[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 174 (Friday, November 9, 2007)]
[House]
[Page H13416]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       STOP OUTSOURCING SECURITY

  (Ms. SCHAKOWSKY asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute.)
  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, in case there was any doubt that we need 
to get rid of private security contractors in Iraq, just look at 
yesterday's headline story in the Washington Post: ``How Blackwater 
Sniper Fire Felled 3 Iraqi Guards. Witnesses call shooting unprovoked, 
but State Department cleared its security team after a brief probe.''
  That shooting took place February 7, and just yesterday we found out 
about it. Isn't it obvious that the State Department is unable or 
unwilling to control these armed mercenaries whose reckless behavior 
fans the flames of hatred against all Americans, including our young 
troops in harm's way? Isn't it obvious that for-profit companies like 
Blackwater who are being paid billions of taxpayer dollars have 
forfeited their right to work in Iraq? Defense Secretary Robert Gates 
said they are working ``at cross purposes to our larger mission in 
Iraq.''
  I urge my colleagues to cosponsor the Stop Outsourcing Security Act, 
H.R. 4102, and begin now to phase out these unaccountable private 
security contractors before they do any more damage.

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