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Schakowsky Issues Statement on Blackwater USA

Date: Nov. 9, 2004
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Elections


SCHAKOWSKY ISSUES STATEMENT
ON BLACKWATER USA

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) issued this statement after reading Blackwater USA's Nov 2004 newsletter in which the president of the private military contractor cheered the re-election of President Bush:

"Blackwater USA, one of the private military contractors whose business flourished as a result of lucrative, multi-million dollar, tax-payer funded contracts in Iraq, cheered the re-election of George Bush.

"Like Halliburton, which received billions in contracts and whose stock prices spiked after Bush's re-election, Blackwater, four of whose employees were brutally murdered in Fallujah, looks forward to four more years of war-time contracts.
"These private military contracts raise critical questions about both cost effectiveness and mission effectiveness. An investigative report by The News & Observer newspaper published at the end of October concluded that many contracts, including Blackwater's, drive up rather than reduce costs for the government. U.S. soldiers are paid a fraction of the close to $200,000 salaries earned by Blackwater employees for performing the same type of training and security jobs. (See Story Below)

"As important are the questions of accountability and oversight raised by contractors like Blackwater who perform sensitive military functions in places like Iraq and Colombia: Who gives the orders; where do contractors fit in the chain of command; who vets their employees; who is responsible if things go wrong; and how are they spending taxpayer dollars?

"Congress has a responsibility to expand oversight and access to contracts signed with private firms. That is why I introduced a bill that would require the Department of Defense to supply Congress with copies and descriptions of new contracts and task orders that the Pentagon signs with private firms to conduct business in Iraq or Afghanistan. In the 109th Congress, I will reintroduce this bill and will work closely with Republicans and Democrats to get it passed.

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