The 44th Legislative District Democrats

The 44th LD Endorses 20 campaigns for 2009! They are:

* Snohomish County Council District 1, Ellen Hiatt Watson, http://www.ellenhiattwatson.net/

Dear Katherine,

Thank you for contacting me to express your concerns regarding Congressional oversight of our conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. I appreciate hearing your views on this important issue.

As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, I believe that Congress should take an active role in developing our national security policy, overseeing the Department of Defense, and rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse in defense contracting. Since taking control of Congress in January of 2007, Democratically-led committees have held numerous hearings on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. I have attached a list of those hearings held by the House Armed Services Committee, House Foreign Affairs Committee, and House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform which relate to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

You referenced your specific concerns regarding the use of private contractors in war zones. Please know that I share your concerns regarding the behavior of private contractors and the potential for waste in contracting with private security firms. Congress has recently taken significant action to increase their oversight of these companies and individuals, including:

- Establishing Special Inspector Generals to root out waste, fraud, and abuse in war-time contracting in Iraq and Afghanistan;

- Creating a Commission on Wartime Contracting to make sure that the U.S. government is using security contractors properly; and

- Requiring the Departments of State, Defense, and U.S. Agency for International Development to establish a Memorandum of Understanding for the use of private security contractors.

Further, the House of Representatives on multiple occasions has passed legislation that would provide needed legal clarification to bring security contractors working for non-Defense agencies under U.S. legal jurisdiction so they can be prosecuted for any crimes they commit in war zones. Although this legislation has not passed the Senate, I will continue working to ensure that the Department of Justice has the tools it needs to prosecute abuses and crimes committed in war zones.

Please be assured that I will continue to work with my colleagues in Congress to provide active oversight of our wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, including the further use of private security contractors. Thank you again for your thoughtful inquiry. I look forward to our continued discussion.

Sincerely,

Rick Larsen

Brooke N Davis

Political Director

Congressman Rick Larsen

PO Box 326

Everett, WA 98206

www.ricklarsen.org

brooke@ricklarsen.org

425-259-1866 office

425-259-0117 fax

425-830-2031 cell

Armed Services Committee:

January 12, 2007: To receive testimo

Bylaws Committee Meeting
Wednesday, Feb 11th, 7:00 PM.
Rick DeWitt’s House
1509 148th pl SE
Mill Creek, WA 98012
(425) 357-0605

The website has been updated to permit Committee Chairs to publish reports or updates from their respective areas.