Ayotte, Brown Pleased "No Contracting with the Enemy" Provisions Included in Readiness Subcommittee's Mark

Press Release

Legislation Would Help Prevent Contracting Dollars From Going to Enemies of the United States

As the Senate Armed Services Committee continues work on the National Defense Authorization Act, U.S. Senators Scott Brown (R-MA) and Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) welcomed news that the Readiness Subcommittee - of which Ayotte serves as the top Republican member - has included in its mark key elements of legislation the senators introduced to prevent taxpayer dollars from falling into the hands of America's enemies. Ayotte also was pleased that the Readiness Subcommittee held its first open mark-up in over 15 years.

In February, Senator Brown - with Senator Ayotte as an original co-sponsor - introduced the "No Contracting With the Enemy Act," a bill that would make it easier for U.S. contracting officials to void contracts with contractors who funnel taxpayer resources to enemies of the United States, such as the Taliban. At a meeting of the Senate Armed Services Committee in March, General David Petraeus highlighted the urgency of legislation that would achieve the goals of the Brown-Ayotte bill, testifying that it was needed "the sooner the better."

Senator Brown released the following statement regarding today's subcommittee mark-up: "Our legislation addresses a very serious problem facing American soldiers in Afghanistan, and I am pleased it was approved by the subcommittee today. It is unacceptable that corruption and bureaucratic inefficiency have led to our tax dollars being used by the enemy to hurt our soldiers and their mission. We need to do everything possible to protect the safety of our men and women in harm's way in Afghanistan, and I am hopeful our commonsense legislation will become law soon."

Senator Ayotte, Ranking Member of the Readiness Subcommittee, said in her opening statement at the mark-up: "I am very pleased that the mark contains a provision that incorporates critical elements of the 'No Contracting with the Enemy' legislation that Senator Brown and I introduced in February. As the Department of Defense is establishing better oversight of contracting and subcontracting networks in Afghanistan, it has become apparent that some contractors are working directly or indirectly with insurgents who are attacking our troops or powerbrokers who are undermining our interests. This provision would address this unacceptable status quo and help ensure that we are being responsible stewards of taxpayers' money and that our contracting policies fully support our counterinsurgency mission in Afghanistan."

In his role as the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Contracting Oversight of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Senator Brown has held hearings with the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan and other Inspectors' General about the immediate need to cease the flow of American funds to the enemy.

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