Porter Goss: “Mr. Speaker, this is an open rule, providing for the consideration of H.R. 1162, the Deficit Reduction Lockbox Act of…”

“Mr. Speaker, this is an open rule, providing for the consideration of H.R. 1162, the Deficit Reduction Lockbox Act of 1995, an important budget tool to hold us accountable for making sure that spending cuts translate into savings for the American people. I am delighted that we are following through on the promise of considering the lockbox as a freestanding bill. As Members know, this House approved the lockbox as an amendment to the Labor-HHS spending bill in early August. If it were up to the clear majority of this House, lockbox would be the law of the land. But of course we know that ours is a bicameral legislature, and we must secure enactment of our good ideas by convincing our friends in the other body to concur. In sending them lockbox legislation as part of a spending bill and a freestanding bill, we are sending a clear signal that we are committed to lockbox and we want them to act.”