Conference Report on H.R. 1585, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008

Floor Speech

SPEECH OF
HON. JANICE D. SCHAKOWSKY
OF ILLINOIS
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2007

* Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 1585, the National Defense Authorization Act. Although this bill includes some very important provisions, like the private security contracting language I fought so hard to include, I am unable to support this legislation because it authorizes $41.8 billion to continue the war in Iraq. It is unfortunate that this funding was part of this bill because otherwise I would have been proud to vote for this legislation. Nevertheless, I am very proud of the provisions to increase oversight and transparency over private security contractors, which Representative PRICE, Senator OBAMA and I worked so hard to include in this bill.

* This bill contains important provisions to regulate private security contractors, including nearly all of the provisions from H.R. 897, the Iraq and Afghanistan Contractor Sunshine Act, which I introduced in February to give Congress access to the basic information necessary for us to do our job of providing gravely needed oversight of private contractors. The Defense Authorization Act would give Congress access to information about contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan including a description of each contract, the value of each contract, the total number of personnel employed on contracts and the total number of contractors killed or wounded. I am happy to see these provisions from my legislation included in today's bill.

* The series of lethal incidents involving private security contractors in Iraq over the past 2 months have made it crystal clear that we must provide oversight of private contractors. This National Defense Authorization Act would increase oversight by the Department of Defense and the Department of State by mandating that they create clear regulations to govern contractor conduct, investigate any violent incidents like the September 16th Blackwater shooting, and clarify contractors' use of force.

* Further, any new contract signed 180 days after the bill is enacted would have to contain a clause saying that contractors must comply with the new regulations and that all contract personnel performing private security contracts understand that they must comply with U.S. laws and the laws of the host country, orders issued by the combatant command, rules on the use of force, and any investigation into violent incidents conducted by DOD. If they do not comply, their contract could be terminated. This will create a powerful tool that the United States could use to ensure that private security contractors follow the law and are held responsible for their actions.

* The National Defense Authorization bill also goes a long way toward restoring troop readiness. It includes a badly needed 3.5 percent pay raise for servicemembers and prohibits increases in TRICARE and pharmacy user fees. The bill also includes the Wounded Warrior Act to address the problems experienced by wounded and injured servicemembers that became apparent earlier this year at Walter Reed.

* I also support the increase in the number of visas for the brave Iraqis who have worked with the United States and have been targeted for their efforts.

* While I cannot vote for the bill because it includes $41.8 billion for the war in Iraq without a withdrawal deadline, I would like to thank Chairman SKELTON for addressing so many of my concerns about bringing accountability to private contracting and to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

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