[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 113 (Thursday, August 1, 2013)]
[House]
[Page H5269]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       STOP GOVERNMENT ABUSE WEEK

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Conaway) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. CONAWAY. Mr. Speaker, this week in the House, we are voting on 
pieces of legislation that will roll back the Obama administration's 
overreach. We term this effort Stop Government Abuse Week. Our message 
to the administration is quite simple: no more wasted tax dollars, no 
more abuse of power by Federal agencies. The Federal Government must be 
accountable to the American people, not unelected bureaucrats.
  Right now, a senior Federal employee can be placed under 
investigation for serious misconduct, yet the Federal Government isn't 
allowed to put that person on leave without pay, meaning they get an 
extended paid vacation. That's the case with IRS official Lois Lerner, 
who took the Fifth Amendment and testified before Congress. She's now 
on paid leave while Congress continues the agency's misconduct 
investigation.
  The Employee Accountability Act, introduced by my friend Mike Kelly 
from Pennsylvania, will address this issue. It will allow agencies to 
place employees on unpaid leave when they are under investigation for 
serious offenses.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud of the work the House is doing this week on 
behalf of the American people. We are sending a very strong message to 
the Obama administration: enough is enough.

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