OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Earmark Reform

Floor Speech

Date: March 24, 2010
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Government Budget and Spending

Madam Speaker, in January, President Obama stood in this Chamber and made an important request. He called on Congress to ``continue down the path of earmark reform'' as an important way to spend smarter and rebuild the public's trust. We simply cannot afford to wait any longer for real earmark reform.

Last year, I introduced House Resolution 614 which prohibits earmarks for for-profit entities. Last week, the Appropriations Committee took up the premise of this resolution by establishing a 1-year moratorium on earmarks for for-profits. We must make this ban permanent and act in an open and responsible manner, allowing for public scrutiny of all requests.

Moving forward, each dollar spent must benefit the American people, not some special interest. Our work today will help us build a safer and stronger community tomorrow. Now is the time to answer the President's call.


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