River Bend Times

Last night, the U.S. House passed the Billion Dollar Boondoggle Act, bipartisan legislation introduced by Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-01) and Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA). The act mandates public disclosure of taxpayer-funded projects that exceed $1 billion over budget or are delayed by five years or more. This disclosure will include explanations for delays and cost overruns, as well as identification of contractors involved.

“In Congress, we are entrusted to be stewards of taxpayer dollars,” said Rep. Miller-Meeks. “Government-funded projects that are excessively costly and delayed must be held to account. Our bill will increase transparency over these projects to ensure we aren’t wasting billions of hard-earned taxpayer dollars.”

“It’s a bad day for boondoggles, but a very good one for taxpayers!” said Ernst. “Thanks to the leadership of Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks, the House of Representatives passed my bipartisan Billion Dollar Boondoggle Act, which will expose every government project that is $1 billion over budget or five years behind schedule. When this legislation, already unanimously passed by the Senate, becomes law, it will be impossible to hide pricey pork projects from being put on the chopping block.”

An example cited involves the Veterans Affairs Department's efforts to replace its decades-old electronic health records system. An assessment found that the initial 2018 cost projection of $10 billion over 10 years had ballooned to $50.8 billion over 28 years.

In the Senate, Ernst introduced the legislation with Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH). The Billion Dollar Boondoggle now heads to the President’s desk.