WASHINGTON D.C. – Congressman Paul A. Gosar, D.D.S. (AZ-09) issued the following statement after joining Kansas Senator Marshall in introducing the National Emergency Expenditure Reporting Transparency Act, bicameral legislation requiring agencies to post detailed spending reports relating to national emergencies on USAspending.gov:

Transparency and open governance serve as the foundation upon which Americans trust their federal government.  However, despite repeated bicameral demands, the Biden administration has failed to provide any spending report related to the COVID-19 national emergency, as required by the National Emergencies Act.  The Biden administration cannot choose to ignore laws for political expediency.

Taxpayers deserve to know how much of their hard-earned dollars are being spent on emergency expenditures.  Such wanton secrecy has eroded public confidence in the Biden administration and blatantly ignores Congress’ vital role of maintaining a check on the executive branch.

The Constitution tasks Congress, not the President, with the power of the purse.  This legislation requires agencies to post detailed public reports related to emergency expenditures and shines a light Biden’s unreported spending,” said Congressman Paul Gosar.

Senator Marshall added: “In the earliest days of the Biden Presidency, promises were made to ‘bring transparency and truth back to government.’  More than two years into his term, President Biden has failed miserably to follow through on this pledge,” Senator Marshall said.  “This could not be more evident than in his administration’s response to COVID, the unconstitutional mandates they tried to force on Americans, and their elusiveness when it comes to expenditure reporting related to the Covid-19 national emergency declaration.  The law clearly states that all public money used under a national emergency declaration should be published in a timely manner for the American people and Congress to see.  Despite our requests, this administration has stonewalled us at every turn when it comes to providing the required reports and that’s why we need the stricter guardrails contained in the National Emergency Expenditure Reporting Transparency Act. I’m pleased to work with Rep. Gosar on this effort to ensure President Biden and future Presidents cannot unilaterally spend taxpayer dollars without following the law.”

Background:

Article I, section 9, clause 7 of the United States Constitution states: “No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law; and a regular Statement and Account of the Receipts and Expenditures of all public Money shall be published from time to time.”

Further, 50 U.S.C. § 1641(c) requires the President to provide a specified accounting to Congress of all expenditures attributable to the exercise of powers and authorities conferred by a declaration of a national emergency within 90 days of the end of each six-month period following the declaration, and a final report within 90 days following the termination of the national emergency. On April 10, 2023, Biden signed Rep. Gosar’s H.J.Res.7 into law terminating the COVID-19 national emergency. The final report was due on Sunday July 9^th.

Despite repeated bicameral requests by Representative Gosar and Kanas Senator Marshall demanding Mr. Biden respond with a full expenditure report related to the COVID-19 national emergency declaration, he has not provided any expenditure report to Congress related to the COVID-19 national emergency.

House cosponsors (14): Representatives Byron Donalds, Troy Nehls, Lauren Boebert, Mary Miller, Claudia Tenney, Andy Biggs, Matt Rosendale, Harriet Hageman, Eli Crane, Andy Ogles, Ronny Jackson, George Santos, Clay Higgins, and Barry Moore

Senate cosponsors: Senators Roger Marshall and JD Vance

Supported by: Heritage Action, American Principles Project, Less Government, CatholicVote