[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 517 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>






119th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 517

      Expressing opposition to congressional spending on earmarks.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           November 20, 2025

Mr. Scott of Florida (for himself, Mr. Lee, and Mr. Johnson) submitted 
   the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 
                             Appropriations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
      Expressing opposition to congressional spending on earmarks.

Whereas fiscal year 2022 marked the return of ``congressionally directed 
        spending'' and ``community project funding'', also known as 
        ``earmarks'', after a 12-year hiatus;
Whereas the return of earmarks marked the return of lawmakers using their powers 
        to circumvent the rules of the Senate in order to direct taxpayer 
        dollars to wasteful projects;
Whereas, while Congress has the power of the purse, it must be prescriptive and 
        effective in funding programs, projects, and activities of the Federal 
        Government, which is now more than $38,000,000,000,000 in debt, rather 
        than focus on funding earmarks that are wasteful in nature;
Whereas Congress has dramatically increased deficit spending, overseeing more 
        than $12,500,000,000,000 in deficit spending since 2020;
Whereas interest payments on the United States national debt have exceeded 
        $1,000,000,000,000 annually;
Whereas the Congressional Budget Office projects that between 2025 and 2055, 
        publicly held debt by the United States will increase by 
        $108,100,000,000,000, from $30,100,000,000,000 to $138,200,000,000,000;
Whereas Senate Republicans adopted a 2-year moratorium on earmarks in 2010;
Whereas Senate Republicans voted favorably for a permanent ban on earmarks in 
        2019 and reaffirmed that ban in 2021;
Whereas former Senator Tom Coburn condemned the use of earmarks as a ``gateway 
        drug to overspending'' and former Senator John McCain called earmarks 
        ``the gateway drug to corruption and overspending in Washington'';
Whereas several former Members of Congress and lobbyists have been convicted of 
        crimes related to earmarking;
Whereas it is crucial that Congress spend taxpayer dollars wisely and with the 
        best return on investment; and
Whereas Congress must stop this reckless Federal spending and corrupt political 
        dealing, start paying down the debt of the United States, and get the 
        United States back on track: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) condemns the use of ``congressionally directed 
        spending'' and ``community project funding'', known as 
        ``earmarks'', to direct and appropriate taxpayer dollars in any 
        form;
            (2) reaffirms the previous ban on the use of earmarks and 
        affirms to restore the ban permanently and immediately; and
            (3) affirms the need for Congress to reign in overspending 
        to help curb the inflation crisis that is crippling the 
        families of the United States.
                                 <all>