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.
“FEDERAL GOVERNMENT LACKING IN ECONOMIC KNOW-HOW” mentioning the Department of Interior was published in the House of Representatives section on pages H3118 on May 13, 1998.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT LACKING IN ECONOMIC KNOW-HOW
(Mr. DUNCAN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute.)
Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, a few days ago at a hearing of the Committee on Resources, the Inspector General of the Interior Department reported some shocking findings. He said that the National Park Service had built 19 employee houses at the Yosemite National Park at an average cost of $584,000. One of the homes cost $700,000.
Now, I know the Federal bureaucracy can rationalize or justify almost anything, and I know that because the national parks are so popular, the Park Service feels it is above criticism and can do just about anything it wants. However, Federal employees already have pay and pensions and hours that are far better than just about everyone except for movie stars and athletes. To build Park Service employees $584,000 homes on top of what they are already getting is ridiculous.
The really sad part, though, is that very few are shocked about this. We have just come to expect things like this from an agency that last year spent almost $400,000 on a fancy two-hole outhouse. Once again, Mr. Speaker, the Federal Government has proved that it cannot do anything in an economical manner.
____________________
