The anti-rape amendment introduced by Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) may be stripped from the defense appropriations bill by Appropriations chairman Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-HI), the Huffington Post reports.
Multiple sources told reporter Sam Stein that the provision — which would prohibit the Pentagon from hiring contractors whose employment contracts prevent employees from taking work-related allegations of rape and discrimination to court — is being targeted by defense contractors. Their lobbyists have reportedly flooded Inouye’s office, worried they may lose contracts or open themselves up to lawsuits.
One source said it “looks increasingly likely” that Inouye will remove the amendment.
Stein points out that Inouye has received $294,900 from the defense industry over the course of his career. His top two contributors are defense contractors Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, and he also receives money from General Dynamics and Boeing.
As TPM reported earlier this week, the Department of Defense, along with the White House, opposes the amendment.
“We support the intent of the amendment, and we’re working with the conferees to make sure that it is enforceable,” said White House spokesman Tommy Vietor.
This week, when White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs was asked about the administration’s position, he referred questions to the Pentagon.
The Pentagon did not return several of TPM’s requests for comment. In a letter to the Senate, however, the department said “it may be more effective” to seek a law that would prohibit the clauses in any business contracts within U.S. jurisdiction.
Franken’s office declined to comment.
