[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 31 (Tuesday, March 15, 2005)]
[House]
[Page H1427]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        WASTE, FRAUD, AND ABUSE

  (Mr. PRICE of Georgia asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PRICE of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, America's checkbook is being used 
and abused every minute of every day, and this is more than annoying to 
taxpayers. It is an insult.
  The problems with financial management in the bureaucracy here in 
Washington cost hardworking taxpayers billions of dollars. Too often, 
money that comes to Washington never gets back home because it is eaten 
away by waste, fraud, and abuse.
  When the Federal Government cannot account for over $17 billion it 
spent in 2001, things need to change.
  When the Department of Agriculture recently was unable to account for 
$5 billion in receipts and expenditures, things need to change.
  When the U.S. General Accounting Office will not certify the Federal 
Government's own accounting books because the bookkeeping is so bad, 
things definitely need to change.
  Mr. Speaker, there are countless stories about how the government has 
not correctly paid on everything from Medicare to food stamps, and that 
is just the tip of the iceberg.
  As we discuss ways to reduce spending and to increase savings, let us 
get serious about waste, fraud, and abuse.
  It is important to remember that our government of the people, for 
the people is paid for by the people. It is time to stop wasting the 
people's money.

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