Congress calls Accenture an “expatriate,” US-VISIT contract in jeopardy
10 June, 2004
category: Biometrics, Contactless, Financial, Government
Last week, we reported that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security had awarded a major contract to Accenture to provide support for the US-VISIT program. The program is intended to better secure entry and exit at ports of entry and enforce the visa and immigration policies–including those that will add new technologies (e.g. biometrics, contactless) to the process. But there is a hurdle in Accenture’s path to the projected $10 milion to $10 billion payday. The U.S. Congress. The House Appropriations Committee approved an amendment that would restrict the award of government contracts to corporate expatriates, companies that move their headquarters abroad to avoid paying U.S. taxes. Accenture’s is incorporated in Bermuda.
The following resources provide some additional background on this breaking story. More news will follow as it becomes available. Note that a similar amendment was approved in 2002 by the House Appropriations Committee, received strong support from the House and Senate, but was ultimately killed by lobbyists and other behind-the-scenes dealings.
CNET report on the Appropriations Committee vote
Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro’s condemnation of the DHS award to Accenture