[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 60 (Wednesday, May 13, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H3118]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            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.

                          ____________________