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Congress > Legislation
H.R. 2740:
MEJA Expansion and Enforcement Act of 2007
110th Congress

This is a bill in the U.S. Congress originating in the House of Representatives ("H.R."). A bill must be passed by both the House and Senate and then be signed by the President before it becomes law.

Bill numbers restart from 1 every two years. Each two-year cycle is called a session of Congress. This bill was created in the 110th Congress, in 2007-2008.

The titles of bills are written by the bill's sponsor and are a part of the legislation itself. GovTrack does not editorialize bill summaries.

2007-2008
Track H.R. 2740 [110th]

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Primary Source

See H.R. 2740 [110th] on THOMAS for the official source of information on this bill or resolution.

Summaries

Highlights from Project Vote Smart

The following is Project Vote Smart's highlights for this bill, generously made available by PVS:

  • The following summary was for the Passage for this bill on 2007-10-04. The bill may have changed since then.
  • -Adds contractors of any department or agency of the United States working in or near an area where U.S. forces are executing a contingency operation to the list of persons who may be held criminally liable by the United States for certain crimes outside of U.S. borders (Sec. 2 [a]).
  • -Requires the Department of Justice to submit a report to Congress detailing the number of allegations received, the number of investigations opened, the number of criminal cases opened, and the number and results of cases that are closed (Sec. 2 [b]).
  • -Requires the FBI to establish Theater Investigative Units to examine possible incidents of criminal wrongdoing and provide the results of their examinations to the Attorney General for possible further action (Sec. 3).
  • -Requires the Director of the FBI to annually submit a report to Congress detailing the number of reports received concerning possible criminal wrongdoings or fatalities attributed to U.S. contractors, the number of cases referred to the Attorney General, and any recommended changes to the law that the FBI Director deems necessary to fulfill these duties of the office (Sec. 3 [e]).

    • Congressional Research Service Summary

    The following summary was written by the Congressional Research Service, a well-respected nonpartisan arm of the Library of Congress. GovTrack did not write and has no control over these summaries.

    10/4/2007--Passed House amended. MEJA Expansion and Enforcement Act of 2007 - Provides that persons who, while employed under a federal agency contract in, or in close proximity to, an area where the Armed Forces are conducting a contingency operation, engage in conduct that would constitute an offense punishable by imprisonment for more than one year if engaged in within U.S. jurisdiction, shall be punished as provided for that offense.

    Requires the Inspector General of the Department of Justice (DOJ) to report to Congress on: (1) the status of DOJ's investigations of alleged violations committed by contract personnel; (2) findings and recommendations about the number of criminal cases prosecuted by DOJ involving such violations; and (3) with respect to covered contracts where the work is carried out in Iraq or Afghanistan, a list of each charge brought against contractors or contract personnel and a description of any legal actions taken by the United States as a result of such a criminal charge or a complaint.

    Requires the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to ensure that there are adequate personnel, through the creation of Theater Investigative Units, to investigate allegations of such criminal violations by contract personnel. Requires such a Unit to refer a case, if appropriate, to the Attorney General for further action. Requires the Director to request security assistance from the Secretary of Defense in any case in which a Unit does not have the resources or is otherwise unable to provide adequate security to ensure its safety. Authorizes the Attorney General to request assistance from the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Homeland Security, or the head of any other agency, including the assignment of additional personnel and resources to a Unit.

    Requires the Director to report annually to Congress on the number of reports received by Units relating to suspected criminal misconduct by contractors or to fatalities resulting from the use of force by contractors, the number of cases referred by the Units to the Attorney General for further investigation or action, and any recommended changes to federal law that the Director considers necessary to perform the duties of the Director under this Act.

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