[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 9]
[House]
[Page 12745]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         STOP GOVERNMENT ABUSE

  (Mrs. WAGNER asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, today the House will vote on a series of 
bills that aim to stop government abuse. Mr. Speaker, it is extremely 
disheartening that the Federal Government has acted and continues to 
act in a manner that cultivates distrust. Unfortunately, there are 
countless examples of misconduct among the Federal agencies, ranging 
from the IRS discriminating against conservative groups, to denying 
American citizens their constitutional rights in administrative 
proceedings.
  Over the past month, I have heard from 1,187 of my constituents 
regarding their distrust in government; and as more activities of the 
agencies and the executive branch come to light, who can blame them. 
What is even more troubling than the misconduct itself is the fact that 
the President stands by it. Last week he called such transgressions 
``phony scandals.''
  These are hardly phony scandals. These are real and unconscionable 
actions taken by our Federal Government, and these actions are 
unacceptable. It is past time for us to do something about it.
  We must take the necessary steps to start earning the trust of the 
American people, and that's why I back and have cosponsored several 
bills to be considered in the House this week. They are commonsense 
measures that work to begin restoring confidence in the American 
people.

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