FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 15, 2006

LARSON SUPPORTS INCREASED ACCOUNTABILITY FOR AMERICA

WASHINGTON, D.C. � U.S. Congressman John B. Larson (CT-1) today expressed disappointment that the Republican House majority voted to refuse debate on two Democratic proposals to increase accountability on Iraqi contracts, Katrina contracts, and foreign takeovers.

�This is another example of the Republican majority failing to provide for debate on serious issues in the people�s House,� stated Larson. �These Democratic proposals deserved an up or down vote.�

The House voted 224 to 192 to close debate on the War and Hurricane Supplemental Appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2006 (H.R. 4939). This procedural move blocked two Democratic amendments from being offered that would have promoted government accountability.

The first amendment, proposed by Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), would have created a Select Congressional Committee � based on the Truman Committee that existed from 1941 to 1948 during World War II � to investigate possible waste, fraud and abuse in government contracts in Iraq and in Katrina recovery and reconstruction.

�Evidence already suggests the need for a select committee to investigate fraud, abuse, and waste in the awarding of contracts in Iraq and for Katrina relief and reconstruction. Pentagon auditors have already questioned $1.4 million under Halliburton�s largest Iraqi contracts. Meanwhile, Katrina recovery and reconstruction contracts are being awarded through a no-bid or limited-bid process,� said Larson.

The second amendment, proposed by Rep. Martin Olav Sabo (D-MN) would have strengthened how our government reviews foreign takeovers by mandating a review of all foreign transactions raising national security concerns, requiring the President to make an up or down determination and notify Congress, and expediting Congressional consideration of actions.

�The Dubai Port World deal showed that the actions of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) need to be taken out of the shadows and brought into the light. Congress should not be rubber-stamping the Administration�s backroom deals, it should be reviewing them thoroughly,� stated Larson.

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