Steps Forward in the Senate
Thank Your Senators for Speaking Out on Colombia!
For the last two years, grassroots constituents and groups like the LAWG have tried to push the Senate to question the status quo on Colombia policy. This has been an incredibly difficult task. However, events over the last few weeks show that we’re making slow but critical progress; while the Senate still hasn’t had a major debate on Colombia since 2001, specific members—some with a great deal of clout on foreign policy issues—have started speaking out in other ways. Your continued pressure on your senators helped make this happen. Please keep it up!
Now’s the time to thank your senator if he or she spoke out on Colombia, and ask him or her to take greater leadership in pushing for a change in US policy. See below for more information and suggestions for action.
October 29th Senate hearing raises important questions. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee sponsored a hearing on Plan Colombia on October 30th. Invited panelists included General Hill, head of US Southern Command, and officials from USAID and the State Department. Despite the stacked panel, senators on the committee heard concerns about current US policy toward Colombia when Senator Feingold (D-WI) gave a strong statement, and Senators Dodd (D-CT) and Biden (D-DE) asked questions about the Colombian government’s proposal for negotiations with the paramilitaries. This was only a small step forward, but it helped educate other senators and sent a message that Senate support for the current policy shouldn’t be taken for granted. Click here to read Senator Feingold’s statement.
Letter on Colombia sent by prominent Senators. On September 30th, Senators Feingold (D-WI), Kerry (D-MA), Leahy (D-VT) and Dodd (D-CT) sent a letter to Secretary Powell that dealt with President Uribe’s statements against human rights defenders and concerns about the paramilitary peace process. The letter asked that the US ambassador to Colombia make a public statement renouncing Uribe’s remarks, and that Secretary Powell clarify what support, if any, the US is providing to Colombia for the peace process with paramilitaries. A copy of this letter will be available shortly on our website.
ACTION: If you are from Massachusetts, Vermont, Connecticut, Delaware, or Wisconsin, thank your senator for speaking out about their concerns with US policy towards Colombia! If you’re not from one of these states but know people who are, ask them to send a letter or make a quick phone call thanking their senator.
You can be connected with your senator’s office by calling the congressional switchboard at 202-224-3121 or toll-free at 1-800-839-5276. When you reach the office, ask to speak with the foreign policy aide, and let them know that you appreciate your senator’s efforts.
To send an e-mail or fax, go to www.senate.gov, where you can find all the contact information for your senator.
Thank you for your hard work!
