S.Res. 517

119 SRES 517 IS: Expressing opposition to congressional spending on earmarks.
 U.S. Senate
 2025-11-20
 text/xml
 EN
 Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
 III  119th CONGRESS  1st Session  S. RES. 517  IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES   November 20, 2025   Mr. Scott of Florida  (for himself,  Mr. Lee , and  Mr. Johnson ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the  Committee on Appropriations    RESOLUTION
Expressing opposition to congressional spending on earmarks.
Whereas fiscal year 2022 marked the return of  congressionally directed spending  and  community project funding , also known as  earmarks , after a 12-year hiatus;
Whereas the return of earmarks marked the return of lawmakers using their powers to circumvent the rules of the Senate in order to direct taxpayer dollars to wasteful projects;
Whereas, while Congress has the power of the purse, it must be prescriptive and effective in funding programs, projects, and activities of the Federal Government, which is now more than $38,000,000,000,000 in debt, rather than focus on funding earmarks that are wasteful in nature;
Whereas Congress has dramatically increased deficit spending, overseeing more than $12,500,000,000,000 in deficit spending since 2020;
Whereas interest payments on the United States national debt have exceeded $1,000,000,000,000 annually;
Whereas the Congressional Budget Office projects that between 2025 and 2055, publicly held debt by the United States will increase by $108,100,000,000,000, from $30,100,000,000,000 to $138,200,000,000,000;
Whereas Senate Republicans adopted a 2-year moratorium on earmarks in 2010;
Whereas Senate Republicans voted favorably for a permanent ban on earmarks in 2019 and reaffirmed that ban in 2021;
Whereas former Senator Tom Coburn condemned the use of earmarks as a  gateway drug to overspending  and former Senator John McCain called earmarks  the gateway drug to corruption and overspending in Washington ;
Whereas several former Members of Congress and lobbyists have been convicted of crimes related to earmarking;
Whereas it is crucial that Congress spend taxpayer dollars wisely and with the best return on investment; and
Whereas Congress must stop this reckless Federal spending and corrupt political dealing, start paying down the debt of the United States, and get the United States back on track: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate—
(1)
condemns the use of  congressionally directed spending  and  community project funding , known as  earmarks , to direct and appropriate taxpayer dollars in any form;
(2)
reaffirms the previous ban on the use of earmarks and affirms to restore the ban permanently and immediately; and
(3)
affirms the need for Congress to reign in overspending to help curb the inflation crisis that is crippling the families of the United States.