WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Rep. Charlie Melancon (D-LA), a co-chair of the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Coalition, worked with fellow members of the Coalition to pass H.Res. 40 today amending House rules to require standing committees to hold periodic hearings to reduce government waste and ensure American taxpayer dollars are spent wisely.  H.Res. 40 adds a systematic mechanism so the House rules reflect a commitment to weeding out waste, fraud, abuse and mismanagement in federal spending, a longstanding priority of the Blue Dogs. 

“As members of Congress, we have a responsibility to make sure taxpayer dollars are being used wisely and efficiently, and this resolution goes a long way toward accomplishing this goal,” said Rep. Melancon, Blue Dog Co-Chair for Communications. 

H.Res. 40, co-sponsored by Rep. Melancon, requires that each standing committee in the House of Representatives hold at least three hearings a year on the topic of waste, fraud, abuse and mismanagement in the agencies under their jurisdiction.  Additional hearings are required if an audit has a disclaimer that the agency’s books are not in order or if an agency is listed as “high risk” for waste, fraud, abuse or mismanagement.

The fiscally conservative Democratic Blue Dog Coalition was formed in 1995 with the goal of representing the center of the House of Representatives and appealing to the mainstream values of the American public.  The Blue Dogs are dedicated to a core set of beliefs that transcend partisan politics, including a deep commitment to the financial stability and national security of the United States.  Currently there are 51 members of the Blue Dog Coalition.  For more information, visit the Blue Dog Website at http://www.house.gov/ross/BlueDogs/.