CONGRATULATIONS: SENATE SAYS YES
TO NEW DIRECTION FOR COLOMBIA AID
October 18 , 2007
Dear Friends,
Together, we've done it! U.S. policy toward Colombia has the potential to take a new positive direction. The 2008 Foreign Operations Bill, which was passed through the House of Representatives early this summer, was approved by the Senate in September.
Since 2000, the U.S. has consistently increased military aid to Colombia. The continuous increase resulted in approximately 80% of aid going to military and police use, with only 20% dedicated to meeting social and humanitarian needs. As a result of the House and Senate passing the 2008 Foreign Operations Bill, changes to those previous percentages will more evenly distribute the funding. Now approximately 55% of U.S. aid will be designated for military and police use and 45% for social and humanitarian aid.
While the final details have to be sorted out by House-Senate conference committees, the current 2008 Foreign Operations Bill supports more aid for human rights victims and for investigating human rights abuses; assistance for Afro-Colombian and indigenous communities; less money for inhumane aerial spraying and more for helping small-scale farmers turn away from drug crops. This step forward strengthens the belief that peace truly is possible in Colombia.
Take Action
This shift in funding would not have been possible with out the support of your representatives and senators. Please thank them for the move to change U.S. policy toward Colombia. In addition to the funding shift, House Resolution 618,which acknowledges the discrimination of Afro-Colombians and their contributions to society, was recently introduced in the House. Please urge your congressperson to co-sponsor House Resolution 618. By passing this resolution the U.S. Congress will be acknowledging that the Colombian government needs to work toward ending discrimination, marginalization and violence against Afro-Colombians.
Call your Congressperson today and thank him/her for their support in the Colombia funding shift. Additionally, please ask your representative to co-sponsor House Resolution 618. Call the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121 to be connected to your representative's office.
Suggested Call Script:
"I’m calling to encourage Rep. ________________ to co-sponsor H. Res. 618 on the plight of Afro-Colombians, a bipartisan resolution introduced by Rep. Donald Payne. Afro-Colombians are an extremely marginalized and vulnerable sector of Colombian society, and are one of the groups hit hardest by the ongoing violence, internal displacement, racial discrimination, and social and economic exclusion in Colombia. Co-sponsoring H. Res. 618 will help to honor Afro-Colombians for their contributions to society, and encourage the Colombian government to do more to end the discrimination, marginalization, and violence against them.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ACTION
Lutheran World Relief thanks you for all of your tireless work over the past few years in encouraging your representatives and senators to support a different approach to Colombia. Thank you.
