Orphan Earmarks Act

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Appropriations.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · May 21, 2014

Orphan Earmarks Act - Rescinds all unobligated amounts of funds earmarked for the Department of Transportation (DOT) if more than 90% of the dollar amount of that earmark remains available for obligation at the end of the 9th fiscal year after it was first made available. Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation (DOT) to delay any such rescission for one year if an additional obligation of the earmark is likely to occur during the 10th fiscal year after it was first made available.

Requires each agency head to identify and report every project that is an earmark with an unobligated balance at the end of a fiscal year to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), who shall report a listing and accounting for such earmarks to Congress and to the public via the OMB website.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Sen. Coburn, Tom [R-OK] · R–OK

Committees

Appropriations Committee

3 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

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May 21, 2014
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Appropriations.
May 21, 2014
Introduced in Senate

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in Senate · May 21, 2014 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

HR 4715 · Orphan Earmarks Act

Source last updated: Dec 5, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Analyze S.2370 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Discuss S.2370, 113th Congress: Orphan Earmarks Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/senate-bill/2370

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2014-05-21.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/113/bills/s2370/BILLS-113s2370is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-12-05T20:49:55Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze S.2370 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Discuss S.2370, 113th Congress: Orphan Earmarks Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/senate-bill/2370

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2014-05-21.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/113/bills/s2370/BILLS-113s2370is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-12-05T20:49:55Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.2370 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

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Examine S.2370 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

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Discuss S.2370, 113th Congress: Orphan Earmarks Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/senate-bill/2370

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2014-05-21.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/113/bills/s2370/BILLS-113s2370is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-12-05T20:49:55Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.2370 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

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Discuss S.2370, 113th Congress: Orphan Earmarks Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/senate-bill/2370

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2014-05-21.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/113/bills/s2370/BILLS-113s2370is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-12-05T20:49:55Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.2370 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.