Aderholt Offers Amendment To Defund ACORN

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CONGRESSMAN ADERHOLT OFFERS AMENDMENT TO DEFUND ACORN

Amendment To End Government Funding Of ACORN Fails By Party-Line Vote

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Robert Aderholt (AL-04) today offered an Amendment during an Appropriations conference meeting that would defund ACORN for the fiscal year 2010. The Amendment failed on a party-line vote of 4 to 7 with the conference committee Democrats voting to allow the possibility of future funding for ACORN through fiscal year 2010.

Aderholt’s amendment would have barred any funds in the fiscal year 2010 Appropriations Acts from going to the embattled community activist group, ACORN or its affiliates.

“Every Member of Congress has a responsibility to be good stewards of the resources the American people entrust us with. We must make sure that corrupt organizations like ACORN do not receive any American taxpayer money,” said Congressman Aderholt. “The American people do not want their hard-earned tax dollars to be spent by ACORN to engage in illegal or even illicit activities.”

The House of Representatives voted on September 17th to prohibit ACORN from receiving any federal grants by a vote of 345-75. Today’s amendment put forward by Rep. Aderholt would have conclusively ensured that no fiscal year 2010 Appropriations funding would be given to ACORN.

ACORN has been featured in various media reports this month amid allegations of wide-spread corruption, including participating in voter fraud, tax evasion, prostitution, and human trafficking. ACORN's voter registration activities were also frequently questioned during the 2008 presidential election cycle.

This also comes during a week in which the Census Bureau and the Internal Revenue Service announced that ACORN would no longer be allowed to participate in its volunteer tax assistance program.

Congressman Aderholt has been an active supporter of fighting sexual crimes against children, ending prostitution, and other actions that demean women. Today’s amendment is a continuation of Aderholt’s commitment to fighting against crimes that destroy American values.

The Legislative Branch Appropriations bill is one of five Appropriations bills that have passed on the floor by both the House and Senate and thus are eligible to be merged, or “conferenced” together. Conferenced bills are voted on by the House and Senate, without amendment, and then sent to the White House for final approval.

Congressman Aderholt has been the Ranking Member of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Subcommittee since January of this year.

Congressman Robert Aderholt is serving his seventh term as the U.S. Representative of the Fourth Congressional District of Alabama. Rep. Aderholt serves on the powerful House Appropriations Committee, as the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Legislative Branch, and a member of the Commerce, Justice and Science Subcommittee. Rep. Aderholt also serves on the House Budget Committee and the Helsinki Commission.