Number: 97-930
Title: The Budget Enforcement Act of 1997: A Fact Sheet
Authors: Robert Keith Government and Finance Division 
Abstract: President Clinton signed two reconciliation acts into law in August 1997 as part of a plan to balance the budget by FY2002. To ensure compliance with this goal, enforcement procedures were included in one of the acts in a title referred to separately as the Budget Enforcement Act (BEA) of 1997. The BEA of 1997 extended procedures under the Budget Enforcement Act (BEA) of 1990 through FY2002, when they were allowed to expire.1 Although the federal budget was in surplus for FY1998-2001, a $158 billion deficit was recorded for FY2002.
Pages: 3
Date: January 23, 2004