Additionally, as with the original House Supplemental, this legislation may also lack the necessary human rights conditions on our assistance to Colombia. As with the first House Supplemental, the provisions in this legislation dealing with civil society programs are woefully under funded, especially when compared to the vast funding levels for counter-narcotics assistance. Now, I will say that I have had the opportunity to review the funding levels in this legislation and I am happy about the modest increase for human rights and justice programs in Colombia and the region. This is a positive step, but a relatively small one when compared to the high level of military assistance for Colombia and the region. Finally, on the Colombia portion, no money was included for domestic prevention and treatment.
Interdiction plays a role, but it is next to useless without prevention and treatment programs.
Demand will always find supply. I am sorry the Republican leadership will not acknowledge this simple truth. As I said during the debate on the previous supplemental, I have met with Colombian leaders in Washington, D.C., in my Congressional District and in Colombia. I have traveled to Colombia and seen the need for U.S. assistance. I know the problems of the Colombian people and I am especially supportive of judicial reform efforts, but this supplemental is not going to provide the right kind of assistance.