Iowa Congressman David Young on Government Waste in First Congressional Hearing

Press Release

Iowa Congressman David Young focused on government waste in his first hearing as a member of the House Agricultural Appropriations Subcommittee today. Young targeted the Commodity Futures Trading Commission's (CFTC) millions of dollars in spending for the rental of mostly empty space in their Kansas City offices.

While questioning CFTC Chairman Timothy Massad at the hearing, Congressman Young questioned why the agency is in a ten year lease for office space that would hold 80 employees when only 25 employees, less than 1/3 of the capacity, actually work in the location. Young noted that the Office of Inspector General estimated the extra space to total at least $3.6 million in taxpayer funded waste.

"Congress has a responsibility to work together to achieve results for Iowans and the American people. We need to work to restore genuine accountability to all levels of our federal government because that's what every hardworking taxpayer deserves.

"This is why I wanted to serve on the U.S. House Appropriations Committee, because it put me in a very unique position to carry out my mission to identify and eliminate wasteful government spending. As an Iowan, I want Washington to live by the same rules of common-sense spending we all follow back home. I am confident that by working together we can find real solutions that produce real results."

Young, who was sworn into Congress in January, will serve on two other Appropriations Subcommittees in addition to Agriculture including Homeland Security and Legislative Branch.

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