BILLION DOLLAR BOONDOGGLE ACT OF 2025

On 2026-09-16, Representative Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA-10) delivered a floor speech titled "BILLION DOLLAR BOONDOGGLE ACT OF 2025" in the House.

BILLION DOLLAR BOONDOGGLE ACT OF 2025

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 146 (Wednesday, September 16, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 146 (Wednesday, September 16, 2026)] [House] [Pages H5930-H5931] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] {time} 1430 BILLION DOLLAR BOONDOGGLE ACT OF 2025 Mr. COMER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 766) to require an annual report of taxpayer-funded projects that are over budget and behind schedule. The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows: S. 766 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Billion Dollar Boondoggle Act of 2025''. SEC. 2. ANNUAL REPORT. (a) Definitions.--In this section-- (1) the term ``covered agency'' means-- (A) an Executive agency, as defined in section 105 of title 5, United States Code; and (B) an independent regulatory agency, as defined in section 3502 of title 44, United States Code; (2) the term ``covered project'' means a project funded by a covered agency-- (A) that is more than 5 years behind schedule, as measured against the original expected date for completion; or (B) for which the amount spent on the project is not less than $1,000,000,000 more than the original cost estimate for the project; (3) the term ``Director'' means the Director of the Office of Management and Budget; and (4) the term ``project'' means a major acquisition, a major defense acquisition program (as defined in section 4201 of title 10, United States Code), a procurement, a construction project, a remediation or clean-up effort, or any other time- limited endeavor, that is not funded through direct spending (as defined in section 250(c) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (2 U.S.C. 900(c))). (b) Requirements.-- (1) Submission.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall issue guidance requiring covered agencies to, on an annual basis, submit to the Director information relating to each covered project of the covered agency, which shall include-- (A) a brief description of the covered project, including-- (i) the purpose of the covered project; (ii) each location in which the covered project is carried out; (iii) the contract or award number of the covered project, where applicable; (iv) the year in which the covered project was initiated; (v) the Federal share of the total cost of the covered project; and (vi) each primary contractor, subcontractor, grant recipient, and subgrantee recipient of the covered project; (B) an explanation of any change to the original scope of the covered project, including by the addition or narrowing of the initial requirements of the covered project; (C) the original expected date for completion of the covered project; (D) the current expected date for completion of the covered project; (E) the original cost estimate for the covered project, as adjusted to reflect increases [[Page H5931]] in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers, as published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics; (F) the current cost estimate for the covered project, as adjusted to reflect increases in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers, as published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics; (G) an explanation for a delay in completion or an increase in the original cost estimate for the covered project, including, where applicable, any impact of insufficient or delayed appropriations; and (H) the amount of and rationale for any award, incentive fee, or other type of bonus, if any, awarded for the covered project. (2) Report.--The Director shall submit to Congress and post on the website of the Office of Management and Budget an annual report containing the information submitted under paragraph (1) for the relevant year. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Comer) and the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Subramanyam) each will control 20 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Kentucky. General Leave Mr. COMER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on this measure. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Kentucky? There was no objection. Mr. COMER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, Congress cannot sit on the sidelines while government projects continue to soar above the cost projections and run behind schedule. Each year, the Government Accountability Office reports on such projects, including Federal information technology programs and National Nuclear Security Administration projects. However, there are likely additional government boondoggles flying under the radar that are falling years behind schedule or running billions of dollars over budget. The Billion Dollar Boondoggle Act would keep policymakers and the public better informed about government-funded projects that are significantly behind schedule or over budget. We cannot fix what we do not know is broken. This bill directs agencies to report on projects that are more than 5 years behind schedule or have expenditures that are at least $1 billion more than the original cost estimate. The Office of Management and Budget is then required to submit an annual report to Congress summarizing these troubled Federal projects. Congress has a duty to oversee the Federal Government for inefficiency and waste. This bill informs policymakers and allows Congress to address failing government projects before further taxpayer dollars are misused. I thank Representatives Miller-Meeks and Ansari for their work on the House companion bill, which passed the House in July. I also thank Senator Joni Ernst for her work passing this important reform through the Senate. It is time to get this bill sent to the President's desk. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. SUBRAMANYAM. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 766, the Billion Dollar Boondoggle Act, as well. Congress has a duty to ensure taxpayer dollars are spent efficiently, transparently, and with real accountability for results. Federal programs often fall behind schedule or go way over budget without Congress' knowledge. This bill simply requires that Congress be notified anytime a project is 5 years behind schedule or a billion dollars over budget. That seems like a lot, but right now there are actually projects out there that are over $100 billion over budget and over 5 years behind schedule. This is the least we can do to make sure that we are protecting taxpayer dollars and that Congress knows about it when we are over budget and behind schedule. The required reports to Congress will include explanations of any changes to a project's scope, cost estimate, or completion date, and this will help Congress perform critical oversight on behalf of the American people. It will also keep projects on time and on budget. This is a bipartisan fix that increases fiscal responsibility. I thank Representatives Ansari and Miller-Meeks for their work on the House companion to this bill. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. COMER. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this important bipartisan and bicameral government reform bill that will ensure the necessary oversight takes place. Only when Congress and the public have better visibility into these mismanaged government projects will we be able to avoid such boondoggles in the future. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time. Mr. SUBRAMANYAM. Mr. Speaker, I also ask that my colleagues support S. 766, the Billion Dollar Boondoggle Act, and I yield back the balance of my time. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Comer) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, S. 766. The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed. A motion to reconsider was laid on the table. ____________________

Referenced legislation: S766, S766