David Obey: “Mr. Chairman, my understanding of the situation before us is that the gentleman from Virginia is objecting to section…”

“Mr. Chairman, my understanding of the situation before us is that the gentleman from Virginia is objecting to section 717 of the bill beginning on page 66 which attempts to discipline the agency because the Committee on Appropriations has learned that USDA had transferred millions of dollars for agency funds to the Chief Information Officer of the Department for some of his favorite initiatives, contrary to the written advice of the USDA general counsel. My understanding further is that these actions are in direct and total defiance of the Congress on this issue. They directly violate specific bill language in the fiscal 2004 bill which prohibited such transfers without the prior approval of both of the appropriation committees in the Senate and the House. Mr. Chairman, if the gentleman insists on pursuing his point of order, the only practical effect will be that the Congress has declined to take any disciplinary action whatsoever against the agency after the agency has determined that it is acceptable to expend taxpayers' money in defiance of the law. I regret very much that the gentleman seeks to eliminate this language. If he does, there is not much that I can do about it, but I think it is a shame indeed when the Congress of the United States will not insist that an agency expends money only in compliance with the law.”