The amendment Grassley co-sponsored with Sen. Robert Byrd of West Virginia was included in the legislation that provides money to the Defense Department for the upcoming fiscal year.
"The Defense Department can't be handing out government issued credit cards willy-nilly without the proper credit checks. We've seen too many of these cards used on lap dances, kitchen appliances and cars. Frankly, we've seen enough," Grassley said.
Grassley said the amendment requires the Department of Defense to evaluate the creditworthiness of an individual before issuing a government charge card.
"The Defense Department hasn't implemented a provision I included in last year's appropriations bill to take care of this problem, so I'm including it again. I expect the Department of Defense to do what they are required of this time," Grassley said. "It's time for results."
Grassley has testified several times before a House subcommittee about Defense Department credit card abuse. The General Accounting Office has found that 1.4 million defense employees with government travel cards charged $2.1 billion, and 230,000 Department of Defense workers used purchase cards for $6.1 billion in goods and services.
The GAO also found that government cards had also been used for personal purchases of more than $100,000 for computers and other electronic equipment, $45,000 for cruises, and $7,373 for closing costs on a home. Grassley raised questions about purchases on government cards of nightclub entertainment, a trip to Las Vegas, internet gambling, and pictures of Elvis Presley at Graceland.