Porter Goss: “Mr. Chairman, we are not denying those jobs. Those are jobs that are worthwhile. They will stand on their own merit and…”

“Mr. Chairman, we are not denying those jobs. Those are jobs that are worthwhile. They will stand on their own merit and there will be plenty of money in this program under this amendment should it pass and it should. I have been told that this is about need. Here I am looking at a community where the average per capita income is $37,500, they got a grant for $750,000 for a storm sewer system. I think they could afford it themselves. I am taking a look at a GAO report that says, ``In our review of the literature available, we were unavailable to find any study that established a strong causal linkage between a positive economic effect and an agency's economic development assistance.'' Here we have got an IG report that says with regard to base closings that ``base closures or convert defense technology to civilian applications appeared limited'' and a disproportionate share were in a few areas. What we have got is a program that does not work very well. It is time to prioritize it. It is time to understand it. It is time to start phasing it back. That is all we seek to do. We do not seek to remove any good jobs. We all are for good jobs. I urge support of this amendment.”