Matt Dempsey Matt_Dempsey@epw.senate.gov (202) 224-9797
Katie Brown Katie_Brown@epw.senate.gov (202) 224-2160
Inhofe Seeks to Provide Best Path Forward for Responsible Jobs Bill
Offers Amendments That Lower Authorization, Provide GAO Study to Alleviate Concerns About Duplicative Programs
Washington, D.C. - Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works spoke today on the Senate floor in support of The Economic Development Revitalization Act of 2011 (S. 782) - a bipartisan bill that would reauthorize and improve the programs of the Economic Development Administration (EDA), which is the only federal agency focused solely on economic development. EDA enables a successful public-private partnership with a proven track record of spurring job growth in some of the most economically distressed areas of the country.
Today Senator Inhofe announced that he will offer an amendment to the bill that will reduce EDA's authorization back to its FY2004 level. This compliments Senator Inhofe's previous amendment that was accepted during the EPW markup of the bill: it directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct a study of any program, or portions of programs, that are duplicative of EDA's authority.
"EDA has been a huge success story in Oklahoma and throughout the country," Senator Inhofe said. "Now as we move to reauthorize this effective job program, we must take some important steps to improve it. In order to give this bill a good chance of passing, I am proposing an amendment that will reduce EDA's authorization back to its reasonable FY2004 level. During the EPW markup, I also added an amendment that will help ensure that EDA is not involved in any duplicative federal programs.
"In these challenging economic times, Congress should be doing everything possible to rein in reckless spending and continue job promoting programs that are proven to be successful. I look forward to working with my colleagues to make sure that the Economic Development Revitalization Act is the most fiscally sound bill possible."
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