Joe Barton: “I think the chairman understands that a number of us, on a bipartisan basis for several years, have been trying to do…”

“I think the chairman understands that a number of us, on a bipartisan basis for several years, have been trying to do something to put some enforcement mechanism into the existing Budget Acts that govern our Nation. We have a piece of legislation, H.R. 2003, the bipartisan Budget Enforcement Act, that is pending before the Committee on Rules, the Committee on Ways and Means, and the Committee on the Budget. There have been a series of meetings and discussions this morning. It is my understanding that as chairman of the Committee on Rules, the gentleman from New York [Mr. Solomon] has agreed to an expedited procedure whereas this piece of legislation, perhaps as amended, will be brought to the floor for an up or down vote no later than July 24.”