Next steps. Tim Johnson has to report the proposed bill and its findings and recommendations to the Senate, that is, the Senate leadership, the Majority Leader Harry Reid. This report also includes a statement of general performance and outcome related goals and objectives.
To do that, there must be a written committee report that details the committee results on the proposed bill, including its purposes, scope, provisions and a section-by-section analysis sets forth precisely what each section is intended to accomplish as well as all amendments and explanations of what they are about as well as detailing the regulatory issues and impact involved, proposed changes to other laws and a report of the any text of laws that is being repealed.
The report also must provide a report on costs to enact the proposed bill for the current fiscal year and five successive fiscal years, any revenues generated any increases of decreases in taxes expenditures. Alternatively, a cost estimate and comparison can be made and submitted by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office. If this is done then the committee budget estimate and impact does not need to be submitted
Finally, the report includes votes cast for and against and by each committee member for the proposed bill and its amendments, dissenting views by committee members opposed to the proposed bill and any other views proposed including the statements that went into the record.
The committee report will be printed by the Government Printing Office for all to see and review for its intent.
In this way, the Senate leadership can see and ascertain what and where the bill stands in the Senate as a whole and whether or not it is worth the effort to put it on the floor for a vote. Considerations of how the bill would fair in the House is also considered.
This could take some time to put together and for the Senate leadership to review and possibly test the Senate waters if required.
How long? Depends. Three days need to be allowed for committee members to submit supplementary information. if there is any to be submitted. So, the committee report can be reported as early as three days after the passing vote if they have a fully written committee report with all requirements in place. If the committee staff is overwhelmed with new amendments and statements, etc. on the day of the vote or did not get time enough to work through all the details prior to the vote, more time may pass before it is reported.
Senate leadership than has to decide to send the cleaned up and edited proposed bill to the floor for debate and a vote by putting it on the legislative calendar. This can be done quickly or done taking more time and much more time or not at all.
