Eliminating waste, fraud and abuse

Issues: Spending Cuts and Debt

In the fiscal year 2015 appropriations process, I had more success than any other member of Congress, passing 21 of 27 amendments (78%) and positively affecting approximately $911,565,856 in spending.** One of my top priorities is eliminating waste, fraud and abuse within the bloated federal bureaucracy. The practice of good governance requires periodic evaluations of federal programs and expenditures to review and debate their necessity, their efficiency and, sometimes, their constitutionality. I have been relentless in such pursuits and have sought to restore fiscal responsibility as well as commonsense to a bloated federal government that has lost its way. I will continue to eliminate waste, fraud and abuse wherever I can. The American people and taxpayers deserve nothing less. Here are a few examples of my efforts. Click the descriptions below to read more about my amendments:

**Some of the below figures are best estimates based on prior year spending etc.

Description of Amendment (FY 2015) Status Win % Successful Cuts Successful Transfers
         
 Prohibited the Department of Veterans Affairs from using taxpayer funds to create or maintain any unofficial record-keeping system. Adopted by voice W    
         
Reprogrammed $3.2 M from bureaucracy at the VA to improve IT Systems Adopted by voice W   3,215,910
         
Capped funding for the Botanic Garden at FY 14 levels ($3.16 M cut) and prevented the installation of a new, wasteful vegetative roof Adopted by Recorded Vote (219-198) W 3,166,946  
         
Reprogrammed $8 M from attorneys at the DOJ  to Prescription Drug Monitoring  Adopted by voice W   8,000,000
         
Reprogrammed $6 M from bureaucracy at the BATFE to Veterans Treatment Courts  Adopted by voice W   6,000,000
         
Reprogrammed $4.25 M from OJP-Research, Eval, and Stats to the Byrne-JAG program for law enforcement purposes Adopted by voice W   4,250,000
         
Sought to protect privacy and prohibit funds from being used to obtain the contents of emails [2703(b)(1)(B) of Title 18, USC Withdrawn L    
         
Sought to prohibit funds from being used by HUD to retain outside legal counsel Failed by recorded vote (177-249) L    
         
Prohibited Funds to implement HUD's Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing proposed rule Adopted by recorded vote (219-207) W    
         
Prohibit Funds to implement the Unconstitutional National Highway Survey Adopted by voice W 8,000,000 (for last NRS)  
         
Sought to reduce bureaucracy within HUD's Executive Offices by $2 M (back to FY 14 levels) and transfer those funds to deficit reduction Failed by recorded vote (190-232) L    
         
Sought to reduce bureaucracy within HUD's Administrative Support Offices by $20+ M (back to FY 14 levels) and transfer those funds to deficit reduction Failed by recorded vote (181-240) L    
         
Reprogramed $220,000 from the wasteful CFO at USDA to the Inspector General Adopted by voice W   220,000
         
Cut funds for new USDA attorneys by $2.18 M (back to FY 14) and transferred those funds to deficit reduction Adopted by voice W 2,181,000  
         
Prohibited DOD funds from being used to pay for storage of 8 patrol boats in Iraq that were never used and have been in storage for 4 years Adopted by voice W 750,000  
         
Prohibited DOD funds from procuring any Army Aircrew Combat Uniforms. These new uniforms that most troops don't like are less safe and cost more $  Adopted by voice W $5,600,000 (IND. Est.)  
         
Sought to prohibit the use of funds for 37 million gallons of subsidized biofuels.  DOD FY15 request.
Subsidized biofuels are nearly 15 times more expensive than conventional jet fuel		 Failed by recorded vote (205-208) L    
         
Prohibited DOD funds from going to Iran, Syria, the Palestinian Authority, Hamas and ISIS Adopted by recorded vote (280-133) W 440,000,000 (in FY 14)  
         
Sought to reduced Corps of Engineers bureaucracy by $4 million and and transfer those funds to deficit reduction Failed by recorded vote (104 - 316) L    
         
Prohibited use of taxpayer funds for the Department of Energy's Climate Model Development and Validation program Adopted by recorded vote (226 - 194) W 29,000,000 (Relative to Request. AMDT prohibits transfers)   
         
Prohibited use of taxpayer funds for subsidizing high-efficiency toilets  Adopted by voice W 300,000 (Approx. per year)  
         
Reduced funding for the IRS by $353 million and  applied the savings to deficit reduction Adopted by voice W 353,000,000  
         
Reduced funds for GSA Rental Space account by $42 million and transferred those funds to the U.S. Courts Adopted by voice W   42,000,000
         
Reduced bureaucracy at the Small Business Administration by $3.882 million and transferred those funds to entrepeneurial development programs Adopted by voice W   3,882,000
         
Prohibited bonuses to Senior Executive Service Employees at the IRS Adopted by recorded vote (282 - 138 - 1 Present) W Approx 2,000,000 in FYs 11 & 12  
         
Supported Israel's right to self-defense Adopted EN BLOC by voice W    
         
Required DOD to coordinate with states on wildlife management and conservation projects that take place off-installation Adopted EN BLOC by voice W    
    21/27 = 78% 843,997,946 67,567,910
         
        Total Spending Effected: $911,565,856