III 

Calendar No. 464 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 148 

Supporting efforts by the Government of Colombia to pursue peace and 

regional stability. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

APRIL 9, 2019 

Mr. CARDIN (for himself and Mr. BLUNT) submitted the following resolution; 

which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations 

JUNE 3, 2020 

Reported by Mr. RISCH, with an amendment and an amendment to the 

preamble 

[Strike out all after the resolving clause and insert the part printed in italic] 

[Strike the preamble and insert the part printed in italic] 

RESOLUTION 

Supporting efforts by the Government of Colombia to pursue 

peace and regional stability. 

Whereas, in 2016, the Government of Colombia concluded a 

historic peace accord with the Revolutionary Armed 

Forces of Colombia (FARC), aimed at addressing the 

root causes of the half-a-century conflict, including stark 

economic inequalities, the rural-urban divide, and the historical exclusion of Afro-Colombians, indigenous people, 


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•SRES 148 RS 

women, and poor farmers, and is currently working to 

implement these accords; 

Whereas the Governments and people of the United States 

and Colombia have forged a resolute bond through a 

shared commitment to support peace, human rights, democracy, the rule of law, and security throughout the 

hemisphere and the world, which has been bolstered by 

the support of hundreds of thousands of ColombianAmericans and their contributions to American life; 

Whereas, in 2000, the Government of Colombia achieved an 

impressive national consensus to build state capacity, and 

the United States committed to combat organized crime, 

drugs, and violence through its foreign assistance package in support of Plan Colombia; 

Whereas Plan Colombia and its successor, Peace Colombia, 

have received steadfast commitments from the administrations of Presidents William Clinton, George W. Bush, 

Barack Obama, and Donald Trump, and continuously 

has been strengthened by broad bipartisan support in the 

United States Congress; 

Whereas, while the Government of Colombia contributed 

more than 95 percent of funds over the life of Plan Colombia, the political leadership, technical advice, military 

assistance, and intelligence-sharing role of the United 

States, along with the $11,000,000,000 appropriated by 

the United States Congress through Plan Colombia and 

Peace Colombia to combat the illicit narcotics trade and 

transnational organized crime, advance democratic governance, promote economic growth, and defend human 

rights, played a key role in transforming a nation on the 

brink to an increasingly peaceful and prosperous democVerDate Sep 11 2014 00:47 Jun 04, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR148.RS SR148

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•SRES 148 RS 

racy, while also safeguarding vital United States interests; 

Whereas the Government of Colombia, throughout the administrations of Presidents Andres Pastrana, Alvaro Uribe, 

Juan Manuel Santos, and Ivan Duque, has made investments and shown remarkable courageous leadership, 

often at great cost and sacrifice, to consolidate domestic 

security, socioeconomic development, and the rule of law 

that far exceed those contributions made by the United 

States in Colombia; 

Whereas, over the past 20 years, levels of crime and violence 

have subsided sharply in Colombia, with annual per capita homicide rates declining from 62 per 100,000 people 

in 1999 to a record low of 23 per 100,000 people in 

2017; 

Whereas the alignment of improved security and sound economic policies has translated into steady growth in Colombia’s Gross Domestic Product, which increased from 

$86,000,000,000 in 1999 to more than 

$309,000,000,000 in 2017, and led to greater Foreign 

Direct Investment, which grew from $1,500,000,000 in 

1999 to one of the highest in Latin America at an estimated $14,000,000,000 in 2017; 

Whereas the United States and Colombia enjoy a robust economic relationship with United States goods and services 

trade with Colombia totaling an estimated 

$36,100,000,000 in 2016, supporting over 100,000 jobs 

in the United States; 

Whereas the Government of Colombia has made impressive 

strides in reducing poverty during the last 15 years, with 


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•SRES 148 RS 

the poverty rate decreasing from 64 percent in 1999 to 

27 percent in 2017, according to the World Bank; 

Whereas, since 1999, the Government of Colombia has expanded the presence of the state across all 32 territorial 

departments, has contributed to the professionalism of 

the Colombian judiciary, and has improved the capacity 

of the Colombian Army, Navy, Air Force, and National 

Police; 

Whereas Colombia is one of the United States most consistent and strategic partners through its support of 

United States diplomatic objectives at the United Nations 

and critical efforts made in the fight against transnational organized crime and increased security and rule of law 

overseas, including in Central America’s Northern Triangle, Afghanistan, and several countries in Africa; 

Whereas Colombia signed a Memorandum of Understanding 

with NATO in 2017 and is the first NATO partner nation in Latin America; 

Whereas these gains are challenged by an escalating crisis in 

Venezuela, which has seen an influx of more than 

1,200,000 Venezuelans into Colombia and the need for 

continued financial support to implement the peace accord over the next 8 years; 

Whereas the internal armed conflict has victimized all Colombians, including women, children, and Afro-descendant 

and indigenous peoples, and has led to the repeated targeting of leading representatives of civil society, including 

trade unionists, journalists, human rights defenders, and 

other community activists who remain at grave risk from 

guerrilla groups, paramilitary successor organizations, organized criminal groups, and corrupt local officials; 


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•SRES 148 RS 

Whereas efforts to achieve lasting peace in Colombia must 

address the hardships faced by victims of the armed conflict, as exemplified by the Government of Colombia’s 

Law on Victims and Restitution of Land of 2011; 

Whereas the prospects for national reconciliation and sustainable peace in Colombia rely on the effective delivery of 

justice for victims of the conflict and the ability to hold 

accountable and appropriately punish perpetrators of serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law; and 

Whereas the work of Special Jurisdiction for Peace—the 

transitional justice mechanism created with the purpose 

of ensuring accountability in the context of Colombia’s 

internal armed conflict—is fundamental to the implementation of the accords and the consolidation of peace in 

the country: Now, therefore, be it 

Whereas, in 2016, the Government of Colombia concluded a 

historic peace accord with the Revolutionary Armed Forces 

of Colombia (FARC), aimed at addressing the root causes 

of the half-a-century conflict, including stark economic inequalities, the rural-urban divide, and the historical exclusion of Afro-Colombians, indigenous people, women, and 

poor farmers, and is currently working to implement these 

accords; 

Whereas the Governments and people of the United States and 

Colombia have forged a resolute bond through a shared 

commitment to support peace, human rights, democracy, 

the rule of law, and security throughout the hemisphere 

and the world, which has been bolstered by the support of 

hundreds of thousands of Colombian-Americans and their 

contributions to American life; 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
6 

•SRES 148 RS 

Whereas, in 2000, the Government of Colombia achieved an 

impressive national consensus to build state capacity, and 

the United States committed to combat organized crime, 

drugs, and violence through its foreign assistance package 

in support of Plan Colombia; 

Whereas Plan Colombia and its successor, Peace Colombia, 

have received steadfast commitments from the administrations of Presidents William Clinton, George W. Bush, 

Barack Obama, and Donald Trump, and continuously has 

been strengthened by broad bipartisan support in the 

United States Congress; 

Whereas, while the Government of Colombia contributed more 

than 95 percent of funds over the life of Plan Colombia, 

the political leadership, technical advice, military assistance, and intelligence-sharing role of the United States, 

along with the $11,000,000,000 appropriated by the 

United States Congress through Plan Colombia and Peace 

Colombia to combat the illicit narcotics trade and 

transnational organized crime, advance democratic governance, promote economic growth, and defend human rights, 

played a key role in transforming a nation on the brink 

of collapse into an increasingly peaceful and prosperous 

democracy, while also safeguarding vital United States interests; 

Whereas the Government of Colombia, throughout the administrations of Presidents Andres Pastrana, Alvaro Uribe, 

Juan Manuel Santos, and Ivan Duque, has made major 

investments and shown remarkable and courageous leadership, often at great cost and sacrifice, to consolidate domestic security, socioeconomic development, and the rule of 

law; 


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•SRES 148 RS 

Whereas, over the past 20 years, levels of crime and violence 

have subsided sharply in Colombia, with annual per capita homicide rates declining from 62 per 100,000 people in 

1999 to a record low of 23 per 100,000 people in 2017; 

Whereas the alignment of improved security and sound economic policies has translated into steady growth in Colombia’s Gross Domestic Product, which increased from 

$86,000,000,000 in 1999 to more than $309,000,000,000 in 

2017, and led to greater foreign direct investment, which 

grew from $1,500,000,000 in 1999 to one of the highest in 

Latin America at an estimated $14,000,000,000 in 2017; 

Whereas the United States and Colombia enjoy a robust economic relationship, with United States goods and services 

trade with Colombia totaling an estimated 

$36,100,000,000 in 2016, supporting over 100,000 jobs in 

the United States; 

Whereas the Government of Colombia has made impressive 

strides in reducing poverty during the last 15 years, with 

the poverty rate decreasing from 64 percent in 1999 to 27 

percent in 2017, according to the World Bank; 

Whereas, since 1999, the Government of Colombia has expanded its presence across all 32 territorial departments, 

has contributed to the professionalism of the Colombian judiciary, and has improved the capacity of the Colombian 

Army, Navy, Air Force, and National Police; 

Whereas Colombia is one of the United States’ most consistent 

and strategic partners through its support of United States 

diplomatic objectives at the United Nations and critical efforts made in the fight against transnational organized 

crime and increased security and rule of law overseas, inVerDate Sep 11 2014 00:47 Jun 04, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR148.RS SR148

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•SRES 148 RS 

cluding in Central America’s Northern Triangle, Afghanistan, and several countries in Africa; 

Whereas Colombia signed a Memorandum of Understanding 

with NATO in 2017 and is the first NATO partner nation 

in Latin America; 

Whereas these gains are challenged by an escalating crisis in 

Venezuela, which has seen an influx of more than 

1,800,000 Venezuelans into Colombia, and the need for 

continued financial support to implement the peace accord 

over the next 8 years; 

Whereas the internal armed conflict has victimized all Colombians, including women, children, and Afro-descendant 

and indigenous peoples, has resulted in one of the world’s 

largest situations of internal displacement, and has led to 

the repeated targeting of leading representatives of civil society, including trade unionists, journalists, human rights 

defenders, and other community activists who remain at 

grave risk from guerrilla groups, paramilitary successor 

organizations, organized criminal groups, and corrupt 

local officials; 

Whereas efforts to achieve lasting peace in Colombia must address the hardships faced by victims of the armed conflict, 

as exemplified by the Government of Colombia’s Law on 

Victims and Restitution of Land of 2011; 

Whereas the prospects for national reconciliation and sustainable peace in Colombia rely on the effective delivery of justice for victims of the conflict, long-term solutions for those 

who have been displaced, and the ability to hold accountable and appropriately punish perpetrators of serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
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•SRES 148 RS 

law, particularly obligations under Article 3 of the Fourth 

Geneva Convention; 

Whereas the work of Special Jurisdiction for Peace—the transitional justice mechanism created for the purpose of ensuring accountability in the context of Colombia’s internal 

armed conflict—is fundamental to the implementation of 

the accords and the consolidation of peace in the country; 

and 

Whereas, on August 29, 2019, Luciano Marin Arango, a.k.a. 

Iva ́n Ma ́rquez and Seuxis Herna ́ndez Solarte, a.k.a. ‘‘Jesu ́s 

Santrich’’, along with other members of the Revolutionary 

Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), publicly called for the 

renewal of armed conflict in Colombia and for increased 

cooperation between the FARC and the National Liberation Army (ELN), two entities that are designated by the 

United States as Foreign Terrorist Organizations: Now, 

therefore, be it 

Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) reaffirms the unwavering support of the 

3 Government and people of the United States for the 

4 people of Colombia in their pursuit of peace and sta5 bilization of territories previously in conflict so they 

6 can achieve their aspiration to live in a country free 

7 of violence and organized crime; 

8 (2) lauds efforts to bring an end to Colombia’s 

9 enduring internal armed conflict; 

10 (3) commends the work of the United Nations 

11 Verification Mission in overseeing the implementaVerDate Sep 11 2014 00:47 Jun 04, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6401 E:\BILLS\SR148.RS SR148

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•SRES 148 RS 

1 tion of the 2016 peace accord and the disarmament 

2 and reintegration of combatants; 

3 (4) maintains its commitment to the more than 

4 7,000,000 victims of Colombia’s armed conflict and 

5 urges the government and FARC to hold account6 able perpetrators of serious violations of human 

7 rights and international humanitarian law and en8 sure that they are appropriately punished; 

9 (5) encourages the Government of Colombia to 

10 protect vulnerable populations who remain at risk in 

11 that country, including defenders of human rights, 

12 those facing threats due to crop substitution from 

13 the illicit crop market, and Afro-descendant and in14 digenous communities; 

15 (6) encourages the Secretary of State to develop 

16 a comprehensive strategy to assist the Government 

17 of Colombia in managing the effects of the Ven18 ezuela crisis without endangering or detracting from 

19 the successful implementation and sustainability of 

20 the peace accord and stabilization of territories pre21 viously in conflict in Colombia, and to further 

22 strengthen the close bilateral partnership shared by 

23 the Governments of the United States and Colombia; 

24 (7) reaffirms its commitment to continued part25 nership between the Governments of the United 


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•SRES 148 RS 

1 States and Colombia on issues of mutual interest, 

2 including security, counternarcotics cooperation, 

3 combating transnational organized crime, ensuring 

4 justice for those who have caused indelible harm to 

5 our populations, reintegration of FARC members, 

6 economic growth and investment with a focus on dis7 advantaged communities, and educational and cul8 tural exchanges that strengthen diplomatic relations; 

9 (8) supports the Special Jurisdiction for Peace 

10 as an important transitional justice mechanism and 

11 encourages the continuation of its work as an impor12 tant institution in charge of guaranteeing truth, jus13 tice, and victim’s reparations in the aftermath of the 

14 country’s internal armed conflict; and 

15 (9) commits to furthering the bilateral relation16 ship between the United States and Colombia by 

17 working with leaders in the public and private sec18 tors, as well as civil society from both countries, to 

19 ensure that the United States-Colombia relationship 

20 remains at the forefront of United States foreign 

21 policy. 

22 That the Senate— 

23 (1) reaffirms the unwavering support of the Gov24 ernment and people of the United States for the peo25 ple of Colombia in their pursuit of peace and staVerDate Sep 11 2014 00:47 Jun 04, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6203 E:\BILLS\SR148.RS SR148

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•SRES 148 RS 

1 bilization of territories previously in conflict so they 

2 can achieve their aspiration to live in a country free 

3 of violence and organized crime; 

4 (2) lauds efforts to bring an end to Colombia’s 

5 enduring internal armed conflict; 

6 (3) commends the work of the United Nations 

7 Verification Mission in overseeing the implementation 

8 of the 2016 peace accord and the disarmament and 

9 reintegration of combatants; 

10 (4) maintains its commitment to the more than 

11 7,000,000 victims of Colombia’s armed conflict and 

12 urges all Colombian authorities to hold accountable 

13 perpetrators of serious violations of human rights and 

14 international humanitarian law, particularly obliga15 tions under the Fourth Geneva Convention, and en16 sure that they are appropriately punished; 

17 (5) encourages the Government of Colombia to 

18 protect vulnerable populations who remain at risk in 

19 that country, including defenders of human rights, 

20 those facing threats due to crop substitution from the 

21 illicit crop market, internally displaced persons, and 

22 Afro-descendant and indigenous leaders and commu23 nities; 

24 (6) expresses concern about the decision of cer25 tain senior members of the FARC to return to arms 


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•SRES 148 RS 

1 and hostilities and strengthen their alliance with the 

2 ELN, which poses risks for the ability of the Govern3 ment of Colombia to consolidate peace and security; 

4 (7) reaffirms the importance of the extradition 

5 treaty between Colombia and the United States as an 

6 important part of the bilateral relations that has pro7 moted the interests of justice in both nations for dec8 ades; 

9 (8) encourages the Secretary of State to develop 

10 a comprehensive strategy to assist the Government of 

11 Colombia in managing the effects of the Venezuela cri12 sis while continuing the successful implementation 

13 and sustainability of the peace accord and stabiliza14 tion of territories previously in conflict in Colombia, 

15 and to further strengthen the close bilateral partner16 ship shared by the Governments of the United States 

17 and Colombia; 

18 (9) reaffirms its commitment to continued part19 nership between the Governments of the United States 

20 and Colombia on issues of mutual interest, including 

21 security, counternarcotics cooperation, combating 

22 transnational organized crime, ensuring justice for 

23 those who have caused indelible harm to our popu24 lations, reintegration of FARC members, economic 

25 growth and investment with a focus on disadvantaged 


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•SRES 148 RS 

1 communities, health cooperation, and educational and 

2 cultural exchanges that strengthen diplomatic rela3 tions; and 

4 (10) commits to furthering the bilateral relation5 ship between the United States and Colombia by 

6 working with leaders in the public and private sec7 tors, as well as civil society from both countries, to 

8 ensure that the United States-Colombia relationship 

9 remains a key pillar of United States foreign policy 

10 in the Western Hemisphere. 


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Calendar No. 464 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 148 

RESOLUTION 

Supporting efforts by the Government of Colombia 

to pursue peace and regional stability. 

JUNE 3, 2020 

Reported with an amendment and an amendment to the 

preamble 


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