The bipartisan congressional letter was signed by 78 members of the House of Representatives. Among the signatories are the co-chairs of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus, Reps. Frank Wolf (R-VA) and Tom Lantos (D-CA), as well as the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on National Security and International Relations of the Government Reform and Oversight Committee (Reps. Shays, R-CT and Kucinich, D-OH). Ranking members of the House Subcommittee on Foreign Operations (Rep. Lowey, D-NY), International Relations Committee (Rep. Lantos) and Judiciary Committee (Rep. Conyers, D-MI), as well as Democratic House leader Rep. Nancy Pelosi (CA) signed the letter. Also included in the list of signers on the congressional letter to Secretary Rice were various members of Congress who have consistently supported U.S.-sponsored Plan Colombia since its inception in 2000.

Credible and independent reporting on human rights issues – the kind the UNHCHR Office in Bogotá has been providing for years – remains critical as targeted violence against civilians and human rights defenders continues unabated. The office has also proven invaluable in providing advice and technical support to Colombian governmental bodies responsible for addressing human rights concerns. An ongoing and robust UN presence is needed in Colombia to ensure the safety of civilians and human rights defenders, and that the Colombian government is held responsible for human rights.

This important congressional letter recognizes the critical role that the UNHCHR plays in Colombia in ensuring respect for human rights. Thank you to everyone who encouraged your representatives to sign this letter. If your representative signed this letter, make sure to call him/her to express your appreciation.

Congressional signers on the letter in support of the UNHCHR Colombia office:

Rep. Jim McGovern, MA (co-sponsor)
Rep. Jim Leach, IA (co-sponsor)

Rep. Neil Abercrombie, HI
Rep. Tammy Baldwin, WI
Rep. Melissa Bean, IL
Rep. Howard Berman, CA
Rep. Judy Biggert, IL
Rep. Earl Blumenauer, OR
Rep. Robert Brady, PA
Rep. Lois Capps, CA
Rep. John Conyers, MI
Rep. Elijah Cummings, MD
Rep. Danny Davis, IL
Rep. Peter DeFazio, OR
Rep. William Delahunt, MA
Rep. Rosa DeLauro, CT
Rep. Mike Doyle, PA
Rep. Rahm Emanuel, IL
Rep. Eliot Engel, NY
Rep. Bob Etheridge, NC
Rep. Sam Farr, CA
Rep. Chaka Fattah, PA
Rep. Barney Frank, MA
Rep. Charles Gonzalez, TX
Rep. Al Green, TX
Rep. Raul Grijalva, AZ
Rep. Luis Gutierrez, IL
Rep. Maurice Hinchey, NY
Rep. Rush Holt, NJ
Rep. Michael Honda, CA
Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr., IL
Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee, TX
Rep. William Jefferson, LA
Rep. Mark Kirk, IL
Rep. Dennis Kucinich, OH
Rep. Jim Langevin, RI
Rep. Tom Lantos, CA
Rep. Rick Larsen, WA
Rep. Barbara Lee, CA
Rep. Sander Levin, MI
Rep. Dan Lipinski, IL
Rep. Zoe Lofgren, CA
Rep. Nita Lowey, NY
Rep. Stephen Lynch, MA
Rep. Ed Markey, MA
Rep. Doris Matsui, CA
Rep. Betty McCollum, MN
Rep. Jim McDermott, WA
Rep. Juanita Millender-McDonald, CA
Rep. Brad Millar, NC
Rep. James Moran, VA
Rep. Grace Napolitano, CA
Rep. Jim Oberstar, MN
Rep. John Olver, MA
Rep. Donald Payne, NJ
Rep. Nancy Pelosi, CA
Rep. Joseph Pitts, PA
Rep. David Price, NC
Rep. Charlie Rangel, NY
Rep. Steve Rothman, NJ
Rep. Bobby Rush, IL
Rep. Martin Sabo, MN
Rep. Linda Sanchez, CA
Rep. Jan Schakowsky, IL
Rep. Jose Serrano, NY
Rep. Chris Shays, CT
Rep. Vic Snyder, AR
Rep. Hilda Solis, CA
Rep. Peter Stark, CA
Rep. John Tierney, MA
Rep. Edolphus Towns, NY
Rep. Mark Udall, CO
Rep. Jim Walsh, NY
Rep. Maxine Waters, CA
Rep. Diane Watson, CA
Rep. Henry Waxman, CA
Rep. Frank Wolf, VA
Rep. Lynn Woolsey, CA