The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“GOVERNMENT WASTE” mentioning the U.S. Dept of Agriculture was published in the House of Representatives section on pages H11859 on Nov. 10, 1999.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
GOVERNMENT WASTE
(Mr. PITTS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, last week President Clinton vetoed a bill that called for a 1 percent cut in discretionary spending. He said the loss would place too great a burden on American families.
The President's concern would best be served by insisting that his agencies are more responsible. The waste in government far exceeds the proposed 1 percent cut.
Here is a partial list of this waste. The Agriculture Department in 1997 erroneously issued $1 billion in food stamps overpayments. In 1999, according to the audit, the Defense Department spent $40 billion on overseas telecommunications systems that cannot be used. The Defense Department inventory contains $11 billion worth of equipment that in 1997 was unneeded. Also in 1997 the government spent $3.3 billion in loan guarantees for defaulted students. By 1996 the Department of Energy spent $10 billion on 31 projects that were terminated before completion. HCFA in 1998 erroneously spent $12.6 billion in overpayments to health care providers. HUD, $857 million in erroneous rent subsidy payments in 1998. On and on we could go.
Mr. Speaker, every agency under the President can find fraud, waste and abuse to cut.
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