Title: A resolution expressing opposition to Congressional spending on earmarks.
Policy area: Congress

Summary:
This resolution condemns the use of congressionally directed spending, community project funding, and other earmarks to direct federal funding. It also affirms the need to address inflation by curbing federal spending.

[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 688 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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117th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 688

      Expressing opposition to Congressional spending on earmarks.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             June 22, 2022

  Mr. Scott of Florida submitted the following resolution; which was 
              referred to the Committee on Appropriations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
      Expressing opposition to Congressional spending on earmarks.

Whereas fiscal year 2022 marked the return of ``congressionally directed 
        spending'' and ``community project funding'', also known as 
        ``earmarks'', after a 12-year hiatus;
Whereas the return of earmarks marks the return of lawmakers using their powers 
        to circumvent the rules of the Senate in order to direct taxpayer 
        dollars to wasteful projects;
Whereas the 117th Congress has reinstituted and embraced the wasteful practice 
        of earmarking, as shown by the more than 3,000 requests for earmarks in 
        the House of Representatives and the more than 8,000 requests for 
        earmarks in the Senate for fiscal year 2022;
Whereas the reckless, 2,700 page, $1,500,000,000,000 omnibus spending bill (the 
        Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022; Public Law 117-103; 136 Stat. 49) 
        enacted in March 2022 appropriated billions of dollars to earmarks, even 
        though the United States is more than $30,000,000,000,000 in debt and 
        experiencing the highest level of inflation for 40 years;
Whereas the massive, omnibus spending bill includes funding for earmarks 
        including, $2,500,000 to construct a museum annex in Vermont, $605,000 
        to construct a New York City greenhouse, and $3,000,000 to establish a 
        Brooklyn gallery, in addition to earmark projects including bike trails 
        in Vermont, derelict lobster pots in Connecticut, and a sidewalk for the 
        road of a country club in Colorado;
Whereas former Senator Tom Coburn condemned the use of earmarks as a ``gateway 
        drug to overspending'', and former Senator John McCain called earmarks 
        ``the gateway drug to corruption and overspending in Washington'';
Whereas several former Members of Congress and lobbyists have been convicted of 
        crimes related to earmarking;
Whereas it is crucial that Congress spend taxpayer dollars wisely and with the 
        best return on investment, especially during times of historic inflation 
        and Federal debt levels; and
Whereas Congress must stop this reckless Federal spending and corrupt political 
        dealing, start paying down the debt of the United States, and get the 
        United States back on track: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) condemns the use of ``congressionally directed 
        spending'' and ``community project funding'', known as 
        ``earmarks'', to direct and appropriate taxpayer dollars in any 
        form;
            (2) reaffirms the previous ban on the use of earmarks, and 
        affirms to restore the ban permanently and immediately; and
            (3) affirms the need for Congress to reign in overspending 
        to help curb the inflation crisis that is crippling the 
        families of the United States.
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