[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 125 (Tuesday, August 4, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6251-S6252]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           WASTEFUL SPENDING

  Mr. COATS. Mr. President, last week I delivered my 19th ``Waste of 
the Week'' and we actually reached our goal of $100 billion in savings 
for the taxpayer by identifying waste, fraud, and abuse. This was money 
spent by the Federal Government, money collected from hard-working 
earners who paid their taxes, sent them to Washington, and expected 
they would be used for essential purposes, such as providing for our 
national security, supporting research at NIH for medical advances that 
would provide lifesaving techniques and medicines to Americans, funding 
the rebuilding of crumbling bridges and highways, and any number of 
things the Federal Government is involved in that the American public 
agrees are essential functions that could be performed only by the 
Federal Government.
  What we want you to do though, they are saying, is be as efficient as 
you can. If there is excess money wasted on programs that have no place 
in the Federal budget, let's identify those, let's eliminate those, and 
either return our tax money and lower our tax rates or use it for 
something more essential.
  We have reached our goal of $100 billion of waste, fraud, and abuse 
identified by nonpartisan agencies--not Republican agencies, not 
Democratic agencies or firms but nonpartisan agencies--that simply look 
at numbers, identify the projects, identify the spending, and ask the 
question: Do we truly need to do that?
  Particularly at a time when the deficit clock keeps ticking, when we 
continue year after year after year to spend more than we take in, 
despite raising taxes, despite looking for ever more sources of income, 
it is clear we need to take the necessary steps not to spend more than 
is absolutely necessary to function on behalf of the American people.
  So today I am on the floor for speech No. 20. We reached the goal. It 
is just the beginning of August. The Senate has many more weeks in 
front of it, but we are going to keep going because it is amazing the 
amount of waste, fraud, and abuse that has been identified by some of 
these nonpartisan groups looking at Federal expenditures. If we can add 
to our chart, I think we will have to add an extension to that chart or 
devise another one--

[[Page S6252]]

perhaps put another gauge over here--because we are going to keep doing 
this every week the Senate is in session.
  Today, as I said, we are looking at No. 20. I looked at two agencies 
that exist in the Federal Government: the National Endowment for the 
Humanities, NEH, and the National Endowment for the Arts, NEA. These 
two agencies are engaged in cultural projects. Some of these are--
people would deem--somewhat essential, but we have looked at two 
agencies that we think ought to be identified today.
  The public probably will remember the 87th Academy Awards--better 
known as the Oscars--that took place in Hollywood a few months ago. 
Many Americans tune in and watch this high-profile event featuring 
America's rich and famous. As always, a parade of actors pull up in 
their stretch limousines and step into the bright lights of the 
entertainment industry's media--the flashing lights, the march down the 
red carpet, and stop to have their pictures taken. There, in tailored 
tuxes and designer gowns--some of which cost, amazingly, over 
$100,000--everybody is trying to outdo everybody else.
  The bottom line is Hollywood is not short of money. As Americans 
watch this, they see the Oscars that are being offered. Then we look at 
that and say: What in the world is a $25,000 check from the Federal 
Government to Hollywood doing in this process?
  It is hard to understand the concept that Hollywood needs support, 
needs a handout from the Federal Government, but they are developing an 
Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Hollywood. Somehow they have 
applied for a $25,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. 
Now, that is not a major amount compared to our budget problems here 
and the money we deal with, but the American public ought to be saying: 
Why in the world are we giving a penny to Hollywood to support the 
building of a museum?
  It is simply because the process is open for anybody to submit for a 
grant. But who is reviewing these things? Who is looking at this? Does 
Hollywood truly need taxpayer money to construct a museum of motion 
pictures through the National Endowment for the Arts?
  We also discovered that the National Endowment for the Humanities got 
engaged in one of these efforts, spending considerably more--$914,000--
to support a conference entitled ``What is Love? Romance Fiction in the 
Digital Age.'' The conference was full of speakers networking with each 
other and even giving the opportunity for adults to design and color 
their own title page.
  Again, I am asking why. Why, given our $18.5 trillion debt growing 
every day, do we have to give away a nearly $1 million grant to support 
a conference on how in the digital age to develop romantic books?
  While it might be fun to go deeper into this and examine just exactly 
what goes on at this conference, that is not really why I am speaking 
on the floor today. I am simply here to ask why. Is this necessary? Is 
this the kind of thing we need to be supporting and doing with hard-
earned taxpayer dollars that are sent to Washington, not for these 
purposes?
  So today, the cumulative runs close to $1 million--$939,000--of 
taxpayer savings that would go onto our gauge, and we add yet another 
increment to the gauge in determining how tax dollars are spent.
  We are going to continue doing this. This is a small one today. You 
can see we had some major chunks and major dysfunctions in the Federal 
Government, but I think it is important for every Senator to be able to 
go home, talk to their people, and say: We are making every possible 
effort we can to be efficient and effective with the money you sent to 
Washington, and we are looking into every dollar to make sure it is 
spent on essential functions of the Federal Government.
  It is astounding how much is being sent, used, and wasted, how much 
fraud and waste takes place. We will continue to identify that each 
week.
  That is our waste of the week. We will be back each week after our 
August recess when the Senate is in session to continue to identify 
ways in which we can save the taxpayers' money.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Flake). Without objection, it is so 
ordered.
  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to speak as in 
morning business.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senate is in morning business.

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