[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 54 (Thursday, April 3, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4818-S4819]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     ANDEAN COUNTERDRUG INITIATIVE

  Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I want to take a moment to express some 
concern to the Appropriations Committee about the report language that 
was included regarding the supplemental request for the Andean 
Counterdrug Initiative. The Senate report indicates that the committee 
considers their funding of the President's request as a downpayment on 
funding for the next fiscal year.
  I would like to ask the committee to reconsider taking this position 
without

[[Page S4819]]

a greater examination of both the 2004 request and how the supplemental 
funding will be used. I believe penalizing the 2004 request because of 
needed funds today will hamper the effectiveness of this program, 
particularly when it seems we may be turning the corner.
  This request is designed to support our current efforts in Colombia, 
which are occurring at a significantly higher operational pace than was 
anticipated when the current fiscal year budget was developed. Since 
the fiscal year 2004 budget was created, we have seen a wave in urban 
bombings, the launch of a rescue mission for kidnapped American 
citizens, a significant increase in the violent attacks against our 
spray aircraft, and an increase in the violent attacks against 
President Uribe and other top Colombian officials. These increased 
threats need to be countered now, and require a revision in the 
original budget estimates on what will be spent both this fiscal year 
and next.
  The supplemental funding is necessary to continue current operations 
at their current pace. By including the President's request in this 
bill, the committee is recognizing this need. But we should not 
penalize next year's efforts by counting this supplemental 
appropriations against the 2004 request. I strongly urge the committee 
to reconsider holding this needed supplemental funding for the Andean 
Counterdrug Initiative against the fiscal year 2004 request.

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