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Rep. Norman Introduced:
#WastefulWednesday: This past Wednesday, I introduced a bill to eliminate the ineffective and duplicative federal program, the Economic Development Administration (EDA). The EDA is one of 80 federal programs that provide economic development aid.
The Bush, Obama, and Trump Administrations have all supported eliminating or drastically reducing the EDA. This agency has repeatedly been criticized for exaggerating the number of jobs their programs have been able to create, for failing to provide grants to profitable projects, and for failing to obtain proper documentation for their projects. According to reports from the Government Accountability Office (GAO), a few examples of the EDA’s failure to be a good steward of tax payer dollars include: claiming to create 5,834 jobs when they only created 83 and spending 61% of funds on administrative cost, while only spending 39% providing assistance.
The EDA is a prime example of our federal government’s #wasteful spending habits.
The FLY Act: This week I introduced the FLY Act. This bill would ensure that high-level government officials in the executive branch submit monthly, quarterly, and annual travel logs, and to prevent any Senate-confirmed official from flying first class on flights.
This legislation aims to provide more transparency for the American people about the actions of government officials, save taxpayer dollars, and prevent abuse of power. Simply because these officials are no longer beholden to their constituents, does not mean they should not be held accountable to the taxpayer.
#WastefulWednesday (5/30/2018): I introduced a bill that would prohibit the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) from issuing grants whose sole purpose is to demonstrate how artists work to show the impact of climate change in the San Francisco (yes, California only) bay area. What’s funny is the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) is responsible for climate research, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has done their own research, as has the Department of the Interior – but now the NEA? And they spent $100,000 of taxpayer dollars last year to do so? Now that’s #wasteful.
House Passed:
H.R. 8, the Water Resources Development Act. This bill provides vital infrastructure investments in our country and has a direct, positive impact on South Carolina.
H.R. 5895, Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, which encompasses 3 of the 12 annual appropriations bills. This bill helps to fund our government and provides necessary resources for our veterans, military construction, and our energy and water sector. I am happy to see the House moving early on government funding again this year.
H.R. 3, the Spending Cuts to Expired and Unnecessary Programs Act. This bill was a historic rescission package that will save taxpayers $15 billion of unspent government funds. In fact, this rescission package proposed by President Trump is the largest in history! I look forward to voting on more rescissions in the upcoming future.
H.R. 3249, the Project Safe Neighborhoods Grant Program Authorization Act. This bill would establish a grant program to provide resources to states and local entities to curb the rise in gang activity and violence in communities. This bill is now headed to the President’s desk for a signature.
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