Washington (CNSNews.com) – A group of conservative Republican congressmen is claiming a victory in the battle against wasteful Washington spending.
 
The self-dubbed "Sunset Caucus" pressured congressional Democrats to eliminate $8.7 million for a “cultural exchange program” to connect whalers in Massachusetts with their whaling ancestors in Alaska and Hawaii.
 
The spending was to have been included in the appropriations bill for the Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Departments. The U.S. House of Representatives began considering the bill on Friday.
 
“It’s one small step for taxpayers, one giant step for common sense,” said Rep. Kevin Brady, who co-chairs the Sunset Caucus with Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah.)
 
“We are going to keep the pressure on Congress to eliminate these ridiculous programs and cut wasteful spending,” Chaffetz added.
 
The project, according to the U.S. Department of Education Web site, involves a “cultural and exchange program partnership” between the New Bedford (Mass.) Whaling Museum and National Historical Park and the Inupiat Heritage Center in Alaska.
 
It involves “educational/cultural programming” which includes “mentoring, internships, and education/outreach programming that will increase understanding of cultural diversity and multicultural communication among Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and the people of Massachusetts.”
 
The Sunset Caucus, which was convened this spring, describes itself as being “committed to protecting taxpayers and shrinking the size of government – one wasteful, duplicative, or unnecessary program at a time.”
 
“Sunset” is a term that refers to eliminating or ending legislative appropriations or authorization for projects by setting an end date..