[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 186 (Friday, December 11, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Pages S13029-S13030]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              EL SALVADOR

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I want to briefly discuss a subject that 
should interest all Senators concerning the country of El Salvador, 
which recently elected a new President and last month suffered 
extensive loss of life and devastating property damage as a result of 
torrential rains caused by Hurricane Ida.
  First, I congratulate the people of El Salvador on the election, 
which was historic in that President Funes is the country's first 
President since the end of the civil war who is a member of the FMLN, 
which after the 1992 Peace Accords evolved from an armed insurgency 
into a political party. I am encouraged by what I have heard about 
President Funes' policies and wish him the best.
  Second, the destruction caused by Hurricane Ida was extensive. 
Exceptionally heavy and constant rain fell on November 7 and 8, 
resulting in flooding and landslides that killed 192 people. Another 80 
were reported missing, and more than 14,295 others were displaced from 
their homes. Thousands of homes, as well as roads, bridges, and other 
public buildings, were damaged or destroyed.
  On November 10, U.S. Charge d'Affaires Robert Blau declared a 
disaster in response to the damage, and the U.S. Agency for 
International Development has so far allocated some $280,851 in 
humanitarian aid. An assessment of the

[[Page S13030]]

total damage is underway, but it is expected to be in the hundreds of 
millions, if not billions, of dollars.
  Congressman Jim McGovern and I have urged the administration to 
provide additional aid. We remember how the U.S. Government all but 
forgot about El Salvador after the war ended, and this is a time to 
help the Salvadoran people recover from this tragedy.
  Third, an issue that has deeply concerned me for many years is the 
problem of corruption and impunity in El Salvador. The police and the 
courts lack the training and resources they need, crimes are rarely 
solved and perpetrators are rarely punished. Violent crime and 
corruption have become endemic. El Salvador's democratic and economic 
development will continue to be impeded by a justice system that is 
incapable of enforcing the rule of law, and in which the Salvadoran 
people and foreign investors have little confidence.
  One of the courageous Salvadorans who is trying to change this is Ms. 
Zaira Navas, inspector general of the National Police. She has a 
woefully inadequate budget and too few staff. But despite that, from 
everything I have heard she is doing an outstanding job for justice and 
the people of El Salvador.
  I mention Ms. Navas because of the critical importance of the job she 
is doing, and because she has recently received death threats and I am 
concerned for her safety. I urge officials at the U.S. Embassy to 
discuss with President Funes what steps can be taken immediately to 
provide her the security she needs, and to increase the budget of her 
office.
  El Salvador is a small country but one with which the U.S. has a long 
history. We both have newly elected presidents, and I am hopeful that 
we will see a renewed effort to work together to broaden our relations. 
Nothing, in my view, is more important than strengthening the rule of 
law and supporting people like Ms. Navas, but we should also expand our 
collaboration in health, education and exchanges, the environment, 
trade and investment, science and technology, the arts and culture.

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