| House Bill Holds Government Contractors Accountable
Thursday, October 4, 2007
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WASHINGTON, DC—House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn today released the following statement regarding passage of H.R. 2740, the MEJA Expansion and Enforcement Act of 2007, legislation designed to ensure that government contractors working in Iraq are held accountable under U.S criminal law for any offenses they may commit while working abroad.
“The U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation today that establishes a legally sound framework for arresting, arraigning, and prosecuting U.S. government contractors who violate the law while working in war zones such as Iraq and Afghanistan.
“It is critical to the success of our work overseas to implement ethical codes of conduct that clearly establish that no one working for or contracting with the American government is above the law. This bill mandates that the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) investigate and prosecute government contractors who commit offenses while assigned overseas.
“We must not allow the vigilante actions of a few to undermine our nation’s integrity or our diplomatic goodwill. This bill sends a strong and resounding message that those individuals contracting with the U.S. government must abide by established legal principles or risk being prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
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