Senate Accepts Coburn Earmarks Amendment

The U.S. Senate accepted an amendment by U.S. Senator Tom Coburn, M.D. (R-OK) requiring all congressional earmarks undergo the same competitive bidding process as grants and contracts within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The Senate also unanimously accepted a Coburn amendment requiring transparency and openness in the disaster declaration process of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The amendments were included in the fiscal year 2008 Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill.

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