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.
“WASHINGTON WASTE WATCHERS” mentioning the U.S. Dept of Agriculture was published in the House of Representatives section on pages H9486 on Oct. 16, 2003.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
WASHINGTON WASTE WATCHERS
(Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, as part of the Washington Waste Watchers, I want to highlight, once again, the waste in the Federal Government.
Over the last 4 years the Department of Agriculture spent over $5 billion in food stamp improper payments. This could have paid for over a year of food stamps for over 3 million low-income Americans.
Improper payments alone last year could have paid for a year of food stamps for close to 800,000 low-income Americans, Mr. Speaker. And yet our friends the Democrats still want to raise your taxes to pay for more of this?
Mr. Speaker, Democrats are worried about spending more money to protect our troops and to provide for America's long-term security, but they have no problem in spending money to give benefits to ineligible recipients. We have to get our priorities right, Mr. Speaker.
Let us fight waste, fraud, and abuse. We ask our friends in the other party to help us in our long term security and not do anything to not fund our troops abroad.
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