[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 145 (Thursday, October 16, 2003)]
[House]
[Page H9486]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       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.




                          ____________________