Washington –  Louis R. Chênevert, Chairman and CEO of United Technologies Corporation, and Chairman of Business Roundtable’s Tax and Fiscal Policy Committee, today issued the following statement applauding the bipartisan Budget Conference agreement reached by Senate Budget Committee Chairman Patty Murray (D-WA) and House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI):

 “This budget agreement is significant for every American because it shows that both sides in Congress can work together on the big issues that matter most to getting our economy growing faster and more businesses investing and hiring with confidence.

“The agreement provides a foundation for tackling issues critical to U.S. economic growth, as well as providing predictability and certainty for federal government funding for two fiscal years. Without this agreement, American workers, families and businesses would continue to face the risk of an economically damaging government shutdown. 

“The budget conferees have shown that Congress can work to produce bipartisan legislation in a manner that can pave the way for future pro-growth agreements on tax reform, trade and immigration, among other key areas. 

“Business Roundtable urges the members of the House and Senate to support this legislation and clear the pathway to focusing on a longer-term growth agenda for American jobs and U.S. growth in 2014.