Stop Secret Spending Act of 2025

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Bill ID: 119/s/872
Last Updated: March 19, 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

📍 Current Status

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

🗳️

Floor Action

Passed Senate

🏛️

House Review

🎉

Passed Congress

🖊️

Presidential Action

⚖️

Became Law

📚 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 "transparency" bill from the masters of opacity, our beloved Congress. The Stop Secret Spending Act of 2025 - how quaint. How utterly meaningless.

Let's dissect this farce. This bill is an amendment to the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (FFATA), which was itself a half-hearted attempt at transparency. Now, we're supposed to believe that Congress wants to "stop secret spending" by requiring other transaction agreements (OTAs) to be reported on USAspending.gov.

The total funding amounts? Oh, those are conveniently absent from the bill. We can't have actual numbers getting in the way of a good PR stunt, now can we? But rest assured, the usual suspects will receive their usual handouts: defense contractors, big pharma, and other corporate cronies.

Key programs and agencies receiving funds? Ha! This bill is all about expanding the definition of "other transaction agreements" to include more types of contracts. It's a clever way to funnel money to favored industries without actually increasing transparency. The Department of Defense will likely be the biggest beneficiary, because what's a little secrecy when it comes to national security?

Notable increases or decreases? Don't make me laugh. This bill is all about maintaining the status quo - keeping the gravy train rolling for special interests while pretending to care about accountability.

Riders and policy provisions? Oh boy, there are some doozies in here. Section 3 amends the FFATA to require inspector general reports on OTAs. Wow, I bet that'll keep those corrupt contractors up at night. And let's not forget the "implementation plan" (Section 2(d)), which is just a fancy way of saying "we'll get around to it eventually."

Fiscal impact and deficit implications? *chuckles* You think Congress actually cares about the national debt? This bill will likely increase spending, but who needs fiscal responsibility when you have campaign donors to appease?

In conclusion, this bill is a masterclass in legislative theater. It's a Potemkin village of transparency, designed to fool the gullible and distract from the real issues. Congress is once again playing doctor, prescribing a placebo to treat the symptoms of corruption while ignoring the underlying disease.

Diagnosis: Terminal Stupidity Syndrome (TSS). Symptoms include: excessive use of buzzwords like "transparency" and "accountability," coupled with a complete lack of actual reform. Prognosis: poor. Treatment: none, because who needs treatment when you can just pretend to care?

Related Topics

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

💰 Campaign Finance Network

Sen. Ernst, Joni [R-IA]

Congress 119 • 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 5 cosponsors. Below are their top campaign contributors.

Sen. Peters, Gary C. [D-MI]

ID: P000595

Top Contributors

10

1
MATCH-E-BE-NASH-SHE-WISH BAND OF POTTAWATOMI INDIANS
Organization SHELBYVILLE, MI
$3,300
Oct 22, 2024
2
STRATEGIC LINK CONSULTING, LP
Organization KENNESAW, GA
$3,300
May 28, 2024
3
MUCKLESHOOT INDIAN TRIBE
Organization AUBURN, WA
$3,300
Aug 11, 2023
4
OTOE MISSOURIA TRIBE OF OKLAHOMA
Organization RED ROCK, OK
$2,900
May 29, 2024
5
HABEMATOLEL POMO OF UPPER LAKE TRIBE OF CALIFORNIA
Organization UPPER LAKE, CA
$2,900
May 29, 2024
6
TURTLE MOUNTAIN BAND OF CHIPPEWA TRIBE OF NORTH DAKOTA
Organization BELCOURT, ND
$2,900
May 28, 2024
7
CHEROKEE NATION
Organization TAHLEQUAH, OK
$2,500
Jan 9, 2024
8
HABEMATOLEL POMO OF UPPER LAKE TRIBE OF CALIFORNIA
Organization UPPER LAKE, CA
$2,500
Jun 30, 2024
9
OTOE MISSOURIA TRIBE OF OKLAHOMA
Organization RED ROCK, OK
$2,500
Jun 30, 2024
10
TURTLE MOUNTAIN BAND OF CHIPPEWA TRIBE OF NORTH DAKOTA
Organization BELCOURT, ND
$2,500
Jun 30, 2024

Sen. Lankford, James [R-OK]

ID: L000575

Top Contributors

10

1
MUSCOGEE CREEK NATION
Organization OKMULGEE, OK
$1,000
Oct 29, 2024
2
HUNTON ANDREWS KURTH LLP
Organization RICHMOND, VA
$1,000
Aug 4, 2023
3
SAMPLES, RYAN
SAMPLES GROUP MANAGEMENT
Individual OKLAHOMA CITY, OK
$6,600
Aug 30, 2023
4
KAY, ALISON
KIDS CAPITAL HEDGE FUND MANAGER
Individual BEVERLY HILLS, CA
$6,600
Jun 20, 2023
5
KANADY, CHRISTIAN
ECHO INVESTMENT CAPITAL, LLC CEO
Individual NICHOLS HILLS, OK
$6,600
Jun 10, 2024
6
MANDELBLATT, DANIELLE
RETIRED
Individual ASPEN, CO
$6,600
Jul 31, 2024
7
MANDELBLATT, ERIC
SOROBAN CAPITAL PARTNERS LP MANAGING PARTNER
Individual ASPEN, CO
$6,600
Jul 31, 2024
8
ROWAN, CAROLYN
CAROLYN ROWAN COLLECTION OWNER
Individual NEW YORK, NY
$6,600
Sep 30, 2024
9
ROWAN, MARC J.
APOLLO GLOBAL MANAGEMENT CEO
Individual NEW YORK, NY
$6,600
Sep 30, 2024
10
ARMSTRONG, SINCLAIR WALKER JR.
ARMSTRONG BANK CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
Individual VIAN, OK
$6,600
Aug 30, 2023

Sen. Moreno, Bernie [R-OH]

ID: M001242

Top Contributors

10

1
AMERICAN PRINCIPLES
PAC MIAMI, FL
$1,000
Mar 11, 2024
2
SENATE CONSERVATIVES FUND
PAC WASHINGTON, DC
$510
Dec 24, 2024
3
SOUTHERN OHIO HOLDING ORG. LLC
Organization WASHINGTON COURT H, OH
$5,000
Mar 31, 2024
4
SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY
Organization PRIOR LAKE, MN
$3,300
Dec 31, 2024
5
SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY
Organization PRIOR LAKE, MN
$3,300
Dec 31, 2024
6
C AND D BILLS LTD
Organization FINDLAY, OH
$3,300
Jun 14, 2023
7
CLINTON COUNTY REPUBLICAN
Organization WILMINGTON, OH
$2,000
Sep 20, 2024
8
BOAK ENTERPRISES LLC
Organization CANFIELD, OH
$1,000
Sep 27, 2023
9
B2B CONCORD LLC
Organization HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, OH
$500
Sep 28, 2023
10
STATA FAMILY OFFICE
Organization DOVER, MA
$500
Jul 25, 2024

Sen. Moody, Ashley [R-FL]

ID: M001244

Top Contributors

0

No contribution data available

Sen. Hassan, Margaret Wood [D-NH]

ID: H001076

Top Contributors

10

1
WOODS, ANDREW L.
LIBERTY PARTNERS GROUP 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 NOT EMPLOYED
Individual WAYLAND, MA
$3,300
Oct 4, 2023
4
BEKENSTEIN, JOSH
NOT EMPLOYED RETIRED
Individual WAYLAND, MA
$3,300
Oct 4, 2023
5
HUNTER, DANIEL
SELF-EMPLOYED PLAYWRIGHT & TEACHER
Individual CAMBRIDGE, MA
$3,300
Dec 6, 2023
6
KLARMAN, SETH
THE BAUPOST GROUP CEO
Individual BOSTON, MA
$3,300
Dec 18, 2023
7
SCHWARTZ, GABRIEL
DAVIDSON KEMPNER INVESTMENT MANAGER
Individual BROOKLYN, NY
$3,300
Oct 16, 2023
8
SWINDELL, C. DAVID
NOT EMPLOYED NOT EMPLOYED
Individual BOSTON, MA
$3,300
Oct 10, 2023
9
KORN, WILLIAM T.
NSRA RADIOLOGIST
Individual WABAN, MA
$3,300
Mar 29, 2023
10
KORN, WILLIAM T.
NSRA RADIOLOGIST
Individual WABAN, MA
$3,300
Mar 29, 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 46 nodes and 42 connections

Total contributions: $443,110

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

Showing top 25 donors by contribution amount

2 Orgs27 Individuals