| For Immediate Release | Contact: Curtis Kalin 202-467-5318 |
| April 29, 2015 |
(Washington, D.C.) – Today, the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste (CCAGW) released its analysis of the House version of the fiscal year (FY) 2016 Energy and Water Appropriations bill. The bill’s cost to taxpayers is $35.4 billion, a $1.2 billion increase over current funding levels and $633 million below the president’s budget request.
After a thorough analysis, CCAGW found numerous opportunities to reduce federal spending and save taxpayers money that were also recommended in the Prime Cuts 2015 database. If the following recommendations were enacted, the House could completely offset the $1.2 billion spending increase in this bill (figures below are the stated funding levels in the bill).
– Reduce funding for fossil energy research and development ($605 million)
– Eliminate funding for nuclear energy research and development ($505 million)
– Reduce the size of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve ($212 million)
– Terminate research and development on the Unconventional Fossil Technology Program ($13 million)
– Sell the Southeastern Power Administration and related power-generating assets (while the agency is self-funded through fees, end users would enjoy significant savings from its sale)
CCAGW sent a letter to the House of Representatives urging members “to offer or support any amendments that cut spending from these programs.”
“Prime Cuts can help put the country’s fiscal house in order,” said CAGW President Tom Schatz. “We will continue to use its database of 601 proposals that would save $639 billion in one year and $2.6 trillion over five years to inform taxpayers, the media, and members of Congress where and how to cut government waste.”
The Council for Citizens Against Government Waste is the lobbying arm of the nation’s largest nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement in government.
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