Legislative Information

January 14, 2025

U.S. Demographic Outlook 2025-2055: Population Projections

In a January 13, 2025 Report, The Demographic Outlook: 2025-2055, Congressional Budget Office projects, the U.S. population will increase from 350 million people in 2025 to 372 million in 2055, and the average age will also rise. Beginning in 2033, annual deaths will exceed annual births, and net immigration accounts for the growth.

REPORT SUMMARY:

“The size of the U.S. population and its composition by age and sex have significant implications for the economy and the federal budget. For example, the number of people ages 25 to 54 affects the number of people who are employed, and the number of people age 65 or older affects the number of Social Security and Medicare beneficiaries.

October 31, 2024

Information Sources for Policymakers: Congressional Budget Office 101

by David Badertscher

From the Congressional Budget Office (CBO)

A presentation by Lara Robillard, an analyst in CBO’s Budget Analysis Division, at AcademyHealth’s Health Policy Orientation.

SUMMARY:

August 9, 2024

Monthly U.S. Budget Review: July 2024

by David Badertscher

Congressional Budget Office (CBO)*: The federal budget deficit was $1.5 trillion in the first 10 months of fiscal year 2024, CBO estimates—$103 billion less than the deficit recorded during the same period last fiscal year.

SUMMARY:

“The federal budget deficit was $1.5 trillion in the first 10 months of fiscal year 2024, the Congressional Budget Office estimates—$103 billion less than the deficit recorded during the same period last fiscal year. Revenues were $397 billion (or 11 percent) higher and outlays were $293 billion (or 6 percent) higher from October through July than they were during the same period in fiscal year 2023.

July 3, 2024

CBO: Protecting Older Americans Act of 2023

by David Badertscher

As reported by the Senate Committee on the Judiciary on May 16, 2024.

Summary:

S. 1979 would prohibit predispute arbitration agreements or joint-action waivers from being valid or enforceable if they require arbitration of an age discrimination dispute. Federal law prohibits employers from discriminating against people who are 40 years of age or older based on their age in any aspect of employment, including hiring, firing, promotion, compensation, job assignments, and training.

May 15, 2024

The Outlook for the U.S. Budget and Economy: 2024 and Beyond

by David Badertscher

A May 13, 2024 presentation at the American Enterprise Institute by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO).

In its work for the Congress, CBO regularly projects budgetary and economic outcomes over the 10-year budget window (the period used in the Congressional budget process) and for an additional 20 years. This presentation highlights key findings from two recent reports on those projections.

Click here to see presentation document.

April 11, 2024

Testimony on Congressional Budget Office’s Request for Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2025

by David Badertscher

This posting includes the Summary and a link to the full text of CBO’s Director, Phillip Swagel’s testimony before the House Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch. A supporting mission statement is included.

SUMMARY:

Chairman Amodei, Ranking Member Espaillat, and Members of the Subcommittee, thank you for the opportunity to present the Congressional Budget Office’s budget request. CBO requests appropriations of $73.5 million for fiscal year 2025: About 89 percent would be for pay and benefits; 7 percent would be for information technology (IT); and 4 percent would be for training, expert consultant services, office supplies, and other items. The request amounts to an increase of $3.5 million, or 5 percent, from the $70 million that CBO received for 2024. That increase would address increased costs brought about by inflation, sustain investments in IT infrastructure, and enable CBO to expand its staff in key areas.

March 27, 2024

Combating Money Laundering Act of 2024

by David Badertscher

H.R.7156, as ordered reported by the House Committee on Financial Services on February 29, 2024.

CBO Summary:

H.R. 7156 would expand the authority of the Secret Service to investigate financial crimes. Specifically, the bill would authorize the Secret Service to investigate the operations of unlicensed money transmitting businesses—entities that provide money transfer services or payment instruments—and the structuring of financial transactions to evade reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

March 2, 2024

H.R. 7322,Standing Up to the Executive Branch for Act of 2024

by David Badertscher

The following is information compiled by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) regarding H.R.7322, Standing Up to the Executive Branch for Act 2024, as ordered reported by the House Committee of the Judiciary on February 15. 2024. It includes a brief summary of the bill, and links to estimated cost of implementation and the full text of the legislation:

SUMMARY:

H.R. 7322 would grant standing to state governments to bring action against the federal government in a federal district court for the purpose of seeking injunctive relief from immigration enforcement decisions that have harmed the state or its residents.

January 19, 2024

CBO Scheduled To Release Budget and Economic Outlook From 2024 to2034

by David Badertscher

Today 1/19 we received the following posting from Deborah Kilroe of the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) announcing the release of its budget outlook on February 7. We are forwarding this announcement as a service to our readers:

The Congressional Budget Office will release The Budget and Economic Outlook: 2024 to 2034 at 2:00 p.m. EST on Wednesday, February 7. In December 2023, CBO released details about its forthcoming economic projections, focusing on the near term. Next month’s report will include the agency’s full 10-year economic forecast, as well as its updated 10-year budget projections. CBO last published budget projections in May 2023.

A briefing for credentialed members of the press will be held from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on February 7. CBO’s Director, Phillip Swagel, will make brief remarks and then answer questions about the report. More information about the briefing will soon be available on CBO’s press page.

January 5, 2024

CBO: Implementing the Statutory Limits on Discretionary Funding for Fiscal Year 2024

by David Badertscher

In this document, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) provides information concerning implementation of the caps on most discretionary funding for fiscal year 2024 as established by the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023.

Summary of Document:

In this document, a letter from Philip L. Swagel, Director of the Congressional Budget Office, The Congressional Budget Office is providing information concerning implementation of the caps on most discretionary funding for fiscal year 2024 as established by the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 (FRA; Public Law 118-5). The FRA sets separate caps (in law they are called limits) on defense funding (in law, revised security, which is budget function 050) and on nondefense funding (revised nonsecurity, which covers all other budget functions).