House of Representatives Passes Bill Supporting Colombia's Drug Fight

(Measure has Clinton administration backing)  (500)
By Eric Green
Washington File Staff Writer

Washington -- A bill providing U.S. aid to anti-narcotics efforts in
Colombia and the Andean Ridge was approved March 30 by the House of
Representatives by a vote of 263-146.

The measure, which awaits consideration by the Senate, would provide
some $1,700 million to help Colombia fight its illegal drug trade.

The aid for Colombia is part of the $12,700-million "2000 Emergency
Supplemental Appropriations Act," which would also finance U.S.
peacekeepers in Kosovo and aid victims of natural disasters in the
United States. As approved by the House, the bill adds $400 million to
the $1,300 million President Clinton requested for Colombia. Another
$300 million in aid is already in the pipeline.

The $1,700 million would represent the U.S. contribution to the
$7,500-million plan proposed by the Colombian government to fight drug
trafficking and its related ills. Clinton said during his March 29
press conference at the White House that the aid for Colombia is
needed to "help keep illegal drugs out of our nation by supporting the
Colombian government's courageous fight against drug traffickers."
 
The House vote followed an attempt the day before to slash $522
million of the Colombian aid. Congressman David Obey (Democrat of
Wisconsin), who introduced the amendment to slash the aid, said he was
worried the United States will "enter into a huge new long-term
commitment to underwrite a war in Colombia," adding: "We have been
told [the war] will last at least 5 years, and I suspect it will last
probably 10."

But House Speaker Dennis Hastert (Republican of Illinois), a staunch
supporter of the Colombian package, responded to Obey's concern by
saying: "I understand that we do not want to get in a prolonged war.
But we helped Peru and we did not get in a prolonged war because we
did not have our troops down there."

"We are not going to do this" in Colombia either, he added.

Hastert said the United States has a "responsibility to stop drugs in
Colombia, to stop them in transit, to stop them at our border, to stop
them in our streets and in our schools." He cited statistics showing
that Colombia is the source of 90 percent of the cocaine and 65
percent of the heroin that reaches U.S. shores, and that more than
52,000 people in the United States die each year from illegal drug
use.

"We cannot ignore this issue," Hastert emphasized.

Following the House vote, Colombian President Andres Pastrana issued a
statement welcoming the strong expression of bipartisan congressional
support for Colombia. "We look forward to a similar expression of
support and commitment for Colombia by the United States Senate in the
days ahead," he said.
 
(The Washington File is a product of the Office of International
Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site:
usinfo.state.gov)