U.S. Rep. Christopher Shays (CT-R)
Representative Christopher Shays (CT-R)U.S. House Government Reform CommitteeChristopher Shays is the Chairman of the U.S. House Committe on Government Reform’s Subcommittee on National Security, Emerging Threats, and International Relations. The following is excerpted from his opening statement at the April 21, 2004, hearings on the United Nations Oil-for-Food Program.From its inception in 1996, the United Nations’ Oil-for-Food Program was susceptible to political manipulation and financial corruption. Trusting Saddam Hussein to exercise sovereign control over billions of dollars of oil sales and commodity purchases invited the illicit premiums and kickback schemes now coming to light. Because oversight was left to a…