Speech by Rep.
Mark Souder (R-Indiana), June 9, 2006
Mr. SOUDER.
Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the McGovern amendment. Not only
will this amendment hurt kids and families in the United States, but
it makes the futures of kids and families in Colombia less secure.
Drug trafficking is a tough problem. I am not going to admit that it
is not a tough problem. Rape is a tough problem. Child abuse is a tough
problem. Spouse abuse is a tough problem, but we do not give up our
efforts; we do not give in because we have not seen a drop in spouse
abuse or child abuse.
Just like the others, the drug trafficking problem is difficult. Our
policies, however, have pushed the narcoterrorists out into the jungle,
away from the streets of Bogota where
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they used to assassinate elected officials. Because of the steadfast
assistance provided by the American people to the people of Colombia,
we have seen a tremendous drop in kidnappings (down 51 percent last
year) and a dramatic drop in murders (down 13 percent). Overall terrorist
attacks were down by 21 percent. The number of Internally Displaced
Persons (IDPs) was down by 15 percent.
The fact is that now, for the first time in modern history, every one
of the 1,098 municipalities has an elected official. Why? Because they
are not worried about being murdered anymore.
Due to the improved security situation in Colombia, law enforcement
and military personnel are able to broaden their reach in the country.
This puts pressure on the operations of the narcotraffickers, exposing
their operations and coca fields.
Increasing the reach of law enforcement is part of the reason why we
have a better understanding this year on the extent of coca cultivation.
Cultivation declined 8% in those areas surveyed both in 2004 and 2005,
from 114,100 hectares in 2004 to 105,400 in 2005. Cultivation fell in
nearly all growing areas where aerial eradication was employed, Putumayo
being a key exception. But in those areas where no spraying takes place,
cultivation increased. Growers are reacting to intense spray operations
and are moving to non-sprayed on low-spray areas.
Critics of our drug policies in Colombia are correct in stating that
the coca crop estimate is 26% higher than it was last year. True enough.
But this was due to a substantial expansion of the survey area by 81%.
As we expected, more fields were discovered in remote areas uncontrolled
by the government or areas where spraying is prohibited ( e.g. buffer
zone along Ecuador border or national parks). The lesson, however, is
that spraying works. Where there was not spraying there was an increase
in coca; where spraying occurs, cultivation is declining.
Let me conclude with this. This is not a Colombian problem; it is our
problem. It is our addictions and Europe's addictions that have terrorized
this 200-year-old democracy. Because drug abuse continues in America,
Colombia has had 30,000 police killed. As our colleague JOE CROWLEY
wrote to us earlier this year, ``Plan Colombia has been a foreign policy
success for the USA and a domestic security success for Colombia. Started
by President Clinton and continued by President Bush, Plan Colombia
has made measurable progress in Colombia's security, as seen through
decreases in violence, murders and kidnappings, as well as the eradication
of drug crops.''
We need to stand behind the Colombia people. I ask, my colleagues to
vote down the McGovern amendment.
As of June
13, 2006 this page was also available at http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/R?r109:FLD001:H53648
