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