Political Quotes

“Mr. Chair, I rise in support of my amendment that would prohibit the Environmental Protection Agency from utilizing a title 42 special pay authority. There is no rationale for this authority to exist. It is time that the authorizers in Congress stand up for their prerogatives and act as a check on the executive branch when it invents claims to new powers to which it has no right. Mr. Chair, this is not just my sentiment. In 2012, the Government Accountability Office conducted a study on the EPA's use of title 42 special pay authority. In that study, multiple instances of irregularities were found, entry-level scientists were hired at much higher than what would be the expected GS pay level. Why would we allow the EPA to continue to use a program when it has clearly and repeatedly demonstrated that it is a poor steward of American tax dollars? Mr. Chair, not only has there been a report that highlights the abuse of the program, but a subsequent study was undertaken by the EPA's Office of Inspector General that found that the EPA did not demonstrate a need to use this special pay authority. In fact, there was no shortage of qualified applicants for those positions. Even more alarming, the inspector general found that the EPA did not provide any convincing justification for its continued use. Recent college graduates with a chemistry degree have been hired on to the staff of the EPA at rates higher, much higher than the GS level would indicate.…”