T he Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 ( H.R. 1892 ) , signed into law on February 9, 2018, creates a new joint select committee of the House and Senate. The Joint Select Committee on Solvency of Multiemployer Pension Plans, made up of 16 Members of the House and Senate, is directed to formulate recommendations and legislative language that will "significantly improve the solvency of multiemployer pension plans and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation." Under the law, the joint select committee is to, no later than November 30, 2018, vote on a report, which, if approved, must be submitted along with legislative language to the President, the Speaker of the House, and the majority and minority leaders of the House and Senate. The legislative recommendations of the joint select committee are to be introduced in the Senate by the majority leader or his designee and are subject to consideration in that chamber under expedited procedures, which differ slightly from the procedures the Senate normally uses to process most legislation. These expedited procedures are intended to allow the Senate to reach a timely vote on whether to consider legislation embodying the recommendations of the joint select committee. Under the terms of the act, the Senate is to vote on a motion to proceed to consider a joint committee bill before the conclusion of the 115 th Congress (2017-2018). The support of at least three-fifths of the Senate would be necessary to take up and approve the measure. The act does not provide any special procedures governing House consideration of such legislation. This report discusses the structure, funding, and powers of this new congressional joint committee and provides an overview of the parliamentary procedures the House and Senate may use to consider its work product. The report includes contact information for CRS policy analysts who work on policy issues related to the work of the panel. Membership of the Joint Select Committees

The Joint Select Committee on Solvency of Multiemployer Pension Plans is to be made up of 16 members, with the Speaker, the Senate majority leader, and the House and Senate minority leaders each responsible for appointing four members. Report of the Joint Select Committee

The text of the Joint Select Committee on Solvency of Multiemployer Pension Plans report is to be made publicly available in electronic form at least 24 hours before the panel votes to approve it. After being approved by the requisite majorities, the joint committee is to, within 15 calendar days, submit its report along with legislative language to the President, the Vice President, the Speaker of the House, and the majority and minority leaders of the House and Senate. These procedures are intended to allow the Senate to reach a timely vote on whether to consider legislation embodying the recommendations of the joint select committee. The act also does not provide any special procedures governing House consideration of such legislation. Calling Up the Bill on the Senate Floor

As noted above, the law directs the Senate to vote on a motion to proceed to a bill containing the legislative language recommended by the Joint Select Committee on Solvency of Multiemployer Pension Plans no later than the last day of the 115 th Congress (2017-2018). Consideration in the House of Representatives

As is noted above, the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 does not provide any special procedures for House consideration of a Joint Committee on Solvency of Multiemployer Pension Plans of either chamber.
The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 (P.L. 115-123), signed into law on February 9, 2018, creates a new joint select committee of the House and Senate. The Joint Select Committee on Solvency of Multiemployer Pension Plans, made up of 16 Members of the House and Senate—four chosen by each of the chambers' party leaders—is intended to formulate recommendations and legislative language that will "significantly improve the solvency of multiemployer pension plans and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation." The law directs the joint select committee to, no later than November 30, 2018, vote on a report, which, if approved, is to be submitted along with legislative language to the President, Vice President, the Speaker of the House, and the majority and minority leaders of the House and Senate.
The legislative recommendations of the joint select committee are subject to consideration under expedited procedures in the Senate, which differ slightly from the procedures the Senate normally uses to process most legislation. These procedures are intended to allow the Senate to reach a timely vote on whether to consider legislation embodying the recommendations of the joint select committee. Under the terms of the act, the Senate is directed to vote on a motion to consider any reported joint committee bill before the conclusion of the 115th Congress (2017-2018). The support of at least three-fifths of the Senate would be necessary to take up and approve the measure. The act does not provide any special procedures governing House consideration of such legislation.
This report discusses the structure, powers, and funding of the Joint Select Committee on Solvency of Multiemployer Pension Plans and provides an overview of the parliamentary procedures the chambers may use to consider its work product.
The report includes contact information for CRS policy analysts who work on issues related to the structure and policy work of the panel.
The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 (P.L. 115-123), signed into law on February 9, 2018, creates a new joint select committee of the House and Senate. The Joint Select Committee on Solvency of Multiemployer Pension Plans, made up of 16 Members of the House and Senate—four chosen by each of the chambers' party leaders—is intended to formulate recommendations and legislative language that will "significantly improve the solvency of multiemployer pension plans and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation." The law directs the joint select committee to, no later than November 30, 2018, vote on a report, which, if approved, is to be submitted along with legislative language to the President, Vice President, the Speaker of the House, and the majority and minority leaders of the House and Senate.
The legislative recommendations of the joint select committee are subject to consideration under expedited procedures in the Senate, which differ slightly from the procedures the Senate normally uses to process most legislation. These procedures are intended to allow the Senate to reach a timely vote on whether to consider legislation embodying the recommendations of the joint select committee. Under the terms of the act, the Senate is directed to vote on a motion to consider any reported joint committee bill before the conclusion of the 115th Congress (2017-2018). The support of at least three-fifths of the Senate would be necessary to take up and approve the measure. The act does not provide any special procedures governing House consideration of such legislation.
This report discusses the structure, powers, and funding of the Joint Select Committee on Solvency of Multiemployer Pension Plans and provides an overview of the parliamentary procedures the chambers may use to consider its work product.
The report includes contact information for CRS policy analysts who work on issues related to the structure and policy work of the panel.