Blog Post

Today's passage of the War Profiteering Prevention Act makes clear that defrauding the federal government and robbing American taxpayers will not be tolerated and will be severely punished during a time of war.

The Bush Administration's non-existent oversight of the more than $50 billion paid to contractors for relief and reconstruction projects in Iraq has led to cases of illegal kickbacks, bid-rigging, embezzlement and fraudulent billing.

By a vote of 375-3, the House has just passed the War Profiteering Prevention Act, H.R. 400. The bill makes war profiteering -- overcharging in order to defraud or profit excessively from war, military action, or reconstruction efforts -- a felony subject to up to 20 years in prison and fines of up to $1 million or twice the illegal profits of the crime. It confers jurisdiction to U.S. federal courts to hear such cases no matter where they might occur.

Rep. Jerrold Nadler, Chair of the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, on the RESTORE Act introduced this morning:

Rep. Nadler Welcomes Introduction of RESTORE Act

Conyers-Reyes Bill Makes Meaningful Changes to FISA

This morning Chairman Henry Waxman of the Oversight Committee wrote to Secretary Rice regarding documents obtained by the Committee that depict widespread defects in fire detection systems, fire service mains, fire sprinklers, fire-proof construction materials, and electrical wiring throughout the new Embassy in Iraq complex. Other documents implicate the Managing Partner of First Kuwaiti, the prime contractor, in an illegal kickback scheme to obtain subcontracts under the Army's multi-billion logistical support contract.

From the Judiciary Committee:

On Tuesday the Oversight Committee held a hearing on Blackwater, examining several incidents in Iraq involving the private security firm. One such incident involved a Blackwater employee who shot a guard of the Iraqi Vice President, apparently while drunk, and whether the Justice Department has truly been investigating as the State Department claims.

By a vote of 389-30, the House has just passed H.R. 2740, Holding Security Contractors in War Zones Overseas Accountable (MEJA Expansion and Enforcement Act). This bill is designed to ensure that all private security contractors in war zones overseas will be held accountable for any criminal behavior. Currently, there is only clear jurisdiction of the U.S. courts over those contractors who are on contract with the Department of Defense. Rep.