Ryan touts bipartisan progress in budget bill

House Budget Committee Chairman Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) called the Senate’s passage of the Bipartisan Budget Act on Wednesday a “small step” toward finding common ground between Republicans and Democrats in both chambers of Congress.

The Bipartisan Budget Act, which was approved by House of Representatives on Dec. 12, will now advance to President Barack Obama who will consider signing it into law.

Ryan praised the work of Senate Budget Committee Chairwoman Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) in helping reach a budget agreement.

“I want to thank Chairman Murray and her colleagues in the Senate for passing the Bipartisan Budget Act,” Ryan said. “She was a tough and honest negotiator in our talks. And this week, she worked very hard to secure final passage. I’m grateful for her leadership in forging this budget agreement.”

The Bipartisan Budget Act would set discretionary spending at $1.012 trillion for the current fiscal year, which is approximately halfway between the Senate’s proposed level of $.1.058 trillion and the House’s proposed level of $967 billion.

While Ryan acknowledged that bipartisan support of the budget agreement in both chambers of Congress was promising, he noted that more progress needed to be made.

“…We can work together,” Ryan said. “This bill is only a small step. We need to do a lot more. But it’s a small step in the right direction.”