March 11, 2010: Congressman Wittman Statement on GOP Conference Adoption of Earmark Ban

Washington D.C. - Today, Congressman Rob Wittman issued the following statement after House Republicans adopted a unilateral moratorium on all earmarks, including tax and tariff-related earmarks:  

"Today my fellow House Republicans came to a resolution on something I realized when I first came to Washington and established my own policy to limit earmark requests: the earmarking process as a part of the annual appropriations cycle is broken, and lacks much needed accountability and transparency to the taxpayer. I believe that this is a responsible decision that takes into consideration the critical need to reign in spending and to cut the federal deficit so we can put an end to the debt piling up on the backs of our children and grandchildren. This is but a step in the process to fully reform how business in Washington is done. I look forward to continuing to be a voice for fiscal responsibility in Congress, and I applaud today's decision."

Congressman Rob Wittman represents the First District of Virginia. He was elected to his first full term in November 2008 and serves on the Natural Resources Committee and the Armed Services Committee where he is the Ranking Member of the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee.