[House Report 106-95] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] 106th Congress Report 1st Session HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 106-95 ======================================================================= PROVIDING FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 1376, TAX RELIEF FOR PERSONNEL IN THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA (SERBIA/MONTENEGRO) AND CERTAIN OTHER AREAS _______ April 14, 1999.--Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed _______ Mrs. Myrick, from the Committee on Rules, submitted the following R E P O R T [To accompany H. Res. 140] The Committee on Rules, having had under consideration House Resolution 140, by a nonrecord vote, report the same to the House with the recommendation that the resolution be adopted. summary of provisions of resolution The resolution provides for the consideration of H.R. 1376, Tax Relief for Personnel in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia/Montenegro) and certain other areas, under a closed rule. The rule provides one hour of debate divided equally between the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Ways and Means. The rule further waives all points of order against consideration of the bill and provides that the bill be considered as read. The rule also provides that the amendment recommended by the Committee on Ways and Means and printed in the bill be considered as adopted. Finally, the rule provides for one motion to recommit, with or without instructions. The waiver of all points of order includes the following points of order which would lie against consideration of the bill. First, the bill violates clause 4(a) of Rule XIII (requiring a three-day layover of the committee report). The report was filed on Tuesday, April 13, and the bill is scheduled for consideration on the floor as early as Thursday, April 15. Second, the bill violates Section 311(a) of the Congressional Budget Act (prohibiting consideration of legislation or an amendment that would cause the total level of new budget authority or outlays in the most recent budget resolution to be exceeded or would cause revenues to be less). According to the Congressional Budget Office and based on a cost estimate from the Joint Committee on Taxation, the bill, if enacted, would result in a revenue loss of $123 million over five years and $125 million over ten years. However, the President signed an executive order on Tuesday, April 13, implementing some aspects of the tax relief provided by the bill. This exempts the revenue lost as a result of that signature from the calculations under section 311(a). The remaining loss of revenue is under $500,000 and therefore constitutes a technical de minimus loss of revenue. Nevertheless, revenue levels would still be below those assumed in the budget process for FY 1999.