Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024

Floor Speech

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Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of my amendment that would prohibit the Environmental Protection Agency from utilizing a title 42 special pay authority.

There is no rationale for this authority to exist. It is time that the authorizers in Congress stand up for their prerogatives and act as a check on the executive branch when it invents claims to new powers to which it has no right.

Mr. Chair, this is not just my sentiment. In 2012, the Government Accountability Office conducted a study on the EPA's use of title 42 special pay authority. In that study, multiple instances of irregularities were found, entry-level scientists were hired at much higher than what would be the expected GS pay level.

Why would we allow the EPA to continue to use a program when it has clearly and repeatedly demonstrated that it is a poor steward of American tax dollars?

Mr. Chair, not only has there been a report that highlights the abuse of the program, but a subsequent study was undertaken by the EPA's Office of Inspector General that found that the EPA did not demonstrate a need to use this special pay authority. In fact, there was no shortage of qualified applicants for those positions.

Even more alarming, the inspector general found that the EPA did not provide any convincing justification for its continued use. Recent college graduates with a chemistry degree have been hired on to the staff of the EPA at rates higher, much higher than the GS level would indicate. This is not for what the program was intended. It is time for Congress to exercise the proper authority and not allow agencies to ignore congressional intent.

It is time for Congress to exercise the proper authority and not allow agencies to ignore congressional intent.

That is why this amendment should be adopted, Mr. Chair. I urge my colleagues to support the amendment and show the American people that its Representatives here in the people's House will properly require accountability of agencies, particularly when they overstep the bounds of congressional intent.

Mr. Chair, I urge adoption of the amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Chair, I will simply underscore the fact that entry- level chemists at the EPA are hired at much higher than the GSA rate. These are not highly sought-after scientists. These are entry-level applicants, and there is no shortage of applicants for those positions.

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Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Chair, I urge adoption of the amendment. It is important, with $31 trillion in national debt, that we be good stewards of taxpayer dollars. The gentleman is right. I have pursued this for a number of years, but it is because it is a noble cause.

Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

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