Dayton Reporter

Congressmen Mike Turner (OH-10) and Jerrold Nadler (NY-12) have reintroduced the It’s About Time Act, a bipartisan bill aimed at changing the federal government’s funding schedule to match the calendar year.

“With the threat of a government shutdown once again, Congress should modify the funding schedule of the federal government which repeatedly puts the operations of the federal government and our national security at risk,” said Congressman Mike Turner. “The current government funding scheme, if not fulfilled, would shut down operations of all non-essential government employees, which puts our security and services all Americans use at risk. Changing the fiscal calendar to align with the calendar year would allow Congress more time to ensure all government funding continues uninterrupted with the proper funding amounts.”

Congressman Jerry Nadler added: “Today, there are few Members of Congress who will defend the current fiscal year calendar, because regardless of political disagreements, there is simply too much to get done in the compressed window between the release of the President’s budget and the October 1 deadline. Since Congress shifted the start of the fiscal year to October in 1974, only four times we have completed all appropriations bills on time, the last nearly three decades ago. By aligning the federal fiscal year with the calendar year, Congress can have the time it needs to responsibly review the President’s budget and enact spending bills. This reform will reduce the risk of shutdowns, strengthen fiscal accountability, and improve the way we govern. I am proud to join Representative Turner in reintroducing the bipartisan It’s About Time Act to bring commonsense reform to our broken budget process.”

Historically, when Congress was founded, there was no distinction between fiscal and calendar years until 1842 when lawmakers voted for a July 1st start date for federal budgeting. The start date shifted again in 1974 after passage of new legislation that moved it to October 1st.

Mike Turner has represented Ohio's 10th district in Congress since replacing Tony P. Hall in 2003 (https://turner.house.gov/about/biography). He was born in Dayton in 1960 and continues to live there. Turner holds degrees from Ohio Northern University as well as law degrees from Case Western Reserve University and University of Dayton.

The text of this proposed legislation is available online.