[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 19]
[House]
[Page 28187]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



 THE $3 MILLION DUCK, DISCOVERED AND STOPPED BY TWO MEMBERS OF CONGRESS

  (Mr. ARMEY asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. ARMEY. Mr. Speaker, I would like to remind the previous speaker 
that the Republican budget has more money for veterans in it than was 
requested by the President.
  Mr. Speaker, we have all heard about the million dollar man. Well, 
believe it or not, now we have a $3 million duck. That is right, we now 
know that the United States Fish and Wildlife Service planned to spend 
$30 million on a small island 1,000 miles south of Hawaii for a 
wildlife refuge for migratory ducks. The only problem is there are only 
10 ducks on the island. That is $3 million per duck.
  The ducks probably think this is a pretty good deal. After all, they 
each get $3 million. But I do not think taxpayers think this is such a 
great deal.
  This is just the last example of government waste uncovered by 
Congress. It all comes down to whether or not we are willing to root 
out government waste or to protect Social Security.
  Mr. Speaker, Republicans have stopped the 30-year raid on Social 
Security. The President now shares our commitment. We can lock away 
every penny of Social Security if we simply root out some government 
waste.
  Mr. Speaker, there is some good news. The 10 ducks on that island are 
not going to get their $30 million because two Members of Congress 
discovered this program and they stopped this quack program.
  All we have to do is stop all such programs and we can save Social 
Security from waste, inefficiency and absurdity.

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