Letter
from Reps. Tom Davis (R-Virginia) and Mark Souder (R-Indiana), April 3,
2003
April 3, 2003.
DEAR COLLEAGUE:
We strongly encourage you to oppose the McGovern Amendment to cut vitally
needed assistance to Colombia and the Andean region. In a time of war,
withdrawing American aid to help end political instability and conflict
in our own hemisphere is shortsighted and against our national interests
for several reasons:
- Colombian Instability
Directly Threatens U.S. National Security: Political violence and instability
in Colombia threatens the security of the United States as much as the
instability in Iraq for which America is now engaged in war. Three Americans
have been held hostage in Colombia since January by the FARC, which
the State Department has designated as a foreign terrorist organization.
Other major groups fighting against the democratically elected Government
of Colombia have also been designated as terrorist organizations. Public
reports recently revealed that Osama bin Laden had visited the tri-border
region in South America to meet with terrorists. The supplemental funding
is directed to a serious and proven national security threat in America's
own hemisphere.
- Drug Eradication
Efforts Are Succeeding: Nearly 20,000 Americans die each year of drug-induced
causes--substantially more than the toll terrorism has taken in the
United States to date. Last month, official estimates from both the
CIA and the United Nations indicated that the coca crop in Colombia
had declined substantially for the first time in years--as a direct
result of U.S.-funded drug control programs. Our efforts have finally
reached a turning point, and it would be foolhardy to cut off the program
just as it is beginning to succeed.
- Domestic Preparedness
Funding Is Currently Available: Currently appropriated funding is already
available for assistance in first responders and has not yet been obligated.
- Plan Colombia
Aids Human Rights: The State Department's annual Human Rights report
this week examined violations of human rights on all sides of the complex
conflict in Colombia. American assistance through Plan Colombia addresses
human rights issues by providing $230 million in aid to directly improve
human rights and administration of justice, preserve the environment,
and foster economic development. Further, by bolstering political stability
and the acceleration of peace in Colombia American assistance aims to
end the root conflicts driving human rights violations. To withdraw
aid from Colombia will cause more, not less, violence and more, not
less, violations of human rights.
We strongly encourage
you to oppose the McGovern Amendment.
Sincerely,
Tom Davis,
Chairman.
Mark E. Souder,
Chairman, Subcommittee
on Criminal Justice, Drug Policy and Human Resources.
As of April 18, 2003,
this document was also available online at http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/B?r108:@FIELD(FLD003+h)+@FIELD(DDATE+20030403)
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