[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 117 (Tuesday, September 19, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1759-E1760]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    PROVIDING FOR EARMARKING REFORM IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. LORETTA SANCHEZ

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 14, 2006

  Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in 
support of H. Res. 1000, to provide for earmark reform in the House of 
Representatives. This measure, I believe, will help bring much-needed 
transparency and accountability for funding projects in the House. It 
will do this by obliging Committees to list the names of House Members 
next to the projects that they request. Identifying project sponsors 
will allow the public to see how their representatives are choosing to 
spend their tax dollars.
  I am pleased that this legislation will include ALL House Committees. 
That means this resolution will identify the sponsors of special tax 
breaks, and special programs as well as those who are asking for 
appropriations earmarks.
  Despite the fact that I support this bill, I am disappointed in its 
limitations. In the first place, the bill only applies to House rules. 
It's not the law of the land. So if there are violations, there are no 
legal consequences. Second, the bill does nothing to limit or at least 
define Member earmarks. That means that Members will continue to use 
their seniority and committee assignments to get special deals for 
their districts. While I'm a strong supporter of bringing tax dollars 
back to the district, I firmly believe that federal programs and 
projects need to be awarded based on merit and need, and should be 
subject to scrutiny and rigorous review.
  Having said all this, H. Res. 1000 is a step forward. I am hopeful 
that greater transparency for the earmarking will allow the public to 
become more knowledgeable about the

[[Page E1760]]

process. At the very least, this will let them know how their taxes are 
being sent. And at the most, it will create the oversight and 
accountability we need to lead to better allocation of our precious and 
limited resources.

                          ____________________