U.S. Rep. David Price this afternoon said he welcomes input on his oversight bill on private security contractors, but he called the White House's concerns about the legislation "unfounded."
The Bush administration’s opposition, Price said, "should infuriate anyone who believes in the rule of law."
"The fact is the administration has an embarrassing track record for investigating and prosecuting misconduct by contractors working in our name," Price, a Chapel Hill Democrat, said in a statement.
He said that, contrary to White House concerns, the bill's intent is well-defined, putting all private security contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan under the same law that now applies to contractors working for the U.S. Department of Defense, Barb Barrett reports.
Many contractors, including the Blackwater employees involved in a Sept. 16 shooting in Baghdad, work for the U.S. Department of State or other agencies. There is some question about whether they are subject to U.S. federal law; Price's bill would clarify that they are.
His bill is expected to begin debate on the House floor late this afternoon; a full vote may be postponed until Thursday.
After the jump, the full text of his statement.
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Statement from U.S. Rep. David Price:
I welcome the Administration’s willingness to work with Congress to improve accountability and oversight for private security contractors. The Administration’s attention to this critical issue is long overdue.
However, the White House’s opposition to the bill before the House today should infuriate anyone who believes in the rule of law. The fact is the Administration has an embarrassing track record for investigating and prosecuting misconduct by contractors working in our name. This is precisely why we need to clarify the scope of the law and put FBI resources on the ground.
As a matter of substance, the White House’s objections are unfounded. The intent of the bill is clearly defined, and the scope of the bill follows the precedent of existing law. This bill simply puts all contractors under the same law that now applies to Defense Department contractors. Furthermore, the bill simply requires the FBI to have investigators in place where there is a significant contractor presence, so they can investigate crimes. Right now, there is a virtual city of 180,000 contractors in Iraq without anyone enforcing the law, without a single prosecutor.
Every time there is an incident like the recent shootings in Baghdad – and there have been many – our troops suffer. They see support for insurgents rise, and their job gets tougher. This bill is critical for the safety of our troops, the integrity of their mission, and our government’s credibility in upholding the rule of law.
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