SAVE Award 2011 Ideas

The U.S. economy is awash in non-compliant and/or illegal products shipped to the U.S. The non-compliant or illegal goods damage our economy by directly competing in markets where U.S. manufactured products that are compliant with federal, local and state regulations are sold. The products that enter the U.S. fraudulently are often disguised, mislabeled as compliant, and dangerous. The federal government spends billions... more »

Eliminate all Subsidies for all companies in America. This is a free Market economy. If a company cannot make it then they should fail. It is not my job nor any other tax payer to prop them up to keep them in business for a product that is not selling.

Continuing Resolutions cause contractors to be layed off when contracts cannot be renewed. This has a significant negative impact on our economy, impacts the moral of the American people and hurts individuals directly and indirectly.

1) The uncertainty of a pending shutdown causes governement personnel to spend time and resources preparing for the shutdown. Whether it comes or not the time is spent and resources are... more »

Study the potential of using tidal stream generator technology in rivers below our existing dams and powerplants. Tidal stream generators (or TSGs) make use of the kinetic energy of moving water to power turbines, in a similar way to wind turbines that use moving air. This technology could reuse the moving water that has already gone through our powerplant generators and, as a result, generate more electricity to help... more »

Reduce government travel expenses, employee time, fuel consumption, and air emissions by finally establishing a nationwide high-speed surface transportation system. Such a system would also relieve the current traffic burden on both runways and highways, and can offer comparable door-to-door travel times particularly for regional service. Workforce productivity would increase, thereby helping to improve GDP and the overall... more »

It has been recognized that there are numerous jobs available in the public sector but there are not enough workers who are eligible for those jobs. This is primarily because our workers need further training to qualify for those jobs. I suggest that the US Govt should let the private sector know that if they train the individuals who are otherwise acceptable but do not have certain expertise or experience and pay them... more »

Federal employees who fly business class, first class, or on a $65 million private jet should pay for the cost above economy fare themselves.

I propose that when military members are sent TDY they be required to share quarters or hotel rooms with one other member, providing they do not have to share the same bed, are of equal rank and the same gender.

When my unit was sent on a mission for a few weeks, we stayed at a hotel and each member got their own room which was equipped with two beds. My brother, also in my unit, was sent TDY with us and we decided to... more »

Each department of every governmental agency has an expenditure budget dedicated to office supplies/items/furniture. The EPA’s Region 9 spends around $50,000 per year on office items. That’s approximately $500,000 for just the EPA on office supplies. During our summer internship, we sighted one way that federal dollars could be used more efficiently, support American companies, and spur the green economy: by leveraging... more »

Save the economy by placing a nationwide moratorium on new construction, in order to stimulate the market while increasing property values. This makes sense, especially with the current oversupply. Although this may mean reduced work for construction workers, it may encourage them to get a degree and thus improve their long-term prospects. It would also reduce energy consumption and conserve some of our natural resources... more »

Within almost every waiting area in every Federal building there is a TV. These TV's show HDTV programing with tons of TV channels. This is unnecessary and can be fixed by replacing the current systems with Digital antenna's. These systems also show local HD programming at only the cost of equipment. There is potential to save millions by getting out of contracts with Cable/Satelite providers.

With roughly two million federal civilian employees, of which 15% (~300,000+) work in the Washington DC Metro area, demand put on the daily infrastructure (I-66, I-95, etc) is substantial. Currently, most personnel would work a normal 40 hour work week (5 days x 8 hours). If an AWS (Alternate Work Schedule) was put in place, where each employee would work eight, 9 hour days and one, 8 hour day per pay period, this would... more »

THe huge amounts of money wasted in Africa and Asia could be better utilized investing in our southern neighbors. I would rather see items made in our hemisphere, then in China or Vietnam. IF we had spent the money wasted in Afghanistan on building up MExico and fighting the drug lords down there, we would have a viable trading partner with a growing prosperous economy. LEss illegal migration would happen as their... more »

Save money by paying down the debt, and don't let default happen (or else interest rates rise, and the US debt will crush us!). The equation is taxes on income are source of funding for Govt. Currently govt is working on the wrong part by thinking to reduce Soc Sec, Medicaid, which help people, while ignoring the fact that TWENTYFIVE PERCENT of workers are UN/UNDER-EMPLOYED!! (9% unemployed, 17% underemployed = 26%) Now... more »

Charge zero percent sales tax on any product completely manufactured in the United States. Companies pay tax on the profit from selling the products and workers pay tax on the wages they earn producing the product. Give the consumer an extra incentive to buy American.