; Whereas the fiscal year 2024 minibus spending bill released on March 3, 2024, includes 605 pages of earmarks with 6,630 individual projects totaling $12,700,000,000, including $3,500,000 for Michigan’s Thanksgiving Parade Foundation, $1,000,000 for an environmental justice center in New York City, $500,000 for gardens in San Francisco, $4,000,000 for a waterfront walkway in New Jersey, theater and opera house renovations in Georgia and Pennsylvania, and city hall renovations in Washington and Rhode Island; Whereas former Senator Tom Coburn condemned the use of earmarks as a gateway drug to overspending and former Senator John McCain called earmarks the gateway drug to corruption and overspending in Washington ; Whereas several former Members of Congress and lobbyists have been convicted of crimes related to earmarking; Whereas it is crucial that Congress spend taxpayer dollars wisely and with the best return on investment, especially during times of historic inflation and Federal debt levels; and Whereas Congress must stop this reckless Federal spending and corrupt political dealing, start paying down the debt of the United States, and get the United States back on track: Now, therefore, be it