[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 155 (Saturday, September 27, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2076]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         THE FEDERAL AGENCY PROGRAM REALIGNMENT AND CLOSURE ACT

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                           HON. JOHN SULLIVAN

                              of oklahoma

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 26, 2008

  Mr. SULLIVAN. Madam Speaker, I rise to announce that yesterday I 
introduced H.R. 7071, the Federal Agency Program Realignment and 
Closure Act of 2008, legislation that will change the way Washington 
does business once and for all.
  It is clear that the Federal Government is bogged down with rampant 
spending, continually growing entitlement programs, an ever increasing 
annual budget and a Federal deficit that economists predict will hit 
$500 billion by 2010. When the U.S. Military needed reform and more 
efficient spending, Congress and the Department of Defense employed the 
Base Realignment and Closure Commission, BRAC, to evaluate military 
needs and spending saving taxpayers untold billions of dollars. If it 
is good enough to reform our Nation's military, it is good enough to be 
applied to the entire Federal Government.
  I introduced this bill to apply the proven BRAC model to all Federal 
agencies and programs. This commission will consist of 17 bipartisan 
members, including both public and private sector officials, providing 
an objective, non-partisan, and independent review and analysis of all 
Federal agencies and programs. The commission will target agencies and 
programs that perform a duplicative function, would perform better at 
the State level or in the private sector and create a list of 
recommended realignments and closures. Congress will then have an up or 
down vote on the commission's recommendations. All saved funds will be 
used solely for deficit reduction meaning it cannot be used to fund new 
government programs.
  Spending in Washington, DC, is completely out of control. I believe 
that if we are going to keep putting new spending and programs on the 
table, then we absolutely must have a mechanism to take old things off 
of the table. The American people understand that if you spend too much 
of your budget this month you cut back the next month and they expect 
their government to work the same way. My legislation will help drain 
the swamp in Washington and put the Federal Government back to work for 
the people.

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