|
|
| House Panel Rejects Rollback in Colombia Drug Plan |
|
Posted by FoM on July 10, 2001 at 22:37:06 PT By Vicki Allen Source: Reuters 
Democrats on Tuesday failed to turn back an initiative to fight drug trafficking in South America which they argued will do little to combat drug abuse in the United State as a House panel passed a $15.2 billion bill for foreign aid.The Republican-led House Appropriations Committee agreed to provide $676 million for the U.S. role in Plan Colombia, an effort launched under Democratic former President Bill Clinton to fight drug lords in the Latin American nation that produces almost all of the cocaine sold in this country. The bill for foreign aid next fiscal year that starts on Oct. 1 also boosts money to fight AIDS worldwide and restores cuts President Bush wanted in the Export-Import Bank that promotes U.S. exports. On a bipartisan vote, the committee also approved a $38.5 billion bill to fund the departments of Commerce, Justice and State. The Democratic-led Senate has not yet taken up its versions of the bills. In the foreign aid bill, the committee rejected 43-18 an amendment to shift all of the money from the South American drug fighting effort to expand drug abuse treatment programs here. It also defeated a measure to shift $100 million from the Colombia program to help fight disease among the world's poorest children. While Republicans provided $55 million less than Bush wanted, they said it was too early to pull the plug on the Colombia program launched a year ago as part of an international plan to stabilize the violence-torn Latin American country. ``We're on a path of actually making the program work,'' said Rep. Jim Kolbe, an Arizona Republican who chairs the subcommittee on foreign aid appropriations. But Democrats said studies show money is more effectively spent by making treatment available to abusers instead of trying to eradicate drug supplies. They also said the program put the United States at risk of being drawn into the conflict in Colombia that could result in a long military involvement. ``Drugs are a side issue in what has really been a civil war,'' Rep. Jose Serrano, a New York Democrat, said. The committee also rejected a push by some Democrats to provide $250 million in emergency relief for victims of January's devastating earthquake in El Salvador. Republicans said that would break spending limits, and instead voted to designate that $100 million out of other international aid programs be devoted to El Salvador. The foreign aid bill boosts U.S. funds for the effort to stem the spread of AIDS worldwide to $474 million, up $159 million. It has $805 million for the Export-Import Bank, $107 million below current levels but $118 million more than Bush wanted. The panel also passed the $38.5 billion bill for the Commerce, Justice and State after defeating on a voice vote a measure pushed by New York Democrat Maurice Hinchey to allow states to carry out their own laws allowing the medical uses of marijuana. The Supreme Court in May ruled against a ``medical necessity'' exception for marijuana, which is an illegal drug under federal law. Rep. David Obey of Wisconsin, ranking Appropriations Committee Democrat, said when the bill reaches the House floor he will offer an amendment to prevent the Federal Communications Commission from pursuing proposals he said would allow too much consolidation of media companies. FCC funding is covered in the bill. Source: Reuters Related Articles & Web Site: Colombia Drug War News House Committee Approves $15.2 Billion Bill U.S. Presence Grows in Andes Plan Colombia is Well Worth US Support CannabisNews Articles - Plan Colombia Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help |
 |
| Post Comment |  |
 |  |