Excerpts from H.R. 2506, as reported in the Senate, September 4, 2001

Excerpts from H.R. 2506, as reported in the Senate, September 4, 2001

Calendar No. 147

107th CONGRESS
1st Session

H.R. 2506

[Report No. 107-58]
Making appropriations for foreign operations, export financing, and related programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2002, and for other purposes.

Rule
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

July 25, 2001 Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Appropriations

September 4, 2001 Reported by Mr. LEAHY, with an amendment

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ANDEAN COUNTERDRUG INITIATIVE

For necessary expenses to carry out section 481 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 solely to support counterdrug activities in the Andean region of South America, $567,000,000, to remain available until expended: Provided, That of the amount appropriated under this heading, not less than $200,000,000 shall be apportioned directly to the United States Agency for International Development, to be used for economic and social programs: Provided further, That funds appropriated by this Act that are used for the procurement of chemicals for aerial coca fumigation programs may be made available for such programs only if the Secretary of State, after consultation with the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services and the Surgeon General, determines and reports to the Committees on Appropriations that (1) the chemicals used in the aerial fumigation of coca, in the manner in which they are being applied, do not pose an undue risk to human health or safety; (2) that aerial coca fumigation is being carried out according to the health, safety, and usage procedures recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the manufacturers of the chemicals; and (3) that effective mechanisms are in place to evaluate claims of local citizens that their health was harmed or their licit agricultural crops were damaged by such aerial coca fumigation, and provide fair compensation for meritorious claims: Provided further, That section 482(b) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 shall not apply to funds appropriated under this heading: Provided further, That assistance provided with funds appropriated under this heading that is made available notwithstanding section 482(b) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended, shall be made available subject to the regular notification procedures of the Committees on Appropriations: Provided further, That section 3204(b) of the Emergency Supplemental Act, 2000 (Public Law 106-246) shall be applicable to funds appropriated by this Act: Provided further, That the President shall ensure that if any helicopter procured with funds under this heading is used to aid or abet the operations of any illegal self-defense group or illegal security cooperative, such helicopter shall be immediately returned to the United States: Provided further, That funds made available under this heading shall be subject to the regular notification procedures of the Committees on Appropriations: Provided further, That of the funds appropriated under this heading, not more than $14,240,000 shall be available for administrative expenses of the Department of State.

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COLOMBIA

SEC. 563. (a) DETERMINATION AND CERTIFICATION REQUIRED- Notwithstanding any other provision of law, funds appropriated by this Act or prior Acts making appropriations for foreign operations, export financing, and related programs, may be made available for assistance for the Colombian Armed Forces only if the Secretary of State has made the determination and certification contained in subsection (b).

(b) DETERMINATION AND CERTIFICATION- The determination and certification referred to in subsection (a) is a determination by the Secretary of State and a certification to the appropriate congressional committees that--

(1) the Commander General of the Colombian Armed Forces is suspending from the Armed Forces those members, of whatever rank, who have been credibly alleged to have committed gross violations of human rights, including extra-judicial killings, or to have aided or abetted paramilitary groups, and is providing to civilian prosecutors and judicial authorities requested information concerning the nature and cause of the suspension;

(2) the Colombian Armed Forces are cooperating with civilian prosecutors and judicial authorities (including providing unimpeded access to witnesses and relevant military documents and other information), in prosecuting and punishing in civilian courts those members of the Colombian Armed Forces, of whatever rank, who have been credibly alleged to have committed gross violations of human rights, including extra-judicial killings, or to have aided or abetted paramilitary groups; and

(3) the Colombian Armed Forces are taking effective measures to sever links (including by denying access to military intelligence, vehicles, and other equipment or supplies, and ceasing other forms of active or tacit cooperation), at the command, battalion, and brigade levels, with paramilitary groups, and to execute outstanding arrest warrants for members of such groups.

(c) CONSULTATIVE PROCESS- Ten days prior to making the determination and certification required by this section, and every 120 days thereafter, the Secretary of State shall consult with internationally recognized human rights organizations regarding progress in meeting the conditions contained in subsection (b).

(d) REPORT- One hundred and twenty days after the enactment of this Act, and every 120 days thereafter, the Secretary of State shall submit a report to the Committees on Appropriations describing actions taken by the Colombian Armed Forces to meet the requirements set forth in subparagraphs (b)(1) through (3); and

(e) DEFINITIONS- In this section:

(1) AIDED OR ABETTED- The term `aided or abetted' means to provide any support to paramilitary groups, including taking actions which allow, facilitate, or otherwise foster the activities of such groups.

(2) PARAMILITARY GROUPS- The term `paramilitary groups' means illegal self-defense groups and illegal security cooperatives.

ILLEGAL ARMED GROUPS

SEC. 564. (a) DENIAL OF VISAS TO SUPPORTERS OF COLOMBIAN ILLEGAL ARMED GROUPS- Subject to subsection (b), the Secretary of State shall not issue a visa to any alien who the Secretary determines, based on credible evidence--

(1) has willfully provided any support to the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), the National Liberation Army (ELN), or the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC), including taking actions or failing to take actions which allow, facilitate, or otherwise foster the activities of such groups; or

(2) has committed, ordered, incited, assisted, or otherwise participated in the commission of gross violations of human rights, including extra-judicial killings, in Colombia.

(b) WAIVER- Subsection (a) shall not apply if the Secretary of State determines and certifies to the appropriate congressional committees, on a case-by-case basis, that the issuance of a visa to the alien is necessary to support the peace process in Colombia or for urgent humanitarian reasons.

As of October 2, 2001, this document was also available online at http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c107:H.R.2506.RS: