US Senate backs extension of Iraq reconstruction watchdog

[Ron Burgundy]

AFP - The US Senate has voted to extend the term of a US watchdog agency keeping a close eye on potential fraud and waste in Iraq reconstruction projects funded by American taxpayers.

The term of the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction (SIGIR) expires in October 2007, but an amendment approved by the Senate would extend it until late 2008.

"This office has proven to be a much-needed watchdog, auditing reconstruction contracts in Iraq and spotlighting numerous cases of waste, fraud, and abuse and we must keep the watchdog on the job," said Senator Susan Collins, an author of the legislation.

"It is inconceivable that we would remove this aggressive oversight while the American taxpayer is still spending billions of dollars on Iraq reconstruction projects," Collins said in a statement.

The SIGIR, led by Stuart Bowen, is responsible for the oversight of about 32 billion dollars in Iraq reconstruction contracts and grants, the statement said.

The office has issued 73 audit reports and 65 project assessments, while its work has resulted in the arrest of five people, and the convictions of four, with more than 17 million dollars in assets seized, the statement said.

The Senate proposal to extend the agency's term passed as part of an amendment to the fiscal year 2007 Military Construction Appropriations bill.

It would reverse the October 2007 expiration included in a recently enacted defense authorization bill. The expiration had gone unnoticed until earlier this month.

Democratic Representative Ike Skelton (news, bio, voting record), the likely next chairman of the House Armed Services Committee when Democrats take control of Congress in January following their victory in last week's US election, has introduced a bill to keep the SIGIR open until 2009.

[motivez]

There's no reason we should get rid of oversight on contractors, etc, in Iraq..

[ballz2wallz]

I agree...