In 2006 and early 2007, Congress considered a number of issues relating to the Andean Counterdrug Initiative, the U.S. assistance program to help Colombia and its neighbors address drug trafficking and economic development issues. These issues included ongoing concerns with the effectiveness of the program, funding levels, human rights, and the future of the program. The region has been viewed as particularly important because it produces virtually all of the world's cocaine and increasing amounts of high quality heroin. It is estimated that 90% of the cocaine coming to the United States originates in, or passes through, Colombia. Moreover, the stability of Colombia and the region is threatened by Colombia's longstanding leftist guerrilla insurgency and rightist paramilitary groups, which are believed to be largely funded by their participation in illegal narcotics production and trafficking. The Andean Counterdrug Initiative is the primary U.S. program that supports Plan Colombia, a six year plan developed in 1999 by President Andres Pastrana (1998-2002) of Colombia, and continued by current President Alvaro Uribe. The six-year plan has ostensibly ended, although the same level and types of activities are continuing. The Colombian government has reportedly developed a follow-on plan, Plan Colombia Consolidation Phase (PCCP), that would include support for the demobilization of rightist paramilitary groups. Although ACI is the primary program, it is not the only one supporting counternarcotics and economic development in the Andean region. Countries in the region also receive Foreign Military Financing (FMF) and International Military Education and Training (IMET). The Department of Defense supports drug interdiction operations from its own counternarcotics account. In addition, the United States provides economic development aid from Development Assistance (DA), Child Survival and Health (CSH), and Economic Support Funds (ESF) accounts. These programs are not considered part of the Andean Counterdrug Initiative, although they support many programs which are tangentially related, such as poverty reduction and infrastructure improvements. The Andean Counterdrug Initiative was designed to provide assistance to seven countries in the broadly defined Andean region: Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela. The region is important to U.S. drug policy because it includes three major drug producing countries (Colombia, Bolivia, and Peru) where virtually all the world's cocaine and significant quantities of high quality heroin destined for the United States are produced. U.S. objectives for the ACI program are to eliminate the cultivation and production of cocaine and opium, build law enforcement infrastructure, arrest and prosecute traffickers, and seize their assets. The region also includes two major oil producing countries (Venezuela and Ecuador), members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), which supply significant quantities of oil to the United States. For the five traditional Andean countries (Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia), the Andes mountain range that runs through South America poses geographical obstacles to intra-state and inter-state integration, even though the countries are linked together in the Andean Community economic integration pact. U.S. support for Plan Colombia began in 2000, when Congress passed legislation providing $1.3 billion in interdiction and development assistance ( P.L. 106-246 ) for Colombia and six regional neighbors. Funding for ACI from FY2000 through FY2007 totals about $5.7 billion. ACI is managed by the State Department's Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL). Some ACI funds are transferred to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) for alternative development programs. ACI funds are divided between programs that support eradication or interdiction efforts and those focused on alternative crop development and democratic institution building. On the interdiction side, programs train and support national police and military forces, provide communications and intelligence systems, support the maintenance and operations of host country aerial eradication aircraft, and improve infrastructure related to counternarcotics activities. On the alternative development side, funds support development programs in coca growing areas, including infrastructure development, and marketing and technical support for alternative crops. They also support programs assisting internally displaced persons, promoting the rule of law, and expanding judicial capabilities. ACI also funds the Air Bridge Denial Program that is currently operational in Colombia, and temporarily suspended in Peru, after an accidental shooting down of a civilian aircraft carrying U.S. missionaries in 2001. After the incident, in which two Americans died, the program in both countries was suspended until enhanced safeguards were developed. The program in Colombia resumed in August 2003. The program supports an aircraft fleet, pilot training, and logistical and intelligence support. The program tracks aircraft suspected of being involved in drug trafficking, and forces them to land for inspection. If an aircraft is repeatedly unresponsive, it may be shot down, at the direction of the commander of the Colombian Air Force. The resumption of a program in Peru is still pending the development of safety enhancements. The Administration requested a total of $721.5 million for FY2007 for the Andean Counterdrug Initiative, a slight reduction from FY2006. Included as part of the request was $65.7 million for a Critical Flight Safety (CFS) Program, a multi-year effort to upgrade and refurbish State Department aircraft used for eradication and interdiction missions. FY2006 was the first year for which funds were requested for this function. Congress appropriated $30 million instead of the requested $40 million. In previous years, the Air Bridge Denial (ABD) Program was a separate line item in the request and appropriation. This year, funding for the program is included in the allocation for Colombia. In the two previous fiscal years, Congress cut funding for ABD from its request of $21 million, providing $11 million in FY2005 and $13.8 million in FY2006. From year to year, the ACI allocation for Colombia has remained relatively stable, and the FY2007 request was level with previous years. For FY2007, the Administration proposed to fund the Air Bridge Denial from the Colombia allocation, since the program is only operational there. The State Department maintained that this will not result in less funding for other Colombia programs, as previous costs related to critical flight safety were proposed to be funded in the CFS program. Additional funding for the Andean region is provided through the Foreign Military Financing (FMF) program and the International Military Education and Training (IMET) program, both managed by the State Department. Recipients are subject to an aid cutoff if they have not signed so-called Article 98 agreements with the United States. Such agreements, referring to Article 98 of the Rome Treaty on the International Criminal Court, prevent the International Criminal Court from proceeding with a request for the surrender of U.S. personnel present in the country. These agreements are required under the American Services Members Protection Act of 2002, that was incorporated as Title II of H.R. 4775 , the FY2002 Supplemental Appropriations Act ( P.L. 107-206 ). The President may waive the law if it is in the national interest. Colombia, the major recipient of military assistance in Latin America, has signed an agreement. Others, such as Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela, have not signed an agreement, or have not ratified such an agreement, and could see their assistance withheld. Counternarcotics funds are not affected. In addition to State Department programs, the Defense Department has a counternarcotics account for worldwide programs involving interdiction, training, equipment, and intelligence sharing. In the Western Hemisphere, these programs are managed by the U.S. Army Southern Command. Foreign Military Financing (FMF) provides funding grants to foreign nations to purchase U.S. defense equipment, services, and training. The program's objectives are to assist key allies to improve their defense capabilities, to strengthen military relationships between the United States and FMF recipients, and to promote the professionalism of military forces in friendly countries. FMF is provided to Colombia and the Andean region to support the efforts of those nations to establish and strengthen national authority in remote areas that have been used by leftist guerrilla organizations, rightist paramilitaries, and narcotics traffickers. A portion of FMF funding in Fiscal Years 2002 and 2003 went for infrastructure protection of oil pipelines in Colombia. The FY2006 estimate for the Andean region is $90.1 million, with $89.1 million for Colombia. The FY2007 request was $90.85 million for the region, with Colombia proposed to receive $90 million, mainly to support Colombia's efforts to establish and strengthen national authority over remote areas that are used by terrorists and that support narcotics trafficking. For FY2007, Congress provided $86.35 million, with funds for Colombia trimmed to $85.5 million. Funds are to be used to provide interdiction boats, additional combat aircraft, training and infrastructure improvements, and maintenance and operation of the Colombian military's helicopter program. Funds are also to be used to support Colombia's interdiction capabilities, intelligence sharing, and communications. The IMET program provides training on a grant basis to students from allied and friendly nations. Its objectives are to improve defense capabilities, develop professional and personal relationships between U.S. and foreign militaries, and influence these forces in support of democratic governance. Training focuses on the manner in which military organizations function under civilian control, civil-military relations, military justice systems, military doctrine, strategic planning, and operational procedures. IMET funding for the Andean region was estimated at $3.4 million in FY2006 out of a total of $13.4 million for all of Latin America.