Speech by Rep. David Obey (D-Wisconsin), March 29, 2000

Speech by Rep. David Obey (D-Wisconsin), March 29, 2000
Mr. OBEY. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself 2 minutes.

Mr. Chairman, one of the previous speakers said that this is such great human rights language because it says none of the funds may be appropriated until the government of Colombia agrees that it has a strategy to eliminate coca production. It does not say that they have to be following that strategy; all it says is that they have to have a strategy. That can be a piece of paper. He said that it is great language because the head of the Colombian Air Force has to have the authority that is necessary to dismiss armed forces personnel from gross violations of human rights. It does not say he has to actually dismiss them; it simply says he has to have the authority.

This language is not based on performance; it is based on promise, and that is the problem with it.

This is beef soup without the beef. It is an empty ice cream cone. When we have meaningful language that will actually protect human rights, come back and see me. Until then, sorry, fellows. No sale.

Mr. Chairman, I yield the remainder of my time to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi).

As of March 30, 2000, this document was also available online at http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?r106:H29MR0-173: