国会记录:2006年9月11日(参议院)第S9297页联邦资金问责和透明度法案奥巴马先生。总统先生，我今天站起来谈谈上周参议院通过的《联邦资金问责与透明法案》。这是一项重要的法案，将为联邦支出带来亟需的透明度。该法案创建了一个用户友好的网站，用于搜索所有政府合同、拨款、专项拨款和贷款，将联邦金融交易开放给公众监督。通过帮助揭开华盛顿的秘密面纱，这个网站将帮助我们所有人成为更好的立法者。它将帮助记者成为更好的记者。它将帮助所有美国人成为更知情的选民和更积极的公民。我很高兴地看到，政府透明度可以成为两党共同关心的问题。这项法案得到了我们40多位同僚的共同支持，并得到了来自各个政治派别的100多个外部团体的支持。从《华尔街日报》(Wall Street Journal)到《芝加哥太阳时报》(Chicago Sun-Times)，再到《俄克拉何马州报》(the oklahoma)，全国各地的数十家编辑委员会都支持这本书。 Most people I speak to in Illinois or here in Washington or anywhere else wonder why a public website of all Federal spending does not already exist. To them, this is just common sense. Whether you believe the Government ought to spend more money or spend less, you should certainly be able to agree that the Government ought to spend every penny efficiently and transparently. Transparency is the first step to holding Government accountable for its actions and is a prerequisite to oversight and financial control. We can't reduce waste, fraud, and abuse without knowing how, where, and why Federal money is flowing out the door. This bill will provide that transparency, and not just to Members of Congress. Anybody with access to the Internet will be able to see how Federal funds are being spent. If Government spending can't withstand public scrutiny, then the money shouldn't be spent. The American people deserve no less. I want to express my appreciation for the hard work that went into getting S. 2590 passed. I would like to thank the majority leader and minority leader, as well as the chairman and ranking member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, for their assistance in moving this important legislation forward. I would also like to thank the organizations that helped create a grassroots movement in support of Government transparency and in support of this bill. Without the hard work of OMB Watch, the Project on Government Oversight, and Citizens Against Government Waste, to name just a few supporters, this bill would not have been considered and passed so quickly. And most importantly, I would like to thank my colleague, Senator Coburn, and his outstanding staff for their diligence and dedication. Since Senator Coburn and I first met during freshman orientation, we have developed a close personal bond that has translated into a close working relationship to bring more transparency and accountability into the way that Government spends taxpayer money. I have been impressed by the commitment and tenacity with which he stands up for his principles and beliefs, and it is these qualities that enabled this bill to get passed. The House of Representatives is expected to vote on this bill later this week, and I am confident that our bipartisan and bicameral collaboration will quickly become law. It is not often that two Senators from different parties are able to bridge the partisan divide in this town and get something accomplished. But the American people demand greater transparency and accountability, and it is our honor and privilege--indeed, it is our duty--to provide the tools to help make that possible. ____________________