Congressional Record: September 11, 2006 (Senate)
Page S9297




          FEDERAL FUNDING ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY ACT

  Mr. OBAMA. Mr. President, I rise today to speak about the Federal
Funding Accountability and Transparency Act, which passed the Senate
last week.
  This is an important bill that will bring badly needed transparency
to Federal spending. The bill creates a user-friendly website to search
all Government contracts, grants, earmarks, and loans, opening up
Federal financial transactions to public scrutiny. By helping to lift
the veil of secrecy in Washington, this website will help make us all
better legislators. It will help make reporters better journalists. And
it will help make all Americans more informed voters and more active
citizens.
  I am heartened to see that Government transparency can be a
bipartisan issue. This bill has been cosponsored by more than 40 of our
colleagues and has the support of more than 100 outside groups from all
parts of the political spectrum. It has been endorsed by dozens of
editorial boards across the country from the Wall Street Journal, to
the Chicago Sun-Times and The Oklahoman. Most people I speak to in
Illinois or here in Washington or anywhere else wonder why a public
website of all Federal spending does not already exist. To them, this
is just common sense.
  Whether you believe the Government ought to spend more money or spend
less, you should certainly be able to agree that the Government ought
to spend every penny efficiently and transparently. Transparency is the
first step to holding Government accountable for its actions and is a
prerequisite to oversight and financial control. We can't reduce waste,
fraud, and abuse without knowing how, where, and why Federal money is
flowing out the door. This bill will provide that transparency, and not
just to Members of Congress. Anybody with access to the Internet will
be able to see how Federal funds are being spent. If Government
spending can't withstand public scrutiny, then the money shouldn't be
spent. The American people deserve no less.
  I want to express my appreciation for the hard work that went into
getting S. 2590 passed. I would like to thank the majority leader and
minority leader, as well as the chairman and ranking member of the
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, for their
assistance in moving this important legislation forward.
  I would also like to thank the organizations that helped create a
grassroots movement in support of Government transparency and in
support of this bill. Without the hard work of OMB Watch, the Project
on Government Oversight, and Citizens Against Government Waste, to name
just a few supporters, this bill would not have been considered and
passed so quickly.
  And most importantly, I would like to thank my colleague, Senator
Coburn, and his outstanding staff for their diligence and dedication.
Since Senator Coburn and I first met during freshman orientation, we
have developed a close personal bond that has translated into a close
working relationship to bring more transparency and accountability into
the way that Government spends taxpayer money. I have been impressed by
the commitment and tenacity with which he stands up for his principles
and beliefs, and it is these qualities that enabled this bill to get
passed.
  The House of Representatives is expected to vote on this bill later
this week, and I am confident that our bipartisan and bicameral
collaboration will quickly become law. It is not often that two
Senators from different parties are able to bridge the partisan divide
in this town and get something accomplished. But the American people
demand greater transparency and accountability, and it is our honor and
privilege--indeed, it is our duty--to provide the tools to help make
that possible.

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