Sunset Caucus

RSC Sunset Caucus

Rep. Kevin Brady & Rep. Jason Chaffetz

Co-Chairs

Sunset – to provide for the permanent elimination, de-funding, or repeal of a federal program, agency, or department at a date certain.

The RSC Sunset Caucus is a new, permanent subset of the Republican Study Committee committed to protecting taxpayers and shrinking the size of government – one wasteful, duplicative, or unnecessary program at a time.

As federal deficits surge, the American people are looking for people to match word with deed and shrink the size of government with real action. The RSC Sunset Caucus seeks to aggregate the efforts of Members committed to working to eliminate needless federal programs.

Prior to joining the RSC Sunset Caucus, members must:

• Adopt one or more federal program they believe has outlived its usefulness or never should have been enacted.
• Publicly champion the repeal or de-funding of the program(s).
• Offer an amendment during the relevant appropriations bill to defund the program(s).
• Introduce stand alone legislation to sunset the targeted program(s).

Just how overgrown has government gotten?

• The debt has increased by over $4 trillion in the short time since President Obama took office.
• There was a $1.284 trillion deficit this year, the second highest nominal deficit in history.
• The federal government borrows an estimated 43 cents for every dollar it spends.
• Under President Obama the public debt has reached 100% of GDP.

“No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth.” – President Ronald Reagan

The launch of this caucus is an important step to help the American people take back control of their government.

Additional Information:
Sunset Caucus Summary
Membership Responsibilities
RSC Press Release
Chairman Price Announces the Sunset Caucus

Support from the American Conservative Union
Support from the National Taxpayers Union

POLITICO - Mohair Subsidies Get Reps' Goats

2012 Waste Action Alerts:
Eliminate Direct Payment Subsidies for Agriculture
Eliminate Needless Additional Performance Bonuses
Eliminate the Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing Loan Program
Eliminate the Visa Lottery Program
Eliminate Congressional Earmarks
Eliminate the Office of Polar Programs
Eliminate All 'Czars'
Eliminate Spending on the Guantanamo Bay Soccer Field
Consolidate the DOE and EPA
Eliminate Subsidies for Public Broadcasting
Eliminate the Hope VI Program
Eliminate Federal Subsidies for Amtrak
Eliminate Public Funding for Political Party Conventions
Eliminate Unspent Federal Funds
Eliminate Taxpayer Funding for the Woodrow Wilson Center
Eliminate the Conservation Stewardship Program
Eliminate the Appalachian Regional Commission
Eliminate the Market Access Program
Eliminate Spending on Unnecessary Government Vehicles

2011 Waste Action Alerts:
Eliminate Excess Federal Property
Pay for the Recently Passed Tax Relief Bill
Eliminate Taxpayer-Subsidized Union Activities
Eliminate the Home Affordable Modification Program
Eliminate Taxpayer Subsidies to the IPCC
Eliminate the Election Assistance Commission
Eliminate Taxpayer Subsidies to the Development Innovation Venture Program
Eliminate Excess Federal Lands
Eliminate the Paul S. Sarbanes Transit in Parks Program
Eliminate Ineffective and Unnecessary Federal Education Programs
Require the Internal Revenue Service to Deposit Fees they Receive into the Treasury
Eliminate Taxpayer Subsidies to the United Nations Population Fund
Reform the Universal Service Fund
Eliminate the Death Gratuity for Members of Congress
Sunset Costly and Unreasonable Regulations
Eliminate Taxpayer Funds for Stimulus Advertisement
Eliminate the Weatherization Assistance Program
Eliminate Wasteful Spending to the OAS