Bill Delahunt: “I appreciate the anger of the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. DeFazio) because he made a statement about who is profiting…”

“I appreciate the anger of the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. DeFazio) because he made a statement about who is profiting from what is going on in terms of the so-called ``reconstruction phase'' in Iraq today. While we know there will not be American workers building the bridges, constructing the hospitals, rehabilitating schools, and building affordable housing, those will not be American workers. But as the gentleman indicated, there is a story in the New York Times, dated September 30, that says that a Washington insider's new firm consults on contracts in Iraq. A group of businessmen linked by their close ties to President Bush, his family, and his administration, have set up a consulting firm to advise companies that want to do business in Iraq, including those seeking pieces of taxpayer-financed reconstruction projects. The firm, New Bridge Strategies, is headed by Joe Allbaugh, Mr. Bush's campaign manager in 2000, and the director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency until March.”