Corker: Postal Service and Waste Detailed in Final Audit of Iraq Reconstruction

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Bob Corker, R-Tenn., made the following statement today in reaction to reports that the House has added legislative language to the “CR” (continuing resolution spending bill to fund government) that would force the Postal Service to continue six-day delivery. The Postal Service estimates it would save roughly $2 billion a year by moving to five-day delivery for some postal products.

“This is the worst of Washington – here Congress is unable to pass reforms that would enable the Postal Service to operate and not be a burden to taxpayers, and yet Congress also continues to interfere and not allow the Postal Service to make the decisions it believes are necessary to operate viably in the future. If this action is carried through, Congress will be hamstringing the Postal Service, hastening its demise and probably adding additional financial burdens to U.S. taxpayers,” said Corker.

Waste Detailed in Final Audit of Iraq Reconstruction Funds Demonstrates Need for Top-to-Bottom Review of State Department and U.S. Foreign Aid Programs

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Bob Corker, R-Tenn., ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today said the final report on U.S. reconstruction funds in Iraq demonstratesthe need for a top-to-bottom review of the State Department and U.S. foreign assistance programs to ensure taxpayer dollars are used to advance U.S. interests.  The final report from the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction Stuart Bowen captures lessons learned and details the extent of waste, fraud and abuse within the $60 billion of U.S. funds spent on Iraq reconstruction over 10 years.

“The extent of waste and abuse in the $60 billion of Iraq reconstruction funds coupled with the instability still evident in Iraq is appalling and highlights real failures of planning and execution that must be corrected to make U.S. foreign assistance a more effective tool for advancing the national interests of our country.  At the same time, this final Iraq reconstruction report also highlights some approaches that worked and could be applied to future reconstruction efforts, especially the billions of dollars in remaining reconstruction funds for Afghanistan,” Corker said.  “Going forward, I am committed to working with the State Department, USAID, and the administration, to provide the kind of accountability and oversight the American people deserve.  We owe this not only to the American taxpayers, but also to the men and women – civilian and uniformed – that we send into dangerous and challenging environments to secure the area and implement U.S. programs.”