NEWARK – Senator Frank R. Lautenberg (D-N.J.) today vowed to work to repeal a Republican provision that would eliminate the watchdog agency that oversees Iraq reconstruction spending. A new law closing the Office of the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction (SIGIR) was inserted by Republicans on the House Armed Services Committee over Democratic objections, as reported in today’s New York Times.

"Eliminating this office is an attempt to cover up massive abuses in Iraq," Senator Lautenberg said. "Those who profiteered off the war or stole taxpayer money must be held accountable. By passing this new law, Republicans want to allow companies like Halliburton to get off the hook. We cannot let that stand. I will work to repeal this provision before it goes into effect."

The law secretly inserted by Republicans would eliminate SIGIR on Oct. 1, 2007. Lautenberg will introduce legislation to repeal that deadline and allow SIGIR to work until it completes its mission.

SIGIR has saved $405 million in taxpayer dollars, according to their audits. Some of their accomplishments include:

• Sixty-five reports to the American people on all aspects of our work in Iraq, from transportation to health care, oil infrastructure, water, electricity and agriculture.
• Uncovering the mismanagement and negligence that led the U.S. to transfer more than a half million weapons to Iraqi police and military forces and then to lose track of 97 percent of them.
• Identifying occurrences of mismanagement by the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) building the case for a fraud prosecution.

About the Office of the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction (SIGIR)

SIGIR, the successor to the Coalition Provisional Authority’s Office of Inspector General (CPA-IG), was created in October 2004 with an amendment to Public Law 108-106. The IG’s office oversees the expenditures and abuses of money used to rebuild Iraq. Stuart W. Bowen, Jr., who served as the CPA-IG since January 20, 2004, is the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction. Visit www.sigir.mil.