DeLauro, Granger to Offer Amendment to Stop Pentagon Contracts with Russian Arms Dealer

WASHINGTON, DC—Representatives Rosa DeLauro and Kay Grangerannounced today they are offering an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2014 NationalDefense Authorization Act (NDAA) being debated by the House ofRepresentatives. The amendment would strengthen the current prohibition on U.S.defense contracts with the Russian arms dealer Rosoboronexport, which alsosupplies arms to the Syrian regime.

"Russia's weapons shipments to Syria are enabling the massmurder being perpetrated by the Assad regime," DeLauro said. "Yetthe Pentagon is subsidizing Russia's arms dealer, Rosoboronexport, throughno-bid contracts for new Mi-17 helicopters for the Afghan National SecurityForces. Congress has made clear that the Department of Defense should no longeruse taxpayer dollars to purchase equipment from Rosoboronexport, yet thePentagon is skirting that law. This amendment will strengthen current law; Iurge my colleagues to support it."

Granger said: "It is unconscionable that theDepartment of Defense purchases helicopters from Russia, the very country whichcontinues to arm Assad's regime. Russia is indirectly subsidizing thegrave humanitarian crisis in Syria. Not only is the Assad regimemurdering innocent Syrians, it is also a threat to our allies including Israeland Jordan, and jeopardizes the entire region's stability. We cannotallow American taxpayer dollars to go to any country that is complicit in atrocitieslike those being carried out by Assad."

The amendment seeks to ensure no funds are used by theDefense Department to purchase equipment from the Russian state arms dealerRosoboronexport. It also requires any future contracts to purchase helicoptersfor the Afghan Security Forces be competitively bid.

The current prohibition on contracts with Rosoboronexportwas included in last year's NDAA. In March, reportssurfaced that Defense Secretary Hagel was purchasing 30 additionalhelicopters for the Afghan National Security Forces with funds that had alreadybeen authorized. A similar amendment to the one being offered by DeLauro andGranger was also included with the Defense funding bill that passed theAppropriations Committee yesterday.