[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 115 (Thursday, September 4, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1658]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


      FOREIGN OPERATIONS, EXPORT FINANCING, AND RELATED PROGRAMS 
                        APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 1998

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                               speech of

                           HON. NEWT GINGRICH

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, September 3, 1997

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 2159) making 
     appropriations for foreign operations, export financing, and 
     related programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 
     1998, and for other purposes:

  Mr. GINGRICH. Mr. Chairman, I want to urge my colleagues to support 
the U.S. Army's School of the Americas located at Fort Benning, GA. For 
over 50 years the School of the Americas has been a powerful force for 
supporting and expanding democracy in Latin America. I believe that it 
is very useful for Latin American military officers to come to the 
United States to learn how to soldier in a democracy, to understand why 
America has been strong and free, and to study an experience which is 
totally different than the Latin American tradition of military 
dictatorship. Cuba, which does not participate in the School of the 
Americas, is the only remaining authoritarian or totalitarian regime in 
Latin America.
  Since the U.S. military presence in Latin America has steadily been 
reduced during the past several years, it is critical that we rely on 
exchange programs, such as the School of the Americas, to establish and 
maintain our military and civilian relationships as neighbors and 
friends with common interests. Like other exchange programs we have 
with Russia and the countries of the former Soviet Union, the School of 
the Americas promotes American foreign policy and regional stability in 
Latin America. Moreover, the School of the Americas provides more 
Spanish language instruction in how to conduct counterdrug activities 
than any other institution available in Latin America.
  Both foreign policy and military experts agree that the School of the 
Americas plays a crucial role in supporting U.S. interests in the 
region. As the former Commander in Chief of U.S. Southern Command, 
responsible for Latin America, and in his current role as Director of 
the Office of National Drug Control Policy, Barry McCaffrey called the 
School of the America's the ``preeminent military educational 
institution'' for promoting and protecting human rights and democratic 
governance as well as fighting the illegal drug trade. Chairman of the 
Joint Chiefs of Staff John Shalikashvili calls the School of the 
Americas a critical asset in supporting democracy and combating 
narcotrafficking in Latin America.
  I join the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs and the President's drug 
control advisor in supporting the School of the Americas.

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