The Department of State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2008

Floor Speech

THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE, FOREIGN OPERATIONS AND RELATED PROGRAMS APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2008 -- (Extensions of Remarks - June 22, 2007)

The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 2764) making appropriations for the Department of State, foreign operations, and related programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2008, and for other purposes:

* Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of the amendment to close down the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation. It is time to stop and examine our history so that we can avoid repeating the mistakes of the past. Our relations with our neighbors in Latin America are at their lowest ebb ever. The people of Latin America think the U.S. is more concerned with achieving goals through military means no matter the consequences. They think the U.S. is not concerned with human and democratic rights in Latin America. We need to start winning over the citizens of our planet and show them our desire to bring human rights to everyone.

* The time has come for our country to cease our support of this Institution, to put down the swords, and instead show our neighbors in Latin America that our actions adhere to our preaching. U.S. assistance has been increasingly weighted towards harsh and ineffective counter-narcotics and military aid.

* After so many decades of human rights abuses and threats to democracy, why is the U.S. Government still giving so privileged a position to Latin American militaries, such that it maintains a special school in the United States just for them? Our neighbors need assistance for clean water, vaccinations for children, micro-credit, technical assistance for small farmers and small business, shelter for refugees and generous disaster relief builds good will with our neighbors.

* If we end this Institute once and for all, we will show that the priorities of the United States are with democratic and civil institutions. A more cooperative, less unilateral foreign policy that clearly demonstrates respect for international human rights standards would help the United States regain influence around the world.

* It is time to sow the seeds of peace; we must stop sowing the seeds of war. As a great Nation and blessed people, we must heed the words of the spiritual--``I am going to lay my burden down, down by the riverside. I ain't gonna study war no more.'' We do not need this school. My colleagues, I urge you to vote in favor of this amendment.

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