Oversight Committee to Hold Hearings on Blackwater
September 17th, 2007 by Jesse LeeOversight Committee Chairman Henry A. Waxman released the following statement this afternoon following the press accounts that Iraq had revoked the license of U.S. contractor Blackwater:
“The controversy over Blackwater is an unfortunate demonstration of the perils of excessive reliance on private security contractors. The Oversight Committee will be holding hearings to understand what has happened and the extent of the damage to U.S. security interests.”
One of the first hearings held by the Oversight Committee in the 110th Congress was on February 17, 2007, “Iraqi Reconstruction: Reliance on Private Military Contractors.” Family members of four Blackwater employees killed in Fallujah testified about what they view as profiteering by Blackwater USA, including the company’s alleged failure to provide armored vehicles and other critical safety equipment. The Committee examined the costs of Blackwater’s security operations to the taxpayer and the adequacy of federal oversight of Blackwater and other security contractors. Kathryn Helvenston-Wettengel, mother of one of the employees, gave an opening statement (pdf) delivered on behalf of the families of all four Blackwater employees killed in the infamous Fallujah incident on March 31, 2004:
Kathryn Helvenston-Wettengel: “Having lost those close to our hearts, and then having experienced the callous indifference of Blackwater, we sincerely hope that Congress will take action by creating accountability for private contractors and not continue to allow them to make millions of dollars at the cost of American lives.” |