Sanders Calls on Government Reform Committee to Investigate Waste in Iraq

Sanders Calls on Government Reform Committee to Investigate Waste in Iraq

Representative Bernie Sanders (I-VT) said, "The Army's decision to terminate a multi-billion dollar contract to Halliburton for providing services to the U.S. military in Iraq is a step in the right direction, and something that I have long advocated. Our country must never reward war profiteering - even to companies that were once headed by the Vice President of the United States. Reports that Halliburton charged the Army $45 for per case of soda, double-billed on meals and allowed troops to bathe in contaminated water are nothing short of outrageous, and unfortunately may only be the tip of the iceberg.

We already know that over $1.4 billion in taxpayer dollars provided to Halliburton has been deemed either excessive or insufficiently documented by government auditors. How many more U.S. taxpayer dollars have been wasted in Iraq? It is past-time that Congress hold in-depth hearings to examine this issue just like Harry Truman did during World War II., and I am calling on the Chairman of the Government Reform Committee do just that.

At a time when this country has an $8.4 trillion dollar national debt, Congress has a responsibility to ensure that U.S. taxpayers dollars dedicated for the reconstruction of Iraq are spent wisely and cost-effectively - not for profiteering.

http://bernie.house.gov/documents/document.asp?issueNum=4949