S. 4372

119 S4372 IS: No Bias in the Baseline Act
 U.S. Senate
 2026-04-22
 text/xml
 EN
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 II  119th CONGRESS  2d Session  S. 4372  IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES   April 22, 2026   Mr. Marshall  introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the  Committee on the Budget    A BILL
To clarify that the baseline is based on current laws and the assumption of continuation of current levels of discretionary appropriations, and for other purposes.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   No Bias in the Baseline Act  .
2.
Modification of baseline calculation
(a)
In general
Section 257 of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 ( 2 U.S.C. 907 ) is amended—
(1)
by striking subsection (a) and inserting the following:
(a)
In general
For any budget year, the baseline refers to a projection, based on current laws and the assumption of continuation of current levels of discretionary appropriations, of current-year levels of new budget authority, outlays, revenues, and the surplus or deficit into the budget year and the outyears based on laws enacted through the applicable date.
 ;
(2)
in subsection (b)—
(A)
by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following:
(1)
In general
Laws providing or creating direct spending and receipts are assumed to operate in the manner specified in those laws for each such year.
 ;
(B)
by striking paragraph (2); and
(C)
by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (2); and
(3)
in subsection (c)—
(A)
in paragraph (1), in the second sentence, by striking  current year  and all that follows through the period at the end and inserting  excluding resources designated as an emergency requirement and any resources provided in supplemental appropriation laws. ;
(B)
by striking paragraphs (2), (3), (4), and (5);
(C)
by redesignating paragraph (6) as paragraph (2); and
(D)
by adding at the end the following:
(3)
No adjustment for inflation
No adjustment shall be made for inflation or for any other factor.
 .
(b)
Conforming amendments
(1)
Section 202(e)(1) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 ( 2 U.S.C. 602(e)(1) ) is amended—
(A)
by inserting  and  before  (B) the levels ; and
(B)
by striking  , and (C)  and all that follows through  1985 .
(2)
Section 403(a)(3) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 603(a)(3) ) is amended—
(A)
by striking subparagraph (G); and
(B)
by redesignating subparagraph (H) as subparagraph (G).