John Culberson Chairs First Commerce, Justice, and Science (CJS) Appropriations Subcommittee of 2015

I chaired the first Commerce, Justice, and Science (CJS) Appropriations Subcommittee hearing of 2015 yesterday, which included testimony from Michael E. Horowitz, Inspector General at the Department of Justice, Todd J. Zinser, Inspector General at the Department of Commerce and Paul K. Martin, Inspector General at NASA. 

With Federal debt at $18 trillion, it’s imperative the Subcommittee ensure every dollar provided to these agencies is spent efficiently and appropriately. The President has proposed increasing spending in virtually every area of government and pays for it with proposed tax increases. However the House Budget Resolution is not likely to adopt this approach.

While this Appropriations Committee has reduced spending over the past four years, we must continue to look for additional savings. Therefore, I asked the Inspectors General to come to Capitol Hill to discuss the challenges their agencies are facing and how we can help them improve their performance and reduce spending.

This is the first of many hearings this Subcommittee will hold to ensure American taxpayers dollars are not being wasted.