Sen. Boxer response on constituent support on oversight and accountability, re: Blackwater, et al.

[pinto]

Dear (pinto)

Thank you for contacting me to share your disapproval of the Bush Administration's use of private contractors to assist in carrying out Department of Defense (DoD) missions in Iraq and Afghanistan . I appreciate hearing from you on this important issue, and I strongly agree with you.

As you may know, the United States is relying more on private defense contractors in Iraq than at any time in our nation's history. These private contractors operate in a grey area of US, Iraqi, and international law, making it difficult to address any egregious action or unlawful use of force. In addition, the lack of accountability in the wartime contracting process has resulted in the waste, fraud, and abuse of billions of taxpayer dollars.

The lack of oversight in this vast wartime contracting industry is simply unacceptable, and I believe that Congress must act to generate important solutions to these systematic contracting problems. That is why I co-sponsored an amendment to H.R.1585, the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2008, to establish an independent, bipartisan Commission on Wartime Contracting.

This eight-member committee would investigate federal agency contracting for reconstruction projects in Iraq and Afghanistan . It would also investigate the extent of fraud and mismanagement among wartime contracts and assess the extent to which those responsible have been held accountable. The amendment was adopted during Senate consideration of the bill.

In addition, on October 4, 2007, the House of Representatives voted 389-30 to approve H.R.2740, the Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act (MEJA) Expansion and Enforcement Act. This legislation grants the U.S. government the legal authority to prosecute crimes committed by all U.S. contractors working in war zones, thus closing the legal loophole that has allowed contractor personnel working in Iraq and Afghanistan to operate with impunity.

Furthermore, on October 9, the House voted 375-3 to approve H.R.400, the War Profiteering Prevention Act. This bill would apply criminal penalties to U.S. contractors convicted of war profiteering in a war zone.

I believe that Congress has a responsibility to help repair the damage that has been caused by the Bush Administration's reliance on private contractors and no-bid contracts. Please be assured that I will work to see that the Commission on Wartime Contracting and the recently approved House bills are signed into law as soon as possible.

Above all, the use of taxpayer dollars should be used to ensure that the U.S. has a sufficiently sized military, and that our service members are adequately resourced and compensated for their service to our nation.

Thank you again for your letter and for caring deeply about this critical matter.


Barbara Boxer
United States Senator

http://boxer.senate.gov/

[ProSense]

1. Excellent response! Thanks for posting! n/t

[Vincardog]

2. Wouldn't it be nice if Boxer could switch with Pelosi?

[Pastiche423]

3. Oh my, Yes!

[LWolf]

4. I'd prefer Boxer asVP, myself. n/t