I voted against the Coburn earmark amendment today because the broad way it was worded would have caused great confusion in funding necessary federal programs and it would have blocked the ability of Congress to set priorities for the nation. Such restrictions could damage vital programs that support our nation's infrastructure and economy. Senator Coburn's amendment would have limited funding for federal facilities like the USDA Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC) or the White Oak campus of the newly consolidated Food and Drug Administration - both vital to our entire country's food and health safety. These are federal facilities supporting national programs, but in Senator Coburn's view, funding to support them would constitute an earmark. Similarly, the EPA's Chesapeake Bay program - which benefits multiple Mid-Atlantic states and is considered an ecosystem of global importance - would have been jeopardized, as would the Army Corps of Engineer's restoration of Poplar Island, which is essential to the operation of the Port of Baltimore.
We need to act smartly without hampering critical functions of our government, so we can get down to the real work of balancing our budget, cutting our deficit, and helping put Americans back to work.