Rep. Bill Young (R., Fla.), a House veteran and leading defense appropriator, told reporters this afternoon that he will support the last-minute debt-limit deal. “We are confident that we can make this happen without affecting readiness, without affecting any of our soldiers,” he says.

Potential defense cuts, he adds, were not the main point of contention at this afternoon’s conference meeting: “It was the importance of a balanced-budget vote,” Young says. “Even those who share my concern about national defense were basically supportive of the package.”

Young is chairman of the House Appropriations Committee’s subcommittee on defense.