Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs.
Referred to the Committee on Government Reform and Oversight, and in addition to the Committee on Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Government Reform and Oversight, and in addition to the Committee on Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Primary sources
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Source last updated: Apr 7, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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Analyze H.R.2 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.
Examine H.R.2 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.
Examine H.R.2 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.
Examine H.R.2 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.