Bringing Transparency to the Appropriations Process

Statement

Bringing Transparency to the Appropriations Process

Every year, during the appropriations process, Congress directs funding - normally part of the overall federal budget - specifically for local projects throughout the U.S. These projects are often called "earmarks" and have been a focus of much scrutiny as of late.

Congress has the responsibility to allocate the people's money in a way that is both fiscally responsible and economically efficient. Unfortunately, federal spending in recent years has not reached those benchmarks.

Dubious projects such as the infamous "Bridge to Nowhere" and the naming of buildings and bridges after sitting Members of Congress has left a sour taste both on Capitol Hill and throughout our country. Add to such misguided and short-sighted abuses rampant waste and duplicative spending, it is no surprise Americans have such distrust of those tasked to safeguard our dollars.

Earmarks, when used correctly, can guarantee taxpayer dollars are being directed to worthy projects instead of doled out by nameless, faceless federal bureaucrats who have never visited Nebraska. For instance, if left to unaccountable bureaucrats, would roads, national parks, and centers of education for our state ever receive a return on our tax dollars?

Transparency in the appropriations process is vital to ensure a responsible use of taxpayer dollars. There are a number of non-profit organizations, such as the Center for Responsive Politics, Map Light, and Washington Watch, which I encourage Nebraskans to stay informed of.

As a member of the House Budget Committee, I am a strong advocate for more transparency and accountability in the appropriations process. I have supported bipartisan efforts to enact meaningful reforms to control waste, fraud, and abuse. I support efforts to allow challenges to individual earmarks on the House floor.

Earlier this year, a challenge was laid down for all members to join in a bipartisan earmark moratorium during which Congress would conduct public hearings and make recommendations changing the "business as usual" approach to earmarks.

Unfortunately, many in the majority party have not supported such a ban, and recently the Senate rejected a one-year moratorium as well. No further action toward instituting needed reforms is expected.

Now, it is up to each individual Member of Congress to work to restore public confidence in the earmarking process through our own example. Some have chosen to voluntarily abstain from submitting any earmarks for the time being. Others, including me, feel the best way to move the process forward is to make it more transparent and more accountable.

I'd like to share with you the guidelines I use in determining whether or not to submit a project for earmark funding. Throughout the appropriations process, I work directly with our communities on funding for worthy projects.

First and foremost, I will not submit an earmark request which would lead to any personal gain. To meet my standards, any operation, construction, or renovation must be conducted in Nebraska's Third Congressional District, and must address the scope of the proposed projects. My office encourages and can assist projects to pursue authorized competitive grants as a first step for federal funding. Also, if applicable, multi-year projects will only be considered if the total number of years the project requires funding is identified.

All requests also must provide a detailed budget for the project. This must include the overall cost and sources of funding; specifically identifying if funds will be used for operations, construction, renovation, staff salaries, or equipment purchases. Further, taxpayer dollars should never be used as venture capital - if a private sector project is worthwhile, the marketplace will determine its viability.

The actual funds appropriated to each project will be determined at a later date, and I will announce the status of these projects as we work through the appropriations process.

It is important to restore the public confidence in the way federal funds are spent. After years of wasteful government spending, it will take an effort on all levels of government to build back the trust lost along they way. I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to make the appropriations process more transparent and more accountable.

Below is a list of local project requests for the Fiscal Year 2009 appropriations process.

Project Amount

Kearney Interchange and Bypass construction $10,000,000

Heartland Expressway Corridor Management Study $1,636,000

Scotts Bluff National Monument Visitor Center $850,000

Central Nebraska World Trade Center $400,000

Republican River Basin Ecosystem Restoration program $300,000

Kearney Interchange and Bypass

Project request: $10,000,000

The project consists of a new interchange located on I-80 at Cherry Avenue, which is located approximately three miles east of Kearney's only Interstate exit at Nebraska Highway 44. The project also includes the construction of a new four-lane highway proceeding north from the interchange.

This project will provide efficient access from I-80 to the large industrial and commercial area on the northeastern part of the city. Currently, regional and national truck traffic serving these businesses - including the airport, hospitals, and National Guard facility - must pass through the center of Kearney, causing significant delays and safety concerns.

Heartland Expressway Corridor Management Study

Project request: $1,636,000

The project will prepare a corridor development and management plan for the Heartland Expressway High Priority Corridor which will update project cost estimates, schedule segment priorities, and quantify economic development benefits.

Specifically, the plan will include a coordinated corridor development plan and schedule, including a timetable for completion of all planning and development activities, environmental reviews and permits, and construction of all segments; the results of any environmental reviews; a complete and comprehensive analysis of corridor costs and benefits; a finance plan, including any innovative financing methods, and a State-by-State breakdown of corridor finances; and the identification of any impediments to the development and construction of the corridor.

The Heartland Expressway is designated as a Federal High Priority Corridor connecting Denver, Colorado to Rapid City, South Dakota, via Scottsbluff. This project will provide improved access to expanding markets throughout the Midwest and other areas of the country, as well as improved flow of traffic between the three states.

Scotts Bluff National Monument Visitor Center

$850,000

This project will provide planning and design funds to rehabilitate and expand the historic Scotts Bluff National Monument visitor center.

The visitor center was built in 1935, with exhibits installed in the 1950s. The structure has a unique architectural design identified as eligible for the National Register of Historic Places, but lacks a fire suppression system and does not provide safe egress. There is no clear visitor circulation pattern and capacity is often exceeded.

Scotts Bluff national Monument contributes approximately $4.2 million to Nebraska's economy annually and creates 45 non-federal jobs in the Scottsbluff/Gering area.

Central Nebraska World Trade Center

$400,000

The Central Nebraska World Trade Center (CNWTC) will provide market research to businesses, facilitate participation in trade shows, organize trade missions, conduct international trade education for businesses, and offer business services directly supporting trade for clients.

Established at the University of Nebraska-Kearney, the CNWTC will be a one-stop resource for businesses at various stages, from exploring opportunities to forming export and import agreements with trade partners. Targeted Nebraska businesses include manufacturers, value-added agricultural product operations, service providers, emergent businesses, and growth-oriented existing businesses.

This project will provide specific support for growth-oriented small businesses needing access to larger markets, a particular challenge facing non-metropolitan areas.

Republican River Basin Ecosystem Restoration Program

$300,000

The project will provide for a study on the Republican River in Nebraska and Colorado to determine the extent of infestation of invasive plant species within the river corridor.

The study would look at alternative methods for eradication and restoration of native plant species to recover native habitat within the Republican River. These invasive species, such as Salt Cedar, can remove large volumes of surface and groundwater, limiting the base flow of surface water to the river and its flood control and recreation lakes.

The study would be a collaborative approach from a watershed perspective to control the infestation, and restore native stream and riparian habitat.

Source