Janice Schakowsky: “I'd like to thank Chairman Skelton for working with me on my amendment to prohibit private security contractors from…”

“I'd like to thank Chairman Skelton for working with me on my amendment to prohibit private security contractors from performing inherently governmental functions in combat areas, and for offering his support. We've all heard about the violent incidents involving private security contractors injuring and killing civilians in Iraq and elsewhere. This is a systemic problem that exists because private employees are currently being tasked with extremely sensitive jobs like gathering intelligence and providing armed security. And it is a systematic problem that private contractors do not wear the badge of the United States, are clearly not part of the chain of command, are not subject to the same accountability that those who are employed with the badge of the United States, and that those contractors have often damaged the credibility of our military and harmed our relationship with the Iraqi government. We want to show the American people and the Iraqis, that there are inherently governmental functions that will only be performed by people in the U.S. military or our U.S. Government personnel. I urge support for this entire bill and for this amendment.”