Coalition to Congress: Reform agency grant processes
Dear Representatives:
On behalf of the millions of Americans represented by the undersigned organizations, we write to urge you to support the Grant Reform and New Transparency (GRANT) Act, H.R. 3316, sponsored by Rep. Lankford. This legislation would reduce favoritism in awarding federal grants and add much-needed safeguards for taxpayers.
Washington is spending more and more. The last three budgets approved by Congress have been the largest in history. One area of particular growth among this rapid increase in overall spending has been agency grants. The federal government spent $600 billion on grants in 2012, up from $135 billion in 1990.
Americans deserve to have their hard-earned tax dollars spent responsibly, not squandered on unviable and frivolous projects. Grant proposals should be fully documented and carefully scrutinized to ensure that the project is viable and appropriate. Agency grants should be awarded in an open, competitive system based on merit, not on their political connections.
The ban on congressional earmarks was a good first step in curbing spending on wasteful and expensive projects. But that ban has been succeeded by an executive branch-driven process that is equally, and in some cases even more, opaque. While we are pleased that the earmark ban has removed some of the political motives long associated with spending on individual projects, the way in which these project dollars are awarded continues to lack transparency, making it difficult for ordinary Americans to ascertain how these decisions are made.
The GRANT Act (H.R. 3316) will establish new standards that will improve accountability in the federal agency award process. It will improve documentation, such as requiring greater detail in grant applications, as well as final reports on project performance. Moreover, the measure will require executive branch agencies to establish clear standards for grants, and expand disclosure requirements regarding how final award decisions are made. This legislation will also increase transparency in grant reporting, which will make it easier for Americans to see where their hard-earned tax dollars are going.
Sincerely,
Brent Gardner, Director of Federal Affairs
Americans for Prosperity
Dee Stewart, President
Americans for a Balanced Budget
Grover Norquist, President
Americans for Tax Reform
Mattie Duppler, Executive Director
Cost of Government Center
Tom Brinkman Jr., Chairman
Coalition Opposed to Additional Spending and Taxes
Gov. Gary Johnson, Honorary Chairman
Our America Initiative
George Landrith, President
Frontiers of Freedom
Carrie Lukas, Vice President of Policy
Independent Women’s Voice
Seton Motley, President
Less Government
Amy Ridenour, Chairman
National Center for Public Policy Research
Andrew Moylan, Outreach Director and Senior Fellow
R Street Institute
Steve Ellis, Vice President
Taxpayers for Common Sense
David Williams, President
Taxpayers Protection Alliance
Morton Blackwell, Chairman
The Weyrich Lunch
Penny Young Nance, CEO and President
Concerned Women for America
Lew Uhler, President
National Tax-Limitation Committee
