Scott Walker: “This bill includes over $9 billion in appropriations for 22 nondefense programs that are not authorized by law. Nine of…”

“This bill includes over $9 billion in appropriations for 22 nondefense programs that are not authorized by law. Nine of these programs receive a total of $185 million more than their enacted 2016 level. Several of these programs have not been authorized since the 1980s, and one has never been authorized by Congress. My amendment is simple. My amendment would reduce unauthorized nondefense accounts to the 2016 levels. My amendment would also cut around $185 million and send that money to the spending reduction account. In a time when we, as a Nation, are approaching close to $20 trillion in debt, we cannot continue to fund unauthorized accounts in our appropriations process. This is a democratic Nation, and the men and women send the Members of this body, not to slip unauthorized programs in appropriations bills, but to have an open discussion on our funding priorities. Furthermore, the inclusion of appropriations for these programs in the reported bill is a violation of clause(2)(a)(1) of rule XXI of the rules of the House. I applaud Representative Tom McClintock and Conference Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers for their significant work to raise awareness of the problem of unauthorized appropriations and work towards a solution so that the House actually enforces its rules.…”