Statement from House Republican Conferees on Today's Budget Conference Meeting

Press Release

House Republican Conferees serving on the Budget Conference Committee issued the following statements after today's Joint Senate-House meeting.

Chairman Tom Price, M.D. (GA-06): "Completing a budget is one of Congress' core legislative responsibilities. It helps ensure we are embracing our Constitutional power of the purse and legislating in an orderly manner that provides for the most transparency and accountability. As the House and Senate sit down together to find an agreement on a unified budget resolution, we must remember that a budget is more than just a set of numbers. It is a reflection of our priorities and vision for how we can achieve real results and move our country in the direction of greater opportunity, economic growth and a safer and more secure nation -- one where Americans have the best chance of achieving their dreams for the future."

Vice Chairman Todd Rokita (IN-04): "A balanced budget is crucial to giving individuals, families, and job creators greater certainty for the future. It is my goal that as we begin this reconciliation process, the result will be an accountable, positive, pro-growth, and unified budget. The American people are looking for leadership, and now is our chance to demonstrate it."

Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (FL-25): "The first responsibility of our federal government is to ensure the safety and security of the American people, which is why our budget needs to fully support our military and intelligence communities. The growing unrest and instability in many parts of the world remind us daily what is at stake. The House budget puts us on a sustainable, fiscally responsible path while protecting our men and women in uniform and our national security. I look forward to working with my Senate colleagues to resolve the differences in our two plans so we can move America forward and have a unified budget that balances and gets our fiscal house in order."

Congressman Diane Black (TN-06): "I am looking forward to working alongside my fellow conferees to craft this bicameral budget agreement. As a nurse for more than 40 years, I am particularly interested in discussing how our budget can lay a vision for a better way forward on healthcare. If we truly want to offer real-world healthcare solutions that strengthen the doctor patient relationship, that let families keep more money in their pocket, and that protect our seniors -- it starts with erasing the damage of Obamacare and offering a clean slate to work from. We have an opportunity through this budget process to do exactly that."

Congressman John Moolenaar (MI-04): "This budget balances within ten years. Leaving less debt to our children is vital and our national debt is costing us jobs, because a debt-to-GDP ratio over 90%, hinders economic expansion and job creation. In the future, debt payments will crowd out spending for the priorities of the American people, including national security, medical research and programs to protect our Great Lakes. This budget also calls for a tax code that is simpler and fairer for all Americans. Many Americans just filed their tax returns, ending another year they had to deal with the long and complex federal tax code. And, the tax code complicates the plans of small businesses to expand and hire new workers, while burying them under paperwork and pulling their time and talents away from running their businesses. Tax reform would boost the slow economic recovery and has the potential to add 1 million new, private sector jobs."