Rick Larsen: “This final amendment prohibits the U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers from awarding contracts to felons…”

“This final amendment prohibits the U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers from awarding contracts to felons convicted of contract fraud, waste and abuse. It was just 1 month ago, Mr. Speaker, that a Federal magistrate judge indicted four individuals on an alleged bribery and kickback scheme regarding U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' contracts that defrauded U.S. taxpayers of a minimum of $20 million; taxpayer dollars wasted on BMWs, Rolexes, flat-screen televisions, first-class airline tickets, investment properties across the globe, and the list goes on. In exchange for these kickbacks, the contractors were guaranteed millions in sole-sourced, open-ended contracts with a total award potential of more than $1.7 billion--that's billion with a ``B.'' They were sailing high on taxpayer dollars while other Americans were struggling to stay afloat. When they were arrested, the coconspirators had their sights set on a $780 million Corps of Engineers' contract. Fortunately, they were apprehended before this very large contract was awarded. Similarly, in August of this year, a Federal court grand jury in Norfolk, Virginia indicted four coconspirators of multiple alleged criminal charges, including conspiracy, theft of public money, wire fraud, illegal gratuities, false statements and money laundering in connection with a kickback scheme involving Coast Guard vessel repair contracts. Mr.…”