U.S. Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.) today voted for H.R. 2740, a bill to bring all private military contractors under the accountability of U.S. law.  The bill closes a loophole that allows contractors working for government agencies aside from the Defense Department – like State-Department-employed Blackwater – to dodge prosecution in U.S. courts if they commit crimes in a war zone.  H.R. 2740 passed by a vote of 389 to 30.

“We are using huge numbers of private contractors in Iraq outside of the jurisdiction of our courts.  We need to bring all private groups in Iraq under the rule of law and establish accountability,” Smith said.

Congress passed the Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act (MEJA) in 2000.  The bill originally gave U.S. courts jurisdiction over contractors hired by the Defense Department in overseas war zones.  The State Department and other agencies make use of such contractors, and the original MEJA language does not extend court jurisdiction over them.

More than 1,000 private security contractors now do business with the State Department in Iraq apparently outside of any U.S. legal accountability.  These contractors include 861 Blackwater employees.  Under the bill passed today, these and all other security contractors working for the U.S. can be held accountable to U.S. law when they commit crimes.

H.R. 2740 must now be passed by the Senate before the President can sign it into law.

U.S. Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.) today announced he secured language in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization bill to fund the redevelopment of noise mitigation land near airports.  The provision provides an opportunity for partnerships like the City of Burien and the Port of Seattle to apply for up to $5 million in funds to develop buffer zones near the port’s third runway. 

“Noise buffer land near airports can provide important economic development opportunities for both nearby communities and airports.  The pilot projects we fund in this bill will support these ‘win-win’ partnerships and help them coordinate more effectively,” Smith said.

The provision Smith secured would expand the current eligible uses of noise mitigation funds or passenger facility charge funds to allow for redevelopment of land next to airports.  The provision directs the FAA to fund four pilot projects run by a partnership between airports and local communities at a maximum of $5 million per pilot program.  The federal share of project costs will be capped at 80 percent.

The bill including the pilot project provision, H.R. 2881, passed the House of Representatives today by a vote of 267 to 151.  The bill must now be passed by the Senate and a conference report agreed to by both Houses of Congress before the President can sign it into law.