Dreier Supports Bipartisan Budget Process Reforms

Creation of Permanent Emergency Reserve Fund Will Speed Up Disaster Aid

WASHINGTON - Congressman David Dreier (R-CA), Chairman of the House Rules Committee, joined lawmakers at an afternoon press conference today in support of a bipartisan package of reforms designed to make the Congressional budget process more efficient and accountable, pointing to the bill’s creation of a federal disaster relief fund as "a long overdue way to streamline emergency aid."

The "Comprehensive Budget Process Reform Act" is the culmination of years of work between the Rules Committee and the Budget Committee, and Dreier praised Congressman Porter Goss (R-FL) for his leadership as Chairman of the Rules Committee Subcommittee on the Legislative and Budget Process.

"The current budget process does not work. It’s a disorganized patchwork of decades old rules and laws. Every year, this cumbersome budget process creaks and groans as we try to hammer out fiscal priorities. This comprehensive and bipartisan bill increases efficiency, improves accountability and strengthens enforcement in the budget process," Dreier said. "Congressman Goss has done a great job in leading us toward this sensible reform bill."

"One example of how these internal Congressional reforms will directly impact Americans is in disaster relief. As a Californian, I know how devastating natural disasters can be to people and communities. Americans deserve a quick, federal response to disasters," Dreier added. "This reform bill establishes a disaster reserve fund in the budget, and reduces the funding battles associated with unplanned-for emergency aid."

Also at the press conference were Congressmen Jim Nussle (R-IA) and Ben Cardin (D-MD), cosponsors of the bill who, Dreier said, deserved great credit for their leadership on the House Budget Committee’s Budget Process Reform Task Force. Among other provisions, the bill would:

• establish a budget with the force of law;
• keep Social Security off budget;
• establish an emergency reserve fund; and,
• strengthen the enforcement of budgetary decisions.