legislative

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE: November 2004

Military Aid in Colombia

On October 9th in an extended joint House-Senate conference session, Congress passed the 2005 defense bill's portion regarding a 100% increase of U.S. troops and a 50% increase in civilian military contractors in Colombia.

History – In March 2004, Colombian president Alvaro Uribe lobbied Washington asking to double the amount Plan Colombia's existing U.S. troops from 400 to 800 and to increase the amount of private contractors as well. Both the Senate Minority and Majority leaders supported the proposal, but expanding the troop cap would need approval from all of Congress. To ensure the military aid increases, the troop cap expansion was placed into the 2005 Defense Appropriations Bill.

During the summer, Rep. Gene Taylor (D-MS) introduced an amendment to limit the number of U.S. troops to 500 and private contractors to 400 in the House, and Senator Robert Byrd (D-WV) offered a companion amendment in the Senate. Correspondingly, Senator Warner (R-VA) and Rep. Hunter (R-CA) argued to eliminate the troop cap altogether. Compromise was reached at a troop cap of 800 U.S. troops and 600 contractors.

Due to unwavering grassroots work educating Congress on the atrocious violations of human rights provoked by U.S. military policy, Senators Feingold (D-WI) and Dodd (D-CT) had 23 senators, including Kerry and Edwards, sign on to a letter to President Uribe. The letter was used as a centerpiece to educate U.S. Congresspersons and international media about Colombia 's human right's violations and military practices. The letter opened many members of Congress's eyes to catch sight of U.S. policy's real world affects.

Unfortunately, president Uribe's request to increase military presence in Colombia was granted, but on a brighter note, through hard work and civil participation, the discussion regarding U.S. foreign policy and its affects on average Colombians has been broadened.

DR-CAFTA Update

Congress will vote on the Dominican Republic-Central American Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA) in mid-November's “lame duck” session. President Bush held back summiting the agreement until after the election, in order to avoid addressing the issue during the elections. As a result, the post-election Congress members stay in until January, and between November and January any bill voted on has less accountability; hence the term the “lame duck” session. For this reason it important to continue to remind your Congresspersons to vote against DR-CAFTA.

We believe DR-CAFTA will:

Outsource U.S. jobs - The plan encourages corporations to export well-paid jobs in the Unite States down south for lower wages and inferior labor and environmental standards.
Increase violence toward women – The maquila sector is known for its sexual abuse and humiliation toward women, and the sector's extremely low-wages further exploit conditions for women.
Cripple the agriculture industry – Central American farmers cannot compete with North American farm subsidies, encouraging immigration to the United States.
Increase immigration to the United States – Like we saw with NAFTA, the working population in rural communities will be forced to migrate because of no or little farm work.
Devastate the environment – Home to some of the world's greatest biodiversity, dams, low environmental standards, and the displacement of indigenous communities will desolate local ecosystems.
Expand investor rights over human and environmental rights – The agreement allows corporations to abuse intellectual property laws and sue governments for monetary compensation. The agreement's primary concern is to liberalize foreign investment barriers.
Privatize basic public services – After privatizing essential services the price for the water, electricity and healthcare would become unaffordable to the most needing.
Restrict access to affordable medicine – Under new patents laws generic medicines will be denied by pharmaceutical conglomerates.

In addition, the proposition would increase income inequality, poverty, foreign ownership, debt as well as undermine democracy in the Dominican Republic and Mesoamerica.

ACTION: Encourage your elected officials to vote against CAFTA. For more information about CAFTA please visit www.stopcafta.org. Also while you are there, please sign on to the Anti-CAFTA petition at http://www.stopcafta.org/article.php?list=type&type=4

US-AFTA Update

In May 2003, the U.S.-Andean Free Trade Agreement (US-AFTA) negations began between the United States, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, with Bolivia taking on an observant position. Venezuela 's president, Hugo Chavez has been outspoken about the U.S. sponsored trade agreement, and Venezuela is the only non-Andean country not involved in the trade talks. The free trade agreement is likely to have devastating affects on the Andean community.

The U.S. Trade Representative's Office plans to have the deal wrapped up by January 2005 in order to take advantage of the President Bush's “fast track” authority before it expires.

ACTION: Take Action to fair and equitable trade. Please contact your Representative and Senators and educate them on the implications of the agreement.