Hearing of the Crime, and Homeland Security Subcommittee - "Enforcement of Federal Criminal Law to Protect Americans Working For U.S. Contractors"
Interview
Hearing of the Crime, and Homeland Security Subcommittee - "Enforcement of Federal Criminal Law to Protect Americans Working For U.S. Contractors"
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REP. TAMMY BALDWIN (D-WI): Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Chairman Scott and Ranking Member Gohmert, I want to express my appreciation for your holding this important and timely hearing on U.S. contractors in Iraq. And I particularly want to thank our panel of witnesses today, and particularly you, Ms. Jones, for being here and providing testimony here today.
I also appreciate your admirable work with the Jamie Leigh Foundation because you are helping other Americans who are victims of sexual assault, sexual harassment and abuse while working abroad. And I can only imagine what a difficult experience this has been for you, and I want you to know how much we appreciate your efforts to shed light on such an appalling and, frankly, intolerable issue.
Americans abroad should have the same protections under the law that they receive here in this country, and U.S. civilians who perpetrate crimes while working abroad should be held accountable for their actions just like they would if they were here at home. This concept seems so simple that I am having trouble understanding how our government has failed this pitifully in helping Americans like Ms. Jones find justice.
In light of the Blackwater shooting and other serious incidents in Iraq, the fact that there has been not a single completed prosecution of a crime involving a contractor implicated in violent crime in Iraq is inexcusable. The lack of accountability and oversight has apparently contributed to an environment of lawlessness among those serving as contract employees for the U.S. government. And despite what I have to presume are appropriate internal policies aimed at preventing these atrocities, Ms. Jones and other former Halliburton/KBR employees have described a "boys will be boys" environment that devastated their experiences in Iraq. Nobody at Halliburton/KBR has yet responded effectively to multiple allegations of sexual assault and ongoing harassment. Instead, there was an attempted cover-up.
I am saddened to think that this unacceptable "boys will be boys" attitude appears to have permeated our government agencies as well. We have applicable laws in place, but our Department of Justice seems unwilling to enforce them. And Mr. Horton, I agree with your assessment in your written comments of the department's attitude of official indifference.
Again, I want to thank our witnesses for being here today to help us do a better job of making sure that these situations never occur again.
Thank you. I yield back.
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