[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 16] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page 22883] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]THE FEDERAL AGENCY PROGRAM REALIGNMENT AND CLOSURE ACT ______ HON. JOHN SULLIVAN of oklahoma in the house of representatives Friday, September 26, 2008 Mr. SULLIVAN. Madam Speaker, I rise to announce that yesterday I introduced H.R. 7071, the Federal Agency Program Realignment and Closure Act of 2008, legislation that will change the way Washington does business once and for all. It is clear that the Federal Government is bogged down with rampant spending, continually growing entitlement programs, an ever increasing annual budget and a Federal deficit that economists predict will hit $500 billion by 2010. When the U.S. Military needed reform and more efficient spending, Congress and the Department of Defense employed the Base Realignment and Closure Commission, BRAC, to evaluate military needs and spending saving taxpayers untold billions of dollars. If it is good enough to reform our Nation's military, it is good enough to be applied to the entire Federal Government. I introduced this bill to apply the proven BRAC model to all Federal agencies and programs. This commission will consist of 17 bipartisan members, including both public and private sector officials, providing an objective, non-partisan, and independent review and analysis of all Federal agencies and programs. The commission will target agencies and programs that perform a duplicative function, would perform better at the State level or in the private sector and create a list of recommended realignments and closures. Congress will then have an up or down vote on the commission's recommendations. All saved funds will be used solely for deficit reduction meaning it cannot be used to fund new government programs. Spending in Washington, DC, is completely out of control. I believe that if we are going to keep putting new spending and programs on the table, then we absolutely must have a mechanism to take old things off of the table. The American people understand that if you spend too much of your budget this month you cut back the next month and they expect their government to work the same way. My legislation will help drain the swamp in Washington and put the Federal Government back to work for the people. ____________________