Jeff Flake: “this amendment prevents $150,000 from going toward programs at the South Carolina Aquarium in Charleston, South…”

“this amendment prevents $150,000 from going toward programs at the South Carolina Aquarium in Charleston, South Carolina, and reduces the cost of the bill by a consistent amount. Madam Chairman, when I saw this amendment, or saw this earmark, I thought I was experiencing deja vu here. In the past we've seen earmarks for other aquariums in other appropriations bills. Last year, the Mystic Aquarium received $1 million in the bill allocating funding for the Defense Department. And now we see the South Carolina Aquarium is a beneficiary in the spending bill for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services and Education. This earmark may have found a more appropriate home in this spending bill rather than the Defense bill; but if I were a betting man, I would not bet against seeing other aquarium earmarks in other appropriations bills. It seems to be a trend here that the Federal Government seems to be funding more aquariums across the country, without, I would submit, much of a Federal purpose.”