May 20, 2005

The ball has started rolling in Congress, and debate will begin on another year of military aid to Colombia in mid-June. The Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill, which includes the Colombia aid package, could go to the House floor as early as the week of June 27th. This is our chance to say: Plan Colombia’s time is up, we want a new policy that supports peace, development and human rights. See the following three actions:

• 2006 Colombia Aid Bill will soon be Drafted and Debated in Congress; Call for Change!
• Gearing Up for the House Colombia Vote - As Early as June 27th!
• Colombia Hearing in House IR Committee Raises Crucial Questions

Take Action! Congress to Debate Colombia Aid

Timeline: Aid for Colombia is passed each year as part of the Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill. Over the next month, the House Foreign Operations Subcommittee will draft the first version of the FY2006 bill, and will debate the bill in subcommittee on June 14th. From there, the bill goes to the Appropriations Committee the week of June 20 and then to the full House for debate and a vote as early as the week of June 27th. The Senate bill begins moving in July.

It's critical that we make our voices heard at this point in the process; right now, we can influence the first draft of the bill.

The Bush Administration has requested another $740 million for Colombia for 2006 (see breakdown at http://ciponline.org/colombia/aidtable.htm).

As in previous years, the aid would be overwhelmingly dedicated to fumigation and military assistance. Even more disturbing is a recent request by Colombia's President, Alvaro Uribe, for an additional $130 million specifically for increased fumigation efforts. The policy of aerially fumigating poor farmers' crops to stop drug cultivation has been an utter failure-- and it's taken an immense toll on rural Colombian communities. We need a new policy, not more of the same!

Contact your members of Congress if on the foreign operations subcommittee right away, before June 14th. The sooner Congress hears from its constituents, the more impact we are likely to have on the first draft of the Foreign Operations bill. Send e-mails and faxes, make phone calls, or set up meetings with your representative in the district office or in Washington! For a sample script, click here.

If you live in the district or state of any of the Foreign Operations subcommittee members (listed below), or if you know someone who does, your participation is particularly important. These are the members with the most say in US-Colombia policy!

House Floor Vote

Once the Foreign Operations Bill has been drafted and debated, the Colombia amendment will go to the House floor for a vote. This could be as early as the week of June 27th! Urge all House members to support amendments that cut military aid or shift Colombia funding from military to social aid.

Plan Colombia Hearing

Thank you to everyone who called members of the House IR Committee prior to the committee's hearing on Colombia last week. Your calls made a difference! Here's a quick recap of the hearing:

As expected, committee members were allowed to hear testimony only from administration officials supportive of the current policy. However, spurred on by your phone calls and e-mails, a number of committee members directly challenged the officials with questions on human rights and the impact of the drug war. If your member of Congress is on the list below, please let him or her know that you appreciate the effort by sending an e-mail or making a quick phone call to say thanks:

Betty McCollum (D-MN) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ) asked particularly strong questions about human rights and drug policy issues. Barbara Lee (D-CA), Diane Watson (D-CA), and Donald Payne (D-NJ) similarly questioned witnesses. Sam Farr (D-CA), who wasn't on the committee, issued a statement prior to the hearing on the need for greater investment in alternative development programs, and Tom Lantos (D-CA)'s staff helped ensure that the committee heard divergent perspectives before the hearing by setting up a briefing on LAWG’s Blueprint for a New Colombia Policy for committee staff.

Sample Script for Contacting your Members of Congress:

I am a constituent from ____. I know that you will soon be considering the 2006 foreign operations appropriations bill, and I would like to ask you to support a new policy toward Colombia. Current policy has not stopped the flow of drugs to the United States-- in fact, the amount of land on which coca is planted in Colombia at the end of 2004 was exactly the same as at the beginning of the year. The human rights record of the Colombian army has worsened since US aid began in 2000. I believe that we need a major shift away from fumigation and military aid, and toward alternative development programs, aid to the displaced, and support for Afro-Colombian and indigenous communities. A shift in resources and priorities won't cost the United States more money, but it could have an immense impact in Colombia. Please support a change in policy during the debate over the Colombia aid package for 2006. Cut assistance for military aid and fumigation, and shift resources to humanitarian aid and alternative development programs.

Also see the Tools for Activists page, and discuss recommendations from the Blueprint for a New Colombia Policy with your representative or senator.

Jim Kolbe, AZ (R - Chairman) (Tuscon- 520/881-3588; Sierra Vista- 520/459-3115)
Don Sherwood, PA (R - Vice Chair) (Clarks Summit- 570/585-8190; Williamsport- 570/327-8161)
Chaka Fattah, PA (D) (Philadephia- 215/387-6404 or 215/848-9386)
Nita M. Lowey, NY (D - Ranking Democrat) (White Plains- 914/428-1707; New City- 845/639-3485)
John Sweeney, NY (R) (Clifton Park- 518/371-5004; Hudson-518/828-0181)
Joe Knollenberg, MI (R) (Farmington Hills- 248/851-1366)
Carolyn C. Kilpatrick, MI (D) (Detroit- 313/961-5670)
Jesse L. Jackson, Jr., IL (D) (Homewood- 708/798-6000)
Mark Steven Kirk, IL (R) (Deerfield- 847/940-0202; Waukegan- 847/662-0101)
Ander Crenshaw, FL (R) (Jacksonville- 904/598-0481; Lake City- 386/365-3316)
Steven R. Rothman, NJ (D) (Hackensack- 201/646-0808; Jersey City- 201/798-1366)
Dennis R. Rehberg, MT (R) (at large; offices in Billings (406/256-1019), Helena (406/443-7878) and others)
John Carter, TX (R) (Round Rock- 512/246-1600; College Station- 979/846-6068).

Members of the Senate Foreign Operations Subcommittee:
(Call the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121 to be connected to your senator’s office in Washington)

Mitch McConnell (Chairman) (R-KY)
Arlen Specter (R-PA)
Judd Gregg (R-NH)
Richard Shelby (R-AL)
Robert Bennett R-(UT)
Christopher Bond (R-MO)
Mike DeWine (R-OH)
Sam Brownback (R-KS)
Patrick Leahy (Ranking Member) (D-VT)
Daniel Inouye (D-HI)
Tom Harkin (D-IA)
Barbara Mikulski (D-MD)
Richard Durbin (D-IL)
Tim Johnson (D-SD)
Mary Landrieu (D-LA)