Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington - Sioux Manufacturing

Hypothetical? The Department of Defense thinks it's "hypothetical" that substandard helmets could endanger U.S. soldiers

crew — Tue, 20 May 2008 16:31:38 -0500

From CREW's vantage point, a very disturbing pattern is emerging regarding the safety and care of U.S. soldiers and veterans.

Last week, CREW and VoteVets released an e-mail obtained from a Veterans Affairs (VA) employee directing VA staff to refrain from diagnosing soldiers and veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

For the past couple months, we've been trying to get to the bottom of the scandal involving the manufacture of substandard helmets for U.S. soldiers.

This week, CREW received a response to its Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request filed on March 5, 2008 with the Department of Defense (DoD) seeking information regarding a $74 million contract awarded to Sioux Manufacturing. DoD's response can be found here.

DoD denied CREW's request for expedited processing and deferred a decision on a waiver of all processing fees under the FOIA. We were told "Expedited processing cannot be granted based on a hypothetical situation."

The "hypothetical situation" relates to the manufacture of substandard helmets for U.S. soldiers. The records sought by CREW are likely to shed light on how and why Sioux Manufacturing has been awarded multiple contracts by the Department of Defense for the manufacture of Kevlar, including a $74 million dollar contract just 12 days before the company settled a lawsuit alleging that Sioux had supplied substandard Kevlar for use in up to 2.2 million helmets for the military.

Anne Weismann, CREW’s chief counsel put it pretty clearly:

It is hard to imagine that the Department of Defense is actually arguing it is merely “hypothetical” that substandard helmets might endanger our soldiers' lives.

Dept. of Defense Inspector General is investigating contracts with company that produced substandard helmets for our soldiers

crew — Fri, 16 May 2008 12:22:12 -0500

Earlier this year, CREW sent a letter to the the Department of Defense asking for all records related to Sioux Manufacturing. We made this request in light of evidence that Sioux Manufacturing, a company that makes Kevlar helmets, has been outfitting our nation's troops with substandard Kevlar helmets. In response, this week, CREW has received a letter from the DoD Inspector General’s office stating that there is an ongoing investigation into the matter. The letter can be found here.

This past February, The New York Times reported that Sioux Manufacturing had agreed to pay $2 million to settle a lawsuit alleging that the company had shortchanged the armor in up to 2.2 million helmets for the military, including helmets used by American troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Department of Defense, aware of both the problem with Sioux's helmets and the company's efforts to cover it up, awarded another contract to Sioux a mere 12 days before the lawsuit was settled.

Melanie Sloan, executive director of CREW said today:

We are hopeful that the investigation will uncover the reasons as to why the Department of Defense is contracting with a company that produces substandard helmets for our soldiers. Again and again this administration has opted for dangerous cost-cutting measures in lieu of ensuring the safety, security, and well-being of those serving our country.

Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND) wants Pentagon investigation of Sioux

crew — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 10:58:12 -0600

As we reported yesterday, Melanie Sloan, executive director of CREW, Jon Soltz, Co-Founder and Chair of VoteVets.org and two Whistleblowers, Jeff Kenner and Tamra Elshaug, who worked for Sioux Manufacturing, held a tele-conference to discuss the need for a congressional investigation into a $74 million Department of Defense contract awarded to a North Dakota manufacturing company, Sioux Manufacturing Company, which has been outfitting our nation's troops with substandard Kevlar helmets.

Last night, the Associated Press reported that North Dakota Senator Byron Dorgan joined our call for an investigation. He, however, wants the Pentagon to investigate. We think Congress needs to step in:

Senator Byron Dorgan is calling for a Pentagon investigation into Kevlar safety and allegations against the Sioux Manufacturing company, which makes the protective cloth.

Sioux Manufacturing is owned by the Spirit Lake tribe. The company last year agreed to pay nearly 2 million dollars to settle a lawsuit in which it was accused of failing to follow specifications in making Kevlar cloth material.

The company denies wrongdoing, saying the employees were disgruntled and that it settled the lawsuit to avoid a costly legal battle.

Dorgan says the Pentagon will need to know of the allegations are accurate. He says if they're not, it raises questions about how and why the issue was raised.

"Senators Carl Levin and John McCain and Reps. Ike Skleton and Duncan Hunter cannot be permitted to take a pass on this"

crew — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 15:19:53 -0600

Today, as we've noted CREW hosted a teleconference with Jon Soltz, Co-Founder and Chair of VoteVets.org and two Whistleblowers, Jeff Kenner and Tamra Elshaug, who worked for Sioux Manufacturing, to discuss the need for a congressional investigation into a $74 million Department of Defense contract awarded to a North Dakota manufacturing company, Sioux Manufacturing Company, which has been outfitting our nation's troops with substandard Kevlar helmets.

Via Raw Story, Melanie Sloan asked some key questions today:

“How was Sioux Manufacturing allowed to make insufficient Kevlar in the first place and then once that was exposed how could the company be awarded a new contract? Are there soldiers who would have escaped injury or death if their helmets had met government standards rather than the inferior ones produced by Sioux?" CREW executive director Melanie Sloan asked. "Frankly, the chairs and ranking members of Armed Services, Senators Carl Levin and John McCain and Representatives Ike Skleton and Duncan Hunter cannot be permitted to take a pass on this.”

Tape recordings of employees discussing the production of the substandard Kevlar for helmets were publicly played and posted for the first time during the TELE-PRESS Conference today. Those recordings and transcripts can be found here.

Hear the tapes of Sioux Manufacturing employees discussing the production of substandard Kevlar for helmets of U.S. troops

crew — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 09:52:55 -0600

Today, Melanie Sloan, executive director of CREW, Jon Soltz, Co-Founder and Chair of VoteVets.org and two Whistleblowers, Jeff Kenner and Tamra Elshaug, who worked for Sioux Manufacturing, held a tele-conference to discuss the need for a congressional investigation into a $74 million Department of Defense contract awarded to a North Dakota manufacturing company, Sioux Manufacturing Company, which has been outfitting our nation's troops with substandard Kevlar helmets.

VoteVets.org is the largest political group of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans, representing 14,000 veterans and military families, and over 60,000 civilian supporters. The group launched a petition calling for an investigation of substandard helmets.

Mr. Kenner is the former Weaving Supervisor at SMC, who had worked at SMC for twenty years. SMC employee records reflect glowing employee evaluations of Mr. Kenner, which included a letter to Mr. Kenner wherein SMC's production manager described him as "an inspiration to co-workers."

Mrs. Elshaug is the former Materials Purchasing Manager at SMC, who had worked for SMC for 26 years. SMC employee records also reflect glowing evaluations of Mrs. Elshaug, including a review signed by SMC President Carl McKay, wherein he stated that "Tammy has to be considered one of our most valuable employees" who "regularly exceeds all job requirements."

VoteVets.Org and CREW will join whistle blowers over need for investigation of contract for substandard Kevlar helmets

crew — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 14:54:20 -0600

Tomorrow, Thursday, February 28th at 10:30 am (Eastern), CREW, VoteVets.org and two whistle blowers will discuss the need for a congressional investigation into a $74 million Department of Defense contract awarded to a North Dakota manufacturing company, Sioux Manufacturing Company, which has been outfitting our nation's troops with substandard Kevlar helmets.

New tape recordings of employees discussing the production of the substandard Kevlar for helmets will be publicly played and posted here for the first time during the TELE-PRESS Conference, tomorrow at 10:30 am (Eastern) The call in number is 866-211-5938 (no passcode required).

On February 6th, The New York Times reported that Sioux Manufacturing, which makes the Kevlar for helmets, has agreed to pay $2 million to settle a lawsuit alleging that the company had shortchanged the armor in up to 2.2 million helmets for the military, including helmets used by American troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Department of Defense, aware of both the problem with Sioux's helmets and the company's efforts to cover it up, awarded another contract to Sioux a mere 12 days before the lawsuit was settled. That same day, CREW sent a letter to the House and Senate Armed Services Committees requesting an investigation into a Department of Defense $74 million contract awarded to Sioux Manufacturing. VoteVets.org joined our call for an investigation the next day.

Additionally, over 16,000 Americans have signed a VoteVets.org petition asking for an investigation into the contract. VoteVets.org is the largest political group of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans, representing 14,000 veterans and military families, and over 60,000 civilian supporters.

VoteVets.Org supports CREW's demand for investigation of contract to maker of faulty helmets

crew — Thu, 7 Feb 2008 11:48:03 -0600

Yesterday, CREW demanded for an investigation of a $74 million contract awarded to Sioux Manufacturing -- after the company was fined for providing faulty helmets to U.S. soldiers. Our letter to the Chairs and Ranking members of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees can be found here. Melanie Sloan also expressed our outrage.

Outrage is the only reasoned response to learning that the Department of Defense is its responsibility to do its best to protect our troops. This is a situation that cries out for Congressional oversight and we hope we can count on you to immediate investigate this appalling turn of events.

That outrage is shared by veterans. Today, Jon Soltz of VoteVets.Org announced his support for CREW's demand for an investigation of the contract:

Thankfully, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) has taken up the case and written to Congress to investigate this matter. We at VoteVets.org fully support their call for an investigation, and we'll be doing more in the coming days to support their efforts.

There have been many, many things wrong with how the wars have been waged. I don't think I need to go through a litany of them. But, to me, there is no issue more tragic than how Donald "The Army You Have" Rumsfeld, and this administration have been absolutely and totally irresponsible - indeed wreckless - in how they go about protecting our troops at the most basic levels, from body armor, to Humvee armor, and now, to helmets.

CREW demands investigation of $74 million contract given to company fined for providing faulty helmets to US troops

crew — Wed, 6 Feb 2008 16:03:11 -0600

Today, CREW sent a letter to the House and Senate Armed Services Committees requesting an investigation into a Department of Defense $74 million contract awarded to Sioux Manufacturing. The letter can be found here.

The New York Times reported that Sioux Manufacturing, which makes Kevlar helmets, has agreed to pay $2 million to settle a lawsuit alleging that the company had shortchanged the armor in up to 2.2 million helmets for the military, including helmets used by American troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Yet, the Department of Defense, aware of both the problem with Sioux's helmets and the company's efforts to cover it up, awarded another contract to Sioux -- a mere 12 days before the lawsuit was settled.

Our letter to the Chairs and Ranking Members of the House and Senate Armed Services Committee concludes:

Outrage is the only reasoned response to learning that the Department of Defense is its responsibility to do its best to protect our troops. This is a situation that cries out for Congressional oversight and we hope we can count on you to immediate investigate this appalling turn of events.

This is an outrage.