tomgraves.house.gov

Graves, Tom
Contact: Jennifer Hazelton (202) 225-5211

Time to Save Billions in Taxpayer Dollars and Eliminate Duplicative Spending

Washington, Feb 28 -

U.S. Rep. Tom Graves (R-GA-09) issued the following statement in response to a report released today by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO). The GAO found 32 areas where multiple government programs do similar work -- and that billions of taxpayer dollars could be saved by eliminating overlapping federal programs.

“With our crippling debt problem, Congress should take advantage of every possible opportunity to eliminate wasteful spending and return money to the treasury. Saving billions of taxpayer dollars by cutting out waste is a perfect opportunity for Congress to show it hears the calls by the American people to tackle our spiraling deficits. This shouldn't be hard. It’s common sense.”

Background:

This year’s report found that 13 agencies fund 209 different science, technology, engineering and math education programs, and 173 of those programs overlap with at least one other federal program. For example, the government has at least 15 financial literacy programs, including three new ones established by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform law and the Consumer Protection Act. The report also found 53 different federal programs that offer assistance to entrepreneurs. Last year’s report by the GAO identified 81 areas to make government more efficient. Congress and the Obama Administration have fully implemented only four of these items so far.