[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 19]
[House]
[Page 26086]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                                 ACORN

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Moran) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to again call 
attention to the group Association of Community Organizations for 
Reform Now, or ACORN. As Congress proceeds later this week with 
appropriations, we must be mindful of the risk of allowing this group's 
funding to be restored.
  ACORN's funding was stripped last month, thanks to quick action on 
the part of some of my colleagues here in the House. However, if we do 
not ensure that that funding is permanently eliminated, ACORN could 
again resume their questionable activities, subsidized by the American 
taxpayer.
  Recently, 11 former ACORN employees were arrested for suspicion of 
voter registration fraud. In the past several weeks, more than five 
videos have been released to the media showing ACORN employees advising 
individuals of methods to illegally evade taxes by masking prostitution 
under an IRS code, among other questionable things.
  We have no way of knowing if these were isolated instances or basic 
procedure, but I've heard from many Kansans who have voiced their 
displeasure with ACORN. They demand that ACORN be investigated, 
possibly criminally, as well as completely defunded, and I agree with 
those Kansans.
  I recently wrote a letter demanding an investigation by the House 
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. In the enclosed letter, I 
cited ACORN's unresolved issues with past elections and the recently 
released videos as evidence to block any further funding.
  While ACORN has launched an internal investigation and fired 
offending employees, this string of events sheds light on the lack of 
institutional control within ACORN's management ranks. This is a 
perfect example of misappropriation of taxpayer dollars.
  The American people should not be expected to subsidize ACORN's 
activities. That is why I called for this investigation in the 
beginning of September, and that's why I again call for an 
investigation now, a month and a half later. Congress must look at its 
own procedures when it comes to allocating money with little or no 
accountability.
  Congress has been complacent with the money entrusted to us by the 
taxpayers. The House of Representatives owes an explanation as to why 
ACORN has been deemed fit to receive any Federal assistance. Congress 
has the opportunity to deny Federal funds to ACORN when we consider 
legislation later this week. It is necessary to deny those funds now 
and in the future until ACORN can dispel its long history of 
questionable practices. I cannot foresee a scenario where it would be 
appropriate to reinstate ACORN funding. Their previous track record, 
coupled with their stonewalling of legislative efforts to review them, 
gives me the impression that they are unwilling or, even worse, unable 
to play by the rules.
  Let's end this corruption and stop wasting the money.

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