Home Star Energy Retrofit Act Of 2010

Floor Speech

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Mrs. BACHMANN. Madam Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

My amendment is founded on the principle that Congress has a certain fiduciary duty and responsibility to ensure that taxpayer dollars are not wasted on ineffectual and inefficient government programs.

My amendment will require the Department of Energy's Inspector General to independently report to Congress on incidents of waste, fraud, and abuse occurring in programs created by this bill. Further, the Inspector General will be required to include recommendations to prevent additional waste, fraud, and abuse.

I would direct our attention, Madam Chair, to the poster that is to my left. This is a phony project that was sent by the Government Accounting Office to the Department of Energy for the purpose of determining whether or not the Department of Energy would actually certify this project. And yes, it is actually a feather duster that had been taped to a space heater. Unfortunately, the Department of Energy did certify this project for the Energy Star program.

My amendment, the Bachmann amendment, would require the Inspector General's report be submitted by July 1, 2012. And as such, Congress would have the opportunity to reevaluate the programs in this act and correct them if necessary. Utilizing Congressional Budget Office estimates, this amendment could enable the effective oversight of over 1.2 billion United States taxpayer dollars.

Madam Chair, in order to improve government accountability and to restore a measure of fiscal integrity in Washington, I would urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this amendment.

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