A Smarter Approach to Appropriating

Statement

Dear Friends,

I promised you I would work to stop wasteful government spending in Washington. While there is still a lot of work to be done, through its first four months, the 114th Congress has been refreshingly effective and efficient at meeting this goal.

Just this week, we had another historic accomplishment when the House began the appropriations process the earliest it has since 1974. Hitting the ground running on appropriations will limit the likelihood of the 11th hour legislating that has been at the root of our poor spending habits for years.

Completing this constitutional responsibility in a timely fashion will also give Congress the freedom needed to focus on another important obligation: government oversight, something that has been severely lacking in recent memory.

As we continue to pass appropriations bills, I will do everything possible to make sure the taxpayers aren't being victimized by a government that isn't a responsible steward of their money.

That is why on Wednesday night during debate on H.R. 2029, the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2016, I offered an amendment to stop funding for wasteful VA solar panel projects.

I want to be clear -- I don't oppose these projects when they are done responsibly and are cost-effective. However, it appears this is seldom the case. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) website, the VA has over 40 renewable energy projects, some dating back to 2010, that are not operational. Included in these was an $8 million project to install solar panels at the Little Rock VA Medical Center which were never turned on and are already being deconstructed.

The amendment was a follow up to Sen. John Boozman's and my request to the VA Office of the Inspector General (OIG) to investigate the VA's Renewable Energy Program. After Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Subcommittee Chairman Charlie Dent offered to assist with our call for an OIG investigation, I withdrew the amendment.

It is essential that we ensure accountability and transparency when utilizing precious taxpayer dollars to support these government projects. Many questions remain unanswered about the project in Little Rock and similar projects throughout the country, and I am pleased that the Committee is willing to work with me to ensure additional oversight from Congress.
Sincerely,

Source