Gosar-Buck Amendment Blocks $18.7 Million for New, Duplicative Climate Model Program

Press Release

Today, U.S. Congressman Paul A. Gosar, D.D.S. (AZ-04) released the following statement after successfully passing amendments on the House floor that cut wasteful federal spending at the Department of Energy (DOE), thereby attaching them to the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2016:

The first of two Gosar amendments targeted at waste, fraud and abuse at DOE would prevent any appropriations from being used to fund the department's proposed Climate Model Development program. Congressman Gosar was joined by Congressman Ken Buck (CO-4) in introducing this amendment.

"The non-partisan Congressional Research Service estimates the Obama Administration has already squandered $77 billion from 2008-2013 developing global climate change policies. Considering the extensive work that is being done to research, model, and forecast climate change trends by other areas in government, in the private sector and internationally, funding for this specific piece of President Obama's climate agenda is not only redundant, but also inefficient. This amendment puts an end to wasting precious taxpayer resources on new programs that compete with the private sector and which should be funded through private investment."

Upon passage of the amendment, Congressman Ken Buck added, "Our kids and grandkids have 18.7 million reasons to be thankful the House adopted our amendment. No more borrowing money for wasteful programs."

The amendment was endorsed by: Citizens Against Government Waste, Heritage Action, Taxpayers Protection Pledge and Eagle Forum.

The second Gosar amendment transferred funds from an inefficient program to support the Office of Inspector General (IG) at DOE:

"Since the Inspector General Act was passed into law; the IG community has saved taxpayers billions of dollars and uncovered countless examples of wrongdoing in the federal government. The more sunlight on federal activity, the more honest and efficient it will be. This amendment ensures that adequate resources for the DOE's Inspector General's Office are funded so that taxpayers aren't left on the hook for another botched Solyndra investment."

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