Washington – Randall L. Stephenson, Chairman and CEO of AT&T Inc. and Chairman-elect of Business Roundtable, today issued the following statement applauding the U.S. Senate for voting to approve the Bipartisan Budget Act. The agreement sets overall limits for federal spending through September 2015 and reduces the deficit over the 10-year budget period.

“With this agreement, our nation’s political leaders are demonstrating they can work together across party lines in a spirit of cooperation. Elected officials should use this momentum to prepare early in 2014 to address the country’s most important challenges: spurring investment, job creation and growth. Our leaders can build upon this agreement by moving forward with comprehensive tax reform, lifting the debt ceiling, reforming immigration and passing updated Trade Promotion Authority legislation to advance U.S. trade agreements.”