Skip to main content

Cohen-Backed Amendment to Limit Risk of Waste, Fraud, and Theft in Afghanistan Passes House

June 11, 2015

[WASHINGTON, DC] – Late last night, Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) aided the passage of an amendment he cosponsored to help limit the risk of taxpayer dollars being wasted or stolen in Afghanistan. The amendment to the FY2016 Department of Defense Appropriations bill, which was also cosponsored by U.S. Representatives Tim Walberg (MI-07), Elizabeth Esty (CT-05) and David Cicilline (RI-01), would prohibit additional funds from being used on projects supported by the Afghan Infrastructure Fund. The Afghan Infrastructure Fund, which is managed by the U.S. Department of Defense, has been plagued with problems and unsustainable development projects and has become a sinkhole of wasted and stolen taxpayer dollars.

“I am pleased that last night, Democrats and Republicans worked together to protect taxpayers from waste, fraud, and theft overseas,” said Congressman Cohen. “With this bipartisan vote, the House of Representatives once again recognized that our money is better spent solving problems here at home instead of funding boondoggles in Afghanistan.”

Congressman Cohen has worked for years to protect taxpayers from the rampant waste, fraud, and theft in the Afghan Infrastructure Fund. He successfully ushered through passage of amendments to reduce the Afghan Infrastructure Fund’s budget in the previous two Congresses as well.