OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2015

Floor Speech

Date: May 29, 2014
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Government Budget and Spending

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Mr. DELANEY. Mr. Chairman, my amendment increases funding for Pay for Success within the existing evidence-based Justice program account by a modest $1 million.

While it is a modest number, it does increase the account by 5 percent, which we think is important, and we think it is important for two reasons--first, as it relates to the merits of the program; but, secondly, as we think the government should be embracing the Pay for Success framework across all aspects of government services. We believe this for three reasons.

First, the Pay for Success model has been proven--and we believe it will continue to prove out--that it delivers a better service to our citizens. It does that by encouraging innovation and best practices within government.

The method it uses to do that is a unique partnership model within which the government partners with the private sector or with the philanthropic sector in developing specific programs that are designed to have better outcomes at lower costs. That is the first reason we like the Pay for Success model.

The second reason we like the Pay for Success model is that the model encourages the development of better metrics and of the better tracking of outcomes, which encourages creativity and the advancement of best practices within the government sector.

The third reason that we like the Pay for Success model is that it is very taxpayer friendly. By definition, under a Pay for Success framework, the government is only paying when certain predetermined outcomes are, in fact, delivered.

In addition to putting the government in a position in which it is only paying when outcomes are, in fact, met, it also encourages, through the process of the development, not only more effective methods, but more cost-effective methods.

For all of these reasons, we encourage Pay for Success generally across government services. In this particular program, we think the additional $1 million, while modest, will encourage the development of innovative programs that are designed to reduce the burdens on our prisons. I encourage the passing of my amendment.

I yield back the balance of my time.

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