C. W. Bill Young: “I rise first to support this conference report, but I also want to address another issue, especially to my fiscally…”

“I rise first to support this conference report, but I also want to address another issue, especially to my fiscally conservative friends. They received in their offices today a publication that would appear to be coming from the Committee on Appropriations because it says Appropriations Update in the big headline. The actual author of the paper is shown in small print, which indicates that the author is the Committee on the Budget. It says that this bill exceeds by $30 million the 302(b) suballocation issued by the Committee on Appropriations. The problem is, at least I guess what it is, the Committee on the Budget has one budget resolution to pass in the House, then that resolution goes to Senate, and then the House and Senate go to conference on that one resolution. Then they bring a conference agreement back, and we barely pass the budget resolution. The Committee on Appropriations has 13 regular fiscal year bills and, this year, three supplementals. So when we start to go to conference with the other body on all these bills, we have got to have the ability to negotiate the 302(b) allocations with the other body so we end up with the same 302(b)s in the House and in the Senate for each bill. In fact, if Members are concerned about this publication that was distributed today, let me say there should be no confusion. The Interior conference report is within the 302(b) allocation that was agreed to by myself and Senator Stevens.”