Rep. Ellen Tauscher Tours Joint IED Defeat Organization

Strategic Forces Chairman Leads First CODEL Examining Efforts to Eliminate Number One Threat to Our Troops Serving In Iraq and Afghanistan  

Washington, DC – Today Rep. Ellen Tauscher, Chairman of the S trategic Forces S ubcommittee of the House Armed S ervices Committee, led the first bi-partisan delegation to tour the Joint IED (Improvised Explosive Devices) Defeat Organization (JIEDDO).  JIEDDO leads U. S . counter-IED efforts seeking to protect our troops by attacking the IED network, defeating the device and training our forces to eliminate IEDs as weapons of strategic influence. 

“Right now in Iraq IEDs are the primary cause of U.S. casualties,” said Rep. Tauscher.  “This was a valuable opportunity for my colleagues and me to look into joint operations aiming to protect our troops.  My hope is that initiatives like JIEDDO will have success in reducing casualty rates and aid in getting the men and women of our Armed Forces home sooner and safer.” 

The JIEDDO has its roots in an Army initiative.  The Army IED Task Force was established in October 2003 by the Army Chief of S taff to orchestrate Army efforts to eliminate IED threats, recommend best available responses and direct development and fielding of selected solutions.

In December 2006, JIEDDO was established as a permanently manned entity.  JIEDDO pulls together all available resources within the Department of Defense, across the private sector, and from our allies and coalition partners to combat the IED threat.  The Task Force has the responsibility to lead, advocate, and coordinate all Department of Defense actions in support of the Combatant Commanders’ efforts to defeat improvised explosive devices.