Fact
Sheet - Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction
(SIGIR)
November - December 2006
For over three years, U.S. Senator Russ
Feingold has led the effort to create and extend the Special
Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction (SIGIR.) The SIGIR
serves as a watchdog over the billions of U.S. taxpayer dollars
allocated for Iraq reconstruction. The SIGIR's office has
been effective in its role, uncovering a wide range of problems
relating to the waste, fraud and abuse of U.S. taxpayer funds
in Iraq.
The SIGIR has now issued 73 audit reports
with 243 recommendations for program improvement, produced
65 project assessments, and has seized over $17 million in
assets. Overall, the SIGIR estimates that the financial impact
of its operations totals $1.87 billion. The SIGIR's work has
also resulted in the arrests of five individuals and convictions
of four who were defrauding the U.S. government, and has shed
light on tens of millions of dollars in waste.
Feingold Offers Legislation
Creating the Office of the SIGIR
October
2003 - During the debate on S. 1689, the $87 Iraq
Supplemental Appropriations Bill, Senator Feingold successfully
added an amendment establishing an Inspector General, as part
of the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA), to oversee the
use of U.S. taxpayer dollars sent to Iraq. The CPA IG will eventually
become the SIGIR
Feingold
Works to Extend the Office of the SIGIR
June
2004 - Senator Feingold offers an amendment to
S.2400, the FY2005 Defense Authorization bill, to ensure that
the independent IG continues to monitor U.S. dollars meant
for reconstruction efforts in Iraq after the transfer of sovereignty
to the Iraqis. Feingold’s amendment is included in the
final version of the Defense Authorization bill. Without the
Feingold amendment, that oversight would have disappeared
at the end of 2004. The office is now known as Special Inspector
General for Iraq Reconstruction.
July
2005 - Senator Feingold and Senator Susan Collins
(R-ME) offer an amendment to HR 3057, the Foreign Operations
Appropriations Bill to extend the SIGIR’s tenure until
10 months after 80 percent of the funds are actually expended.
The amendment also authorizes $30 million for the SIGIR. The
amendment is accepted into the bill.
June
2006 – Senator Feingold introduces an amendment
to S. 2766, the FY2007 Defense authorization bill, to strengthen
the oversight and monitoring capabilities of the SIGIR. The
amendment, which was cosponsored by Collins as well as Senators
Leahy, Lieberman, Levin, and Salazar, passes the Senate. However,
a modified version of Feingold’s amendment is included
in the final conference report along with a set termination
date of October 1, 2007 for the office of the SIGIR. The termination
date was inserted at the last minute by Republican House conferees.
October
2006 – Feingold calls the final version
of the Defense Authorization Act, which includes a set termination
date for the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction
(SIGIR), troubling. "This termination plan means that
billions of dollars will go without proper oversight and auditing.
American taxpayers deserve to know where their money is going
in this costly war and that it is being used effectively and
efficiently," Feingold said.
November
2006 – Feingold joins Senator Susan Collins
(R-ME) and others in introducing legislation to extend the
mandate of the SIGIR. The legislation passes unanimously as
an amendment to the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs
appropriations bill. A stand-alone version of the bill later
passes the Senate, as well.
December
2006 – Congress passes the bipartisan legislation
Feingold cosponsored to extend the mandate of SIGIR. "The
President should quickly sign this bill into law to ensure
sufficient oversight of billions of U.S. taxpayer dollars
being spent on reconstruction efforts in Iraq," Feingold
said.
December
21, 2006 – The President signs the Collins-Feingold
bill extending the mandate of SIGIR into law. |
