Blog: Ditching Duplication

Statement

Nebraskans know there's no shortage of waste and duplication within the federal government. Countless federal programs replicate existing, more effective programs at the state or local level. Yet, somehow these unnecessary programs, which are funded by taxpayer dollars and serve no useful purpose, continue to exist.

What's more, many departments and agencies use up federal dollars on overlapping expenses and fail to take advantage of easy opportunities for cost savings. It's like Reagan once said, "Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this Earth."

Since 2011, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) has released a report outlining specific areas of "fragmentation, overlap, and duplication in federal programs and activities." These four reports have revealed 188 areas that meet these criteria within nearly every department and agency. GAO has also recommended 440 ways Congress and the administration could act to improve efficiency.

This year's report identified 15 new opportunities for the federal government to achieve savings. For example, at least $866 million in taxpayer funds could be saved if federal government properties were owned rather than leased. GAO's report also notes overlap between disability benefits and unemployment benefits. In fiscal year 2010, 117,000 individuals received simultaneous cash benefit payments from both disability insurance (DI) and unemployment insurance (UI) programs. Overlapping DI and UI payments totaled more than $850 million -- that's over $1.2 billion that could be saved over the next decade.

While GAO's report is an important tool to identify excessive spending, it is Congress' job to execute oversight and pass policies that reduce this waste and trim the fat.

I recently led an effort to introduce an amendment with Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine), Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.), and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) to strengthen gender-based pay anti-discrimination laws and promote more opportunities for men and women in the workplace. It included a provision that would eliminate duplication and help people find good-paying jobs.

I have heard from many employers in Nebraska who struggle to fill available jobs due to a shortage of workers with the necessary training. My proposal would consolidate duplicative job training programs and use existing funding to provide federal grants to states for the creation of industry-led partnerships. These partnerships are meant to provide women and men with the tools they need to compete and be successful in fields requiring specific skills.

Unfortunately, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) refused to bring our commonsense amendment up for a vote. Nonetheless, I will continue to support efforts to reduce the size of government and focus on programs that work.

I believe the most effective way Congress can address government growth is to cut wasteful spending through responsible budgeting. In Nebraska, the governor works with state senators, combing through the budget line by line to balance it. It seems this sensible accounting practice is a foreign concept here in Washington.

Until last March, the Senate had not produced a budget in nearly four years. In fact, Congress has only met the required October 1 deadline for a budget twice since 1980. That is why I cosponsored an amendment to constitutionally require the federal government to produce a balanced budget. I am also cosponsoring bipartisan legislation introduced by Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) to make Congress' budget process more efficient. The Biennial Budgeting and Appropriations Act would require Congress to pass a two-year budget, rather than an annual budget. A biennial budget would help agencies plan ahead and allow more time for lawmakers to focus on oversight to help ensure the most effective use of taxpayer money.

Setting priorities, reining in spending, and growing our economy is the only way we are going to chart a more sustainable fiscal course, reduce our debt, and put our country back on the right path. It's not politics; it's smart policy -- and it's the job the American people sent us here to do.

Thank you for taking part in our democratic process, and I'll visit with you again next week.

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