Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2018

Floor Speech

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Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of Representative Fitzpatrick's amendment. My career in the private sector required skills in identifying deficiencies in systems and processes.

When I look at the program, or lack thereof, with the financial systems modernization effort, beset by poor management and lack of transparency, my last course of action would be to throw more money at it.

Good systems require a good plan. Currently there is no plan, no path forward, and no guarantee to the taxpayers that this money is well spent. This effort has already cost $133 million, 50 percent more than originally expected, and it has failed to accomplish the designated task.

When I go back to Kansas, I am accountable to every taxpaying constituent for every dollar spent in Washington. Therefore, I support this amendment to shift those tax dollars from this inefficient program to the Department of Homeland Security's Office of Inspector General, which protects those very same tax dollars.

This money will provide operating funds to continue funding efficiencies and savings until a good plan is developed for the Financial Services Modernization effort.

Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment and fiscal accountability to the American taxpayer.

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