Providing for Consideration of H.R. 2601, Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 2006
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 2601, FOREIGN RELATIONS AUTHORIZATION ACT, FISCAL YEARS 2006 AND 2007 -- (House of Representatives - July 19, 2005)
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Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his leadership and for yielding to me.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to this restrictive rule. It prevents the House from discussing our policy toward the Andean region and Colombia in particular in a serious way. Two important amendments on these subjects were offered by Democrats in the Committee on Rules, and the Committee on Rules, in refusing to make them in order for debate, has denied Members the opportunity to address these critical issues that were raised in the amendments.
The gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee) offered an amendment that would have required at least 40 percent of Andean Counterdrug Initiative funds to be dedicated for alternative economic and social development in rural areas, encouraging human rights and protecting democratic institutions.
I guess the majority thinks this is not a worthwhile discussion to have. Clearly they are not interested in results or wise investment of our funds in Colombia. As we know, despite billions invested in the Andean region over the last several years in a largely supply side and military drug eradication program, drug cultivation has gone up in the Andean region and the availability of cocaine in the United States has gone virtually unchecked, with prices low and products more potent than ever.
The Republican leadership must know this bill is more of the same, instead of a balanced policy that would provide some real results on the ground.
The amendment of the gentleman from Massachusetts' (Mr. McGovern) amendment sought to place serious conditions on any funding that goes from the United States to the Colombian paramilitary demobilization process, just as the Senate did, so that paramilitary and drug trafficking organizations are fully dismantled and the worst criminals, murderers and terrorists face real and tough prison sentences.
By denying Members a chance to debate the McGovern amendment, the Republican leadership has made it clear they are not serious about ensuring those terrorists are brought to justice. Without the McGovern amendment, this bill is toothless. It does nothing to prevent U.S. dollars from helping to set Colombia's worst criminals free. Colombia's deceptively named ``peace and justice law'' fails to fully dismantle paramilitary organizations and threatens to let criminals off the hook, and without more stringent conditions, U.S. taxpayers should not support what amounts to an allowance for individuals implicated in drug trafficking and murder.
The McGovern amendment would replace the House's language, which authorizes funds for the demobilization of Colombia's paramilitary organizations, with the provisions adopted by the Senate Committee on Appropriations. Unlike the Senate provision, the House bill carries with it no accountability to the U.S. Congress or U.S. taxpayers for how our money is spent.
We are talking about members of paramilitary death squads that have massacred Colombian civilians and have trafficked drugs to our country. I do not oppose Colombia's efforts to negotiate with armed groups to foster peace for its people. I want peace and stability for Colombia. However, I do object to U.S. dollars being used with no strings attached in a process that may lead to known killers and narcoterrorists going free without adequate punishment.
So I suggest that our colleagues make the following calculation: Do you want U.S. taxpayer dollars to fund drug traffickers and murderers? If not, oppose the rule and demand a new one that allows debate on these important issues.
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