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FY15 Appropriations Cuts Wasteful IRS Spending to Prioritize Everglades Restoration, Support for Veterans and Troops

December 11, 2014

WASHINGTON —Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) released the following statement after the passage of H.R. 83, the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act.

"The legislation passed today continues House Republicans commitment to reign in wasteful spending and provides strong oversight over federal agencies. Washington's out of control spending needs to be addressed, and this legislation does just that. By reducing wasteful spending on programs and agencies like the problematic IRS we are able to fund the areas of government that matter most – like helping our veterans, combating citrus greening, and continuing the much needed restoration of the Everglades.

"I want to commend the full committee chairman, Mr. Rogers, and the subcommittee chairs and their staffs for their tireless work and commitment to finalizing this legislation."

Congressman Diaz-Balart, member of the House Appropriations Committee and Vice Chair of its Subcommittee on Financial Services, was successful in getting the following items included in the Appropriations Package:

  • Slashes funding for the problem-ridden IRS by $345.6 million to prohibit waste and abuse like expensive conferences, inappropriate videos, or political targeting of groups
  • $3.1 billion to keep our commitment to Israel
  • Includes additional funding for democracy promotion in Venezuela, Nicaragua, Bolivia, and Ecuador
  • Provides an additional $4.5 million for the Citrus Health Response Program to help address the damaging effects of citrus greening disease
  • Funding for the ongoing South Florida Everglades restoration, including $65.5 million for construction projects and $19.5 million for operation and maintenance
  • $75 million for continued improvements to the aging Herbert Hoover Dike
  • $30 million towards spinal cord injury (SCI) research for competitive grant funding for institutions such as The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis