Senator Clinton Presses for Greater Accountability and Oversight for Iraq Reconstruction Contracts

Clinton Meets with Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction, Questions How the Administration Will Protect Resources as Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan Continue
 
July 16, 2008 - PRLog -- WASHINGTON, DC—Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton today pressed for answers on accountability and transparency in Iraq reconstruction contracts.  During a meeting with Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction Stuart W. Bowen, Jr., Senator Clinton gave Mr. Bowen a letter voicing serious concern over reports of waste, fraud and abuse in the government contracts for Iraq reconstruction, and asking what steps the administration will take to restore oversight to the contracting process.

“Waste, fraud and abuse in Iraq have gone unchecked for too long and it is past time to break this cycle.  Billions of taxpayer dollars have been funneled to contractors for shoddy work and incomplete projects, and the administration has done nothing to hold itself or its contractors accountable.  We need to restore transparency and oversight to the federal contracting process,” said Senator Clinton.

Senator Clinton has worked aggressively to curtail abuses in government contracting.  Last month she introduced the Oversight of the Performance and Effectiveness of National (OPEN) Contracting Act, legislation that would overhaul federal contracting law to promote accountability, oversight and transparency in the contracting process.  In April she introduced legislation that would prevent contactors that violated criminal laws from obtaining federal contracts. Additionally, she wrote to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget calling on the administration to move quickly to close loopholes in proposed rules that would allow federal contractors to hide criminal fraud, waste and abuse.  She secured into law two measures to curtail wasteful and unnecessary practices including those that have resulted in the outsourcing of critical national security jobs to private firms and rewarded underperforming private contractors.  Additionally, Senator Clinton offered an amendment to the FY 2009 Budget Resolution calling for a one-year moratorium on abusive and unchecked no-bid contracts that have become commonplace under the Bush Administration and cost taxpayers at least $200 billion in fiscal year 2007.

The text of Senator Clinton’s letter follows.

July 16, 2008

Special Inspector General Stuart W. Bowen, Jr.
Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction
Office of the Inspector General
400 Army Navy Drive
Arlington, Virginia 22202

Dear Inspector General Bowen:

Thank you for your service to our nation.  Since 2003, the American public has supplied more than $46 billion with the express purpose of supporting relief and reconstruction projects in Iraq.  Yet an investigation by the Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) has recently uncovered more than $10 billion in questionable or unsupported charges in Iraq reconstruction contracts.  I read with great interest your most recent Quarterly Report that detailed the millions of dollars of Iraq reconstruction contracts that were never finished because of excessive delays, poor performance, or other factors, including failed projects that were being falsely described by the U.S. government as complete.

More recently, reports have revealed that an administration official was sidelined for refusing to approve $1 billion in questionable charges by KBR.  His replacement quickly approved the spending, even in the face of lingering questions about the underlying projects. In this same vein, we have seen contracts renewed despite ongoing criminal investigations involving the contractors, including firms like Blackwater.  And that is only the tip of the iceberg.  Examples of waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement are legion.

Therefore, in light of your service and what I view as the continuing failure of this administration to hold military and government contractors accountable, here are a few questions I have for how we can proceed to restore oversight and accountability in our Iraq contracts:

·         Do you have the authority and the resources necessary to effectively carry out the proper oversight of Iraqi Relief and Reconstruction projects?
·         According to your most recent audit, “This year’s oil revenue boom in Iraq” is creating a “financial windfall” for the Iraqi government.  What would be the implications if the U.S. terminated funding for Iraqi reconstruction projects?

   * What obstacles exist that may impede U.S. reconstruction contracts and projects from being properly transferred over to Iraqi control so that our efforts and expenditures do not go to waste?

·         Do you plan to conduct any future audits of major security contractors or of oil-related contracts in Iraq?
·         Do you believe that abuses by contractors and government officials continue to undermine the reconstruction efforts in Iraq and what measures would you recommend to prevent further waste, fraud and abuse?
·         What further steps can or should be taken to more effectively ensure that contractors and government officials are held accountable for the waste, fraud, and abuse with Iraq contracts?

I know you agree with me that it is past time that we restore accountability and transparency to the federal contracting process in Iraq and put an end to the waste, fraud and abuse that has gone on for far too long.  I look forward to working with you toward that end.

Sincerely,

Hillary Rodham Clinton

# # #

A Native of New York, Rena writes as a freelance speech writer, ghost writer, journalist, and poet. She has been represented by the Hearst Corporation, Conde Nast, and Random House.
End
Rena Silverman News
Trending
Most Viewed
Daily News



Like PRLog?
9K2K1K
Click to Share