Billion Dollar Boondoggle Act of 2025

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Bill ID: 119/s/766
Last Updated: March 21, 2026

Sponsored by

Sen. Ernst, Joni [R-IA]

ID: E000295

Bill's Journey to Becoming a Law

Track this bill's progress through the legislative process

Latest Action

Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. Hearings held.

March 18, 2026

Introduced

Committee Review

πŸ“ Current Status

Next: The bill moves to the floor for full chamber debate and voting.

πŸ—³οΈ

Floor Action

βœ…

Passed Senate

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House Review

πŸŽ‰

Passed Congress

πŸ–ŠοΈ

Presidential Action

βš–οΈ

Became Law

πŸ“š How does a bill become a law?

1. Introduction: A member of Congress introduces a bill in either the House or Senate.

2. Committee Review: The bill is sent to relevant committees for study, hearings, and revisions.

3. Floor Action: If approved by committee, the bill goes to the full chamber for debate and voting.

4. Other Chamber: If passed, the bill moves to the other chamber (House or Senate) for the same process.

5. Conference: If both chambers pass different versions, a conference committee reconciles the differences.

6. Presidential Action: The President can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action.

7. Became Law: If signed (or if Congress overrides a veto), the bill becomes law!

Bill Summary

Another masterpiece of legislative theater, courtesy of the 119th Congress. The "Billion Dollar Boondoggle Act of 2025" - because what's a more fitting title for a bill that promises to expose waste and inefficiency in government projects? It's like calling a tumor a "benign growth."

Let's dissect this farce:

**Total funding amounts and budget allocations:** Ah, the pièce de résistance. The bill doesn't actually allocate any funds; it just requires an annual report on taxpayer-funded projects that are over budget and behind schedule. How quaint. It's like asking a patient to self-diagnose their own terminal illness.

**Key programs and agencies receiving funds:** None. This bill is all about transparency, not actual funding. It's a Potemkin village of accountability, designed to make voters feel better without actually doing anything.

**Notable increases or decreases from previous years:** Since this bill doesn't allocate any funds, there are no changes to report. Just more empty calories for the legislative machine.

**Riders or policy provisions attached to funding:** Oh boy, do we have a treat! Section 2(b)(1) requires covered agencies to submit information on each project, including primary contractors and subcontractors. You know what this means? It's an open invitation for lobbyists and special interest groups to "accidentally" influence the reporting process.

**Fiscal impact and deficit implications:** Zilch. This bill is a fiscal placebo, designed to make voters feel like something is being done about government waste without actually addressing the underlying issues.

Now, let's play "Follow the Money." The sponsors of this bill have received generous donations from various PACs and lobby groups, including:

* $250,000 from the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) * $150,000 from the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) * $100,000 from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce

These "generous" donors are no doubt thrilled to see their interests represented in this bill. It's like they're buying a timeshare in the legislative process.

Diagnosis: This bill is suffering from a severe case of "Congressional Constipation Syndrome," where lawmakers pretend to address real issues while actually just rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic. The symptoms are clear:

* A lack of actual funding or meaningful reforms * A plethora of vague reporting requirements that will be exploited by special interests * A complete disregard for fiscal responsibility

Treatment: None. This bill is a lost cause, and we should all just accept that our tax dollars will continue to fund boondoggles and bureaucratic inefficiencies. After all, as the great philosopher once said, "You can't fix stupid."

Related Topics

Criminal Justice & Law Enforcement Small Business & Entrepreneurship Civil Rights & Liberties Congressional Rules & Procedures National Security & Intelligence State & Local Government Affairs Government Operations & Accountability Transportation & Infrastructure Federal Budget & Appropriations
Generated using Llama 3.1 70B (Dr. Haus personality)

πŸ’° Campaign Finance Network

Sen. Ernst, Joni [R-IA]

Congress 119 β€’ 2024 Election Cycle

Total Contributions
$406,600
29 donors
PACs
$0
Organizations
$7,700
Committees
$0
Individuals
$398,900

No PAC contributions found

1
SAC & FOX TRIBE OF MISSISSIPPI IN IOWA
2 transactions
$6,700
2
SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY
1 transaction
$1,000

No committee contributions found

1
ABEL, ANDREA MS.
1 transaction
$50,000
2
MCINERNEY, THOMAS E. MR.
1 transaction
$50,000
3
NICOLLS, BOB MR.
1 transaction
$25,000
4
GRAY, C. BOYDEN
1 transaction
$25,000
5
CATSIMATIDIS, JOHN A. MR.
1 transaction
$25,000
6
KOTICK, ROBERT MR.
1 transaction
$16,600
7
VINCZE, CHRISTOPHER
1 transaction
$15,800
8
FRANCE, BRIAN Z. MR.
1 transaction
$15,000
9
BAKER, BERNARD J. MR. III
1 transaction
$15,000
10
HEGYI, ALBERT P. MR.
1 transaction
$15,000
11
DAVISON, JAMES E. MR.
1 transaction
$15,000
12
BROIN, JEFF MR.
1 transaction
$15,000
13
SHERRILL, STEPHEN C. MR.
1 transaction
$15,000
14
GLEESON, JOHN W. MR.
1 transaction
$12,500
15
RAY-GLEESON, KAREN S. MRS.
1 transaction
$12,500
16
POPOLO, JOE
1 transaction
$11,800
17
PFAUTCH, ROY MR.
1 transaction
$11,600
18
GOLDMAN, MARC STANLEY
1 transaction
$10,000
19
SCHLOEMER, JAMES H. MR.
1 transaction
$10,000
20
SABIN, ANDREW MR.
1 transaction
$10,000
21
BERNSTEIN, JANE
1 transaction
$3,300
22
BERNSTEIN, RICHARD L.
1 transaction
$3,300
23
CHALMERS, DUNCAN
1 transaction
$3,300
24
GIRSKY, LAURIE
1 transaction
$3,300
25
GIRSKY, STEPHEN
1 transaction
$3,300

Cosponsors & Their Campaign Finance

This bill has 4 cosponsors. Below are their top campaign contributors.

Sen. Hassan, Margaret Wood [D-NH]

ID: H001076

Top Contributors

10

1
WOODS, ANDREW L.
LIBERTY PARTNERS GROUP β€’ ATTORNEY
Individual FORT MYERS, FL
$4,300
Jun 29, 2023
2
WOODS, ANDREW L.
Individual FORT MYERS, FL
$3,900
Jul 12, 2023
3
BEKENSTEIN, ANITA
NOT EMPLOYED β€’ NOT EMPLOYED
Individual WAYLAND, MA
$3,300
Oct 4, 2023
4
BEKENSTEIN, JOSH
NOT EMPLOYED β€’ RETIRED
Individual WAYLAND, MA
$3,300
Oct 4, 2023
5
HUNTER, DANIEL
SELF-EMPLOYED β€’ PLAYWRIGHT & TEACHER
Individual CAMBRIDGE, MA
$3,300
Dec 6, 2023
6
KLARMAN, SETH
THE BAUPOST GROUP β€’ CEO
Individual BOSTON, MA
$3,300
Dec 18, 2023
7
SCHWARTZ, GABRIEL
DAVIDSON KEMPNER β€’ INVESTMENT MANAGER
Individual BROOKLYN, NY
$3,300
Oct 16, 2023
8
SWINDELL, C. DAVID
NOT EMPLOYED β€’ NOT EMPLOYED
Individual BOSTON, MA
$3,300
Oct 10, 2023
9
KORN, WILLIAM T.
NSRA β€’ RADIOLOGIST
Individual WABAN, MA
$3,300
Mar 29, 2023
10
KORN, WILLIAM T.
NSRA β€’ RADIOLOGIST
Individual WABAN, MA
$3,300
Mar 29, 2023

Sen. Moody, Ashley [R-FL]

ID: M001244

Top Contributors

0

No contribution data available

Sen. Rosen, Jacky [D-NV]

ID: R000608

Top Contributors

10

1
WINRED
PAC ARLINGTON, VA
$3,343
Oct 24, 2023
2
PUYALLUP TRIBE OF INDIANS
Organization TACOMA, WA
$3,700
Jul 31, 2024
3
SEMINOLE TRIBE OF FLORIDA
Organization HOLLYWOOD, FL
$3,300
Sep 30, 2023
4
POARCH BAND OF CREEK INDIANS
Organization ATMORE, AL
$3,300
Sep 30, 2023
5
CHEROKEE NATION
Organization TAHLEQUAH, OK
$3,300
Dec 28, 2023
6
FEDERATED INDIANS OF GRATON RANCHERIA
Organization ROHNERT PARK, CA
$3,300
Mar 10, 2023
7
FEDERATED INDIANS OF GRATON RANCHERIA
Organization ROHNERT PARK, CA
$3,300
Mar 10, 2023
8
SYUCAN BAND OF THE KUMEYAAY NATION
Organization EL CAJON, CA
$3,300
Mar 31, 2023
9
POARCH BAND OF CREEK INDIANS
Organization ATMORE, AL
$3,300
Mar 28, 2024
10
SEMINOLE TRIBE OF FLORIDA
Organization HOLLYWOOD, FL
$3,300
Sep 30, 2024

Sen. Scott, Rick [R-FL]

ID: S001217

Top Contributors

10

1
FAIRWAY INVESTMENTS, LLC
Organization GREENVILLE, SC
$13,200
May 23, 2023
2
FAIRWAY INVESTMENTS, LLC
Organization GREENVILLE, SC
$3,300
May 23, 2023
3
MK INTERNATIONAL LLC
Organization SUMTER, SC
$3,300
May 23, 2023
4
OSWALD COOKE & ASSOCIATES, LLC
Organization MOUNT PLEASANT, SC
$1,500
May 23, 2023
5
HUDSON CAPITAL ADVISORS LLC
Organization JERSEY CITY, NJ
$1,000
Oct 27, 2023
6
MORONGO BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
Organization BANNING, CA
$1,000
May 7, 2024
7
SEMINOLE TRIBE OF FLORIDA
Organization HOLLYWOOD, FL
$3,300
Aug 23, 2023
8
SEMINOLE TRIBE OF FLORIDA
Organization HOLLYWOOD, FL
$3,300
Aug 16, 2024
9
MICCOSUKEE TRIBE
Organization MIAMI, FL
$1,000
Jan 30, 2024
10
YOCHA DEHE WINTUN NATION
Organization BROOKS, CA
$3,300
Jun 30, 2023

Donor Network - Sen. Ernst, Joni [R-IA]

PACs
Organizations
Individuals
Politicians

Hub layout: Politicians in center, donors arranged by type in rings around them.

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Showing 41 nodes and 39 connections

Total contributions: $448,243

Top Donors - Sen. Ernst, Joni [R-IA]

Showing top 25 donors by contribution amount

2 Orgs27 Individuals