Statement by Rep. Sonny Callahan (R-Alabama), March 29, 2000

Statement by Rep. Sonny Callahan (R-Alabama), March 29, 2000
Mr. CALLAHAN. Mr. Chairman, we cannot promise the gentleman from California (Mr. Farr) what the conference committee will do. We appreciate very much his knowledge of this problem in South America and his history of being concerned about it. But I cannot commit to the gentleman or to anyone else what the conferees may do.

My personal observation is that this is sort of an indirect funding of the United Nations. And in President Pastrana's Plan Colombia, he has already worked with the United Nations and they have committed to provide him a portion of the $1.8 billion as their contribution to this overall plan. So it may not be necessary, as the United Nations has already agreed with President Pastrana. It may be moot.

So I cannot commit to the gentleman that the conference committee will come back with some language that will fulfill the desire of the gentleman as his amendment states. But I do appreciate his concern, and I agree with the gentleman that they did a good job in Bolivia and that they probably are needed as well in Colombia.

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