Washington, D.C. – Sen. John Kerry announced today that he is co-sponsoring a wide-ranging plan to finally investigate the scope and range of wasteful spending surrounding the war in Iraq. The bill, which he is co-sponsoring with Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.) and several other colleagues, would create an independent, bipartisan commission to investigate U.S. war contracting in Iraq.

“The American people have had to endure endless reports of waste, fraud and abuse, all while watching their tax dollars go toward paying for a $10 billion a month war that’s taken the lives of more than 3,600 brave men and women,” Kerry said. “This legislation would also look into the unprecedented use of civilian contractors to support U.S. military operations. The dependency on outside contracting has never been so extreme and needs to be examined. As we spend billions of dollars every month in Iraq, we should do so in a transparent way, so those that attempt to waste tax dollars are held accountable. I am proud to stand with Senator Webb on this important legislation.”

The amendment would create a bipartisan commission to study and investigate contracting in support of the combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction (SIGIR) in 2005, reported that nearly $9 billion spent on Iraq’s reconstruction was unaccounted for, as the result of inefficiencies and bad management. To date, SIGIR has investigated $32 billion in Iraq reconstruction and relief, resulting in arrests, imprisonments, $3.6 million in restitution orders, and $9.5 million in recovered and seized assets. More than 40 individuals and private companies have been suspended, debarred, or proposed for debarment. More than 30 SIGIR investigations await prosecution at the Department of Justice.

Kerry said he is hoping that Webb’s plan can be attached to the defense spending bill, or voted on separately.