[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 17402]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               ACCOUNTABILITY FOR DEFENSE CONTRACTORS ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EARL BLUMENAUER

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 29, 2010

  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Madam Speaker, since July, I have been working with 
26 Oregon National Guard members who have filed a lawsuit against the 
defense contractor KBR for exposing them to the potent carcinogen, 
hexavalent chromium. These veterans have a compelling case for 
contractor negligence that resulted in their poisoning.
  As the legal proceedings have unfolded, KBR has revealed the 
existence of a still-classified contract clause that could shift the 
cost of all damages and court fees onto the Department of Defense--and 
by extension the U.S. taxpayers.
  Today I am introducing legislation, along with Representative 
Schrader, who has been a strong ally to these veterans, and 
Representative Walter Jones, a leader on the House Armed Services 
Committee, to end the contracting practices that shield companies from 
their own reckless behavior and that remove incentives for contractors 
to operate responsibly.
  This legislation will set important and long-overdue limits to 
indemnification agreements and will introduce much-needed congressional 
oversight of the defense contracting process.
  Senators Wyden and Merkley are introducing a version of this bill in 
the Senate, and I hope that our colleagues on both sides of the aisle 
and in both chambers will act swiftly to enact this legislation before 
the end of the session.

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