Government Efficiency, Effectiveness, and Performance Improvement Act of 2010

Floor Speech

Mr. FOSTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 2142, The Government Efficiency, Effectiveness, and Performance Improvement Act. This legislation will force federal agencies and Congress to confront a crucial question: does the government we have operate as efficiently and responsibly as possible? By requiring agency heads to set measurable goals, subjecting identified programs to frequent assessments, and by enhancing transparency, this bill goes a long way towards creating an accountable, results-oriented government.

Before coming to Congress, I was a scientist and a businessman. In both science and business, data, clear metrics, and measurable goals guide any successful endeavor. The same should be true of the federal government. Whenever taxpayer dollars are spent, the American people deserve to know whether they're getting their money's worth. This means identifying which agencies are working, and which are not.

With deficits on an unsustainable long-term course, we must have a mechanism in place to ferret out wasteful spending and not hesitate to slash underperforming programs. This bill not only puts in place that mechanism, but it also allows the public to participate in the process. Agencies will be required to consider public input on program goals and the criteria by which they are assessed.

This bill is a victory for accountable government and the American taxpayer. Those who oppose it will say that it does not go far and fast enough, but they will not dispute that it is a step in the right direction. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

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