[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 80 (Wednesday, June 22, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: June 22, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
 DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 
                                  1995

                                 ______


                               speech of

                            HON. L.F. PAYNE

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 16, 1994

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill. (H.R. 4556) 
     making appropriations for the Department of Transportation 
     and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 
     1995, and for other purposes:

  Mr. PAYNE of Virginia. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of the 
amendment offered by Mr. Conyers and Mr. Clinger.
  No large business in the Nation would operate without the services of 
a chief financial officer. Yet, the bill we are considering will 
authorize the expenditure of over $14 billion without providing 
adequate funding for a critical provision of the Chief Financial 
Officers Act of 1990--the audit of the Department's financial statement 
by the inspector general.
  We passed the CFO Act in 1990 to ensure that agencies are able to 
properly account for all appropriated funds. The CFO Act makes possible 
the kind of sound cost/benefit analysis of programs that American 
businesses use every day.
  If we limit the ability of the inspector general to audit financial 
statements at the Department of Transportation, we in Congress will not 
be able to judge which programs work and which don't. Making these 
decisions is vital if we are to ensure the wise use of taxpayer 
dollars--14 billion taxpayer dollars in this case.
  Mr. Chairman, we made a good start at reducing the Federal budget 
deficit last year by voting to cut Government spending. But we must 
also ensure that what we do spend is spent wisely. To do this, we must 
support the CFO Act by providing adequate funding for implementation of 
the act in each agency, including the Department of Transportation.
  The CFO Act is working and working well. I urge all my colleagues to 
support the full implementation of the act by voting for the Conyers-
Clinger amendment.

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