Chairman's Press
Hearing on Conrad/Gregg Bipartisan Fiscal Task Force Bill
Washington, DC - A distinguished panel of witnesses today called on Congress to create a bipartisan process to address the nation's long-term fiscal imbalances. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD), Government Accountability Office Comptroller General David Walker, Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget Co-Chairman Leon Panetta, AARP CEO Bill Novelli, and Concord Coalition Executive Director Bob Bixby testified in support of the concept at a Senate Budget Committee hearing. The hear… Continue Reading
10.25.07
Senators Conrad and Gregg Announce Bipartisan Fiscal Task Force Hearing
Washington, DC - Senators Kent Conrad (D-ND) and Judd Gregg (R-NH), chairman and ranking member, respectively, of the Senate Budget Committee, announced today that they will hold a hearing next week on their bill to create a bipartisan task force to address the nation's long-term fiscal imbalances. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD), Government Accountability Office Comptroller General David Walker, Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget Co-Chairman Leon Panetta, AARP CEO Bill Nov… Continue Reading
10.01.07
Senators Conrad and Gregg Announce Publication of Senate Budget Committee History
Washington, DC - Senators Kent Conrad (D-ND) and Judd Gregg (R-NH), chairman and ranking member, respectively, of the Senate Budget Committee, today announced the publication of the history of the Committee, from its establishment in 1974 until its 32nd anniversary in 2006. "As one of the younger committees in the Senate, we are in the unique position of being able to create a thorough review of our relatively brief three-decade history by collecting first-hand information from many of the… Continue Reading
09.20.07
Conrad Press Release on Cost of 'Korea-Like' Presence in Iraq
Washington, DC - The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) today released a report, requested by Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad (D-ND), showing that the cost of maintaining a 'Korea-like' presence in Iraq over the next 50 years could exceed $2 trillion. The report found that even after a significant drawdown of U.S. forces, it could cost up to $25 billion each year - more than two-thirds of our nation's homeland security budget - to keep a military presence in Iraq similar to that… Continue Reading
09.18.07
Senators Conrad and Gregg: Bipartisan Task Force is Best Approach for Tackling Long-Term Fiscal Challenges
Washington, DC - Senators Kent Conrad (D-ND) and Judd Gregg (R-NH), chairman and ranking member, respectively, of the Senate Budget Committee, today joined forces to offer a blueprint for prompting swift, bipartisan action to substantially improve the nation's long-term fiscal imbalances. "Our nation faces a fiscal challenge of unprecedented proportions," said Chairman Conrad. "We cannot ignore the coming crisis and hope that future leaders will solve this problem. The longer we wait, the … Continue Reading
05.16.07
Senate-House Reach Budget Conference Agreement
Washington, DC - Senate and House negotiators have reached an agreement on a budget plan for fiscal year 2008. The five-year budget resolution funds critical national priorities while returning the budget to surplus by 2012. And it achieves this goal without raising taxes. "This budget provides a fiscally responsible plan for our country," said Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad (D-ND). "It balances the budget by 2012. It provides for an extension of middle-class tax cuts. And it … Continue Reading
01.04.07
Conrad Applauds Introduction of Strong PAYGO Rule
Washington, DC - Incoming Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad (D-NO) today applauded the introduction of a strong pay-as-you-go, or paygo, budget enforcement rule in the United States Senate. The paygo provision was included in the ne".' Democratic Majority's top ten legislative priorities, which were unveiled today by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV)."By including a strong paygo rule in our top ten legislative priorities, Democrats are demonstrating our commitment to restoring … Continue Reading
12.12.06
Press Release on Orszag CBO Recommendation
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 12, 2006Contact: Stu Nagurka (202) 224-7436 Steve Posner (202) 224-7925CONRAD TO RECOMMEND ORSZAG AS NEW CBO DIRECTOR Brookings Economist Receives Bipartisan PraiseIncoming Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad (D-ND) will recommend the appointment of Peter R. Orszag as the new director of the Congressional Budget Office (CBO).“I am enthusiastically recommending Dr. Orszag to be the next CBO Director,” Conrad said. “He is exceptional. Not only is he an … Continue Reading
03.09.06
Press Release on Republican Budget Proposal
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 9, 2006Contact: Stu Nagurka (202) 224-7436 Steve Posner (202) 224-7925GOP Budget Adds More Than $3 Trillion of Debt Democrats Reject Plan That Makes Fiscal Outlook Worse, Not BetterWashington, DC - An analysis of the Senate Republican budget plan unveiled Wednesday shows it leaves out expenses, and would add more than $3 trillion of debt over the next five years, announced Senate Budget Committee Ranking Member Kent Conrad, D-ND.“After years of record deficits an… Continue Reading
02.08.06
Press Release on Budget Committee Asbestos White Paper
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 8, 2006 Contact: Stu Nagurka (202) 224-7436 Steve Posner (202) 224-7925 CONRAD RELEASES WHITE PAPER ON ASBESTOS BILL Analysis Finds Significant Risk That Trust Fund Will Require Taxpayer Bailout Washington, D.C. - The asbestos-related legislation before the Senate is “seriously flawed,” Senate Budget Committee Ranking Member Kent Conrad (D-ND) said today, because the bill’s financial lynchpin - a fund to pay compensation to asbestos-sickened people - would be … Continue Reading
12.21.05
Conrad Press Release on Point of Order Against Spending Reconciliation Bill
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 21, 2005Contact: Stu Nagurka (202) 224-7436 Steve Posner (202) 224-7925CONRAD STRIKES PROVISIONS FROM RECONCILIATION BILL Measure Harming Children, Elderly, and Poor Is Removed Budget Bill Sent Back to HouseWashington, DC - Senate Budget Committee Ranking Member Kent Conrad (D-ND) today successfully struck several provisions, including a measure harming children, the elderly, and the poor, from the GOP spending reconciliation bill. The action will send the am… Continue Reading
09.24.03
Conrad Announces Four Staff Appointments
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 24, 2003Contact: Stu Nagurka (202) 224-7436 Steve Posner (202) 224-7925Senate Budget Committee Ranking Member Kent Conrad Announces Four Staff AppointmentsSenator Kent Conrad, D-ND, ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee, today announced the appointment of four new Democratic staff members to the budget panel. Conrad has named Jim Klumpner as chief economist, Jamie Morin as senior defense analyst, Cliff Isenberg as the budget analyst for environmental… Continue Reading
05.15.03
Conrad Votes For Fiscal Responsibility
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 15, 2003Contact: Stu Nagurka (202) 224-7436 Steve Posner (202) 224-7925CONRAD VOTES FOR FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY Deficit Hawk Rejects Costly and Poorly Designed Tax CutsWashington, DC - Senator Kent Conrad Thursday voted against an expensive tax cut that will drive the country further into debt, without providing the needed boost to help the economy now. The North Dakota lawmaker argued for more tax relief sooner to help the sluggish economy, but a less expensive pac… Continue Reading
01.09.03
Conrad Statement on CBO Director Nomination
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 9, 2003Contact: Stu Nagurka (202) 224-7436 Steve Posner (202) 224-7925STATEMENT BY SENATE BUDGET COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN KENT CONRAD (D-ND) ON THE POSSIBLE NOMINATION OF HOLTZ-EAKIN AS CBO DIRECTORAlthough Dr. Holtz-Eakin has strong academic credentials and is a well-respected economist, the fact that he would be coming to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) directly from a senior position in the White House would raise serious questions about the independence a… Continue Reading
12.09.02
Conrad Statement on Snow/Friedman Announcements
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 9, 2002Contact: Stu Nagurka (202) 224-7436 Steve Posner (202) 224-7925STATEMENT BY SENATE BUDGET COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN KENT CONRAD ON THE NOMINATION OF JOHN SNOW TO TREASURY AND EXPECTED APPOINTMENT OF STEPHEN FRIEDMAN TO NECJohn Snow and Stephen Friedman are being handed a mess. In the two years since the Bush administration took office, the economy has suffered a recession, two million jobs have been lost, and a projected $5.6 trillion budget surplus has been… Continue Reading
12.06.02
Conrad Statement on O'Neill/Lindsey Resignations
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 6, 2002Contact: Stu Nagurka (202) 224-7436 Steve Posner (202) 224-7925STATEMENT BY SENATE BUDGET COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN KENT CONRAD (D-ND) ON THE RESIGNATION OF THE BUSH ECONOMIC TEAMThis confirms that the Bush economic plan is not working. As the news this morning of increased joblessness and earlier reports of exploding deficit and debt reveal, the President’s economic policy is a disaster.The Bush economic policy is failing and is digging a very deep hole for … Continue Reading
10.25.02
Conrad Statement on 2002 Deficit Announcement
Statement by Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad (D-ND) on the Bush Administration’s Announcement of $159 Billion Deficit for 2002 October 25, 2002The Bush administration has now officially announced that the deficit for 2002 will be $159 billion. This is a sad reminder of how far our nation’s finances have fallen since the Bush administration took office.The sudden return to red ink follows a period of unparalleled fiscal strength and vitality, where we enjoyed four straight years… Continue Reading
10.16.02
Senate Renews Key Budget Enforcement Mechanisms
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 16, 2002Contact: Stu Nagurka (202) 224-7436 Steve Posner (202) 224-7925SENATE RENEWS KEY BUDGET ENFORCEMENT MECHANISMSWashington, DC - The Senate today, by unanimous consent, renewed key budget enforcement mechanisms that expired on September 30. The enforcement mechanisms help to maintain fiscal discipline by making it much more difficult to pass additional tax cuts or spending that are not fully paid for.“This is a victory for fiscal discipline,” said Senate… Continue Reading
08.22.02
Budget Committee Releases New Deficit Estimates
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 22, 2002Contact: Steve Posner (202) 224-7925SENATE BUDGET COMMITTEE RELEASES NEW ESTIMATES SHOWING FEDERAL BUDGET DEFICITS WILL BE FAR WORSE THAN ‘ROSY’ PROJECTIONS OF BUSH ADMINISTRATIONWashington, DC - The Senate Budget Committee today released new estimates showing that the level of federal budget deficits over the next ten years will be far worse than projected by the Bush administration last month. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) is expected to relea… Continue Reading
05.01.02
Statement on Bush Administration Announcement on Debt Ceiling
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 1, 2002Contact: Stu Nagurka (202) 224-7436 Steve Posner (202) 224-7925STATEMENT BY SENATE BUDGET COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN KENT CONRAD (D-ND) ON BUSH ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCEMENT ON DEBT CEILINGToday we received the sobering news from the Treasury Department that we will again reach the debt limit much sooner than anticipated. This comes on the heels of Treasury’s announcement that we will have to borrow more than expected to pay the government’s bills and to pay for the… Continue Reading
