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“AMENDMENT TO H.R. 5120, FY03 TREASURY, POSTAL SERVICE APPROPRIATION” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Justice was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E1490-E1491 on Sept. 4, 2002.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
AMENDMENT TO H.R. 5120, FY03 TREASURY, POSTAL SERVICE APPROPRIATION
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HON. BOB BARR
of georgia
in the house of representatives
Wednesday, September 4, 2002
Mr. BARR of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, under the Treasury-Postal Appropriations Act of 1998, Congress approved funding for ``a national media campaign to reduce and prevent drug use among young Americans.''
Following this directive, the Office of National Drug Control Policy
(ONDCP) launched the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign. We are all familiar with this laudable program, and the powerful messages anti-drug messages it delivers across the airwaves to youth and parents across the country.
The Government Reform Committee has been conducting vigorous oversight on the Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign since its inception; carefully following implementation of the campaign to ensure the billions of taxpayer dollars invested are spent judiciously, efficiently, and legally.
However, from the very beginning of the Media Campaign, allegations of fraud have surrounded the multi-million dollar contract with the media firm Ogilvy & Mather.
The General Accounting Office (GAO) reported to the Committee incidents of false billing practices, sloppy contract management and lax oversight. The charges were so serious, the GAO referred its findings regarding improper billing practices to the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
What is so incredible is, despite significant allegations and evidence of mismanagement, misconduct and outright fraud, the ONDCP and the Department of the Navy, chose to continue to hire Ogilvy & Mather as the campaign's media contractor. This is in light of the fact that the GAO, for close to two years, had been documenting the incidents of suspect charges, falsified time sheets, and disallowed costs.
In February of this year, Ogilvy & Mather North America agreed to pay the government to settle claims under the False Claims Act and other administrative claims that the firm overcharged the government $1.8 million.
Moreover, the company is reportedly under criminal investigation by the Department of Justice! Yet, notwithstanding this company's disgraceful track record, just a few weeks ago, the Navy once again entered into a lucrative contract with Ogilvy & Mather, to continue providing services in support of the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign.
By the time this new contract expires in July of 2003, this firm could potentially receive more than $770 million dollars of taxpayer dollars. Given the massive funds already dedicated to a highly suspect company, I consider it an affront to the U.S. taxpayer we continue throwing good money after bad. This matter is rapidly turning into the Enron of the War on Drugs.
Here we have a firm with a documented track record of fraud and mismanagement, and how does the government respond? By rewarding it with yet more taxpayer dollars. Not only is this an insult to the taxpayer, think of the message we are sending to the youth of America--
the very same youth, I might add, that we are trying to keep off drugs--``Cheat once, ok. Cheat twice, fine. Cheat three times; we'll keep on giving you another chance, and rewarding you in the bargain.'' Is this the kind of message you are comfortable sending to American school children? Character and integrity counts across the board, not just in selective circumstances.
Let me be perfectly clear I am a supporter of an effective public media campaign to help fight drug use across this nation. This campaign is an important part of the war against mind altering drugs, delivering a powerful message to youth and families across the nation about the dangers of illicit drugs.
My amendment will not end the Media Campaign. I in no way seek to prevent the anti-drug message from being delivered loud and clear.
In an era of moral relativity, we should be sending a clear message to the kids we are trying to keep off drugs: character and integrity counts across the board, not just in selective circumstances.
I ask all Members to join me in passage of my amendment. No more excuses. We must do all we can to salvage a workable program, and spend public money responsibly. Should we find another approach to reach this goal, the Chairman has my commitment to work with him and refine the language appropriately as we move through the conference process, and I thank Chairman Istook and Ranking Member Hoyer for working with me to ensure this issue is addressed appropriately.
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