Each year since 2000, the United States has given a massive aid package to Colombia, the bulk of which—80% between 2000 and 2006—is directed to Colombia’s military and police. US aid was limited to funding counter-drug activities until the summer of 2002, when the policy was expanded to include “counter-terrorism” efforts, actions that target the illegal armed groups involved in Colombia’s decades-long civil war. Colombia is now the third largest recipient of US military assistance in the world, trailing only Israel and Egypt.

The US Congress votes on the aid package to Colombia each year during their annual debate on the foreign aid bill, which usually takes place in the summer or early fall. This section of our website will help keep you updated on legislation pending on Colombia in Congress, and will provide you with helpful background information on US policy toward Colombia. To find out how to take action to change harmful US policies toward Colombia, see our “Take Action!” page.

US assistance to Colombia (in chronological order):

• House Resolution Draws Attention to Afro-Colombians December 2007
  
• A Guide to the House Bill's Proposed Changes to Colombia Aid: Adam Isacson from the Center for International Policy analyzes the proposed changes in aid to Colombia, June 2007.

• Congress Divided on Aid to Colombia: House approves FY07 foreign aid bill and Senate freezes funds over human rights concerns.
  
• House Sends Mixed Signals, March 2006.

• Legislation on Colombia in FY 2006 Foreign Aid Appropriations Bill
  
  The following are the provisions in the FY06 Foreign Aid Appropriations Bill affecting Colombia
  
  • Andean Counternarcotics Initiative FY 06
  • Human Rights Conditions FY 06
  • Conditions on Paramilitary Demobilization FY 06
    
• Congress finalizes Foreign Aid Bill for 2006, November 2005.
  
• The House of Representatives debate on Plan Colombia for the McGovern -McCollum-Moore amendment, June 2005. (pdf)
  
• House votes down Colombia military aid cuts, June 2005.
  
• LAWG summary of the 2004 Colombia Aid Package and House Debate
  
• Colombia language in the FY05 Foreign Operations Bill
  
• Summary of the Bush Administration's request for 2004 aid for Colombia from the Center for International Policy
  
• A LAWG memo critiquing the Bush Administration's request for additional military aid for Colombia as part of the Iraq supplemental bill, March 2003.
  
• LAWG summary of the 2003 aid package for Colombia
  
• Summary of US assistance to Colombia from 1997 to the present, from the Center for International Policy
  

Other congressional work on Colombia:

• Members of Congress Express Concern Over Trade Unionist Killings in Letter to Uribe, December 2007
  
• House Sends Letter on Politically-Motivated Attacks against Human Rights Organizations, July 2007
  
• House Sends Letter in Support of Ivan Cepeda, July 2007.

• House Sends Letter to Secretary Rice in Support of Human Rights Defenders in Colombia, December 2006
  • List of Signers
    
• House Sends Letter in Support of UNHCHR Office in Colombia, August 2006.

• Members of Congress Critical of Aerial Fumigation, July 2006.
  
• House Sends Mixed Signals on Aid to Colombia, March 2006.

• Members of Congress Ask State Department Not to Certify Colombia due to lack of investigation into human rights abuse cases by the Colombian army, March 2006. (pdf)

• Senator Leahy Speaks Out on the Massacre in San José de Apartadó, Colombia -- A Senate floor statement by Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT), November 2005.

• Congressional letter in defense of Colombian journalists by Reps. Farr, Moore et al., July 29th, 2005. (pdf)

• U.S. Senate letter to Secretary Rice urging the State Department not to certify Colombia's military until further progress was made on cases of human rights abuse, July 2005. (pdf)
  
• This letter on the San Jose de Apartado killings was sent by Jim McGovern,
  Chris Smith and 30 other members of Congress. Click here to read the letter (pdf)
  
• Letter to Pres. Uribe from Vice-Chair’s of Congressional Caucus for Women’s Issues, Reps. Hilda L. Solis, Ginny-Brown-Waite, and 54 other members of Congress regarding violence against women as a result of armed conflict.
  Click here to read the letter (pdf)
  
• Letter from Reps. Lane Evans, Stephen Lynch and 43 other member of Congress regarding violence against Colombian trade unionists and the Andean Free Trade Agreement Read the Letter (pdf)
  
• U.S. Senate Letter in Support of Human Rights in Colombia
  • Read the letter (pdf) En Español
    
• Congressional 'Dear Colleague' on Human Rights in Colombia
  
• Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA) in a visit to Bogota, Colombia, released to the press a bipartisan letter from seventy-four members of the US Congress to President Alvaro Uribe. The letter called on the Colombian government to "take actions that will underscore the legitimacy of human rights defenders and other civil society actors and enable them to continue in safety." In particular, the letter asked the president to "engage in meaningful dialogue with human rights groups" and to issue a directive "prohibiting the defamation by public officials of human rights groups."
  February 20, 2003
  
• Congressional letter on human rights in Colombia.  Rep. Lantos (D-CA) and fifty-six other members of Congress sent a letter on human rights issues to Colombian President Alvaro Uribe on September 23rd.  The letter sends an important message on human rights, democracy, and justice issues.  Click on the link above to read a copy of the letter; if your representative signed it, please call and thank him or her for doing so!
  September 23, 2003
  
• Congressional letter to Secretary of State Powell urging protection for human rights defenders.  In response to comments by Colombian President Uribe and his cabinet equating human rights groups and other non-governmental organizations in Colombia with terrorists, Rep. Schakowsky (D-IL) and eighteen other members of Congress sent this letter to Secretary of State Powell on September 23. 
  September 23, 2003
  
• Bills introduced in the House and Senate in May and July, 2003 which would provide Temporary Protected Status to Colombians in the United States.
  
• Letter from 45 members of Congress to Secretary Powell raising concerns over the Secretary's decision to certify Colombia on human rights grounds. This letter was circulated by Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) and sent to Powell on July 23, 2002.