Andean Regional Initiative (ARI): FY2002 Supplemental and FY2003 Assistance for Colombia and Neighbors

Publication Date: January 2003

Publisher: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Author(s):

Research Area: International relations

Type:

Coverage: Colombia

Abstract:

Congress is considering President Bush's requests for new funding and additional authority to provide assistance to Colombia and six regional neighbors in a continuation of the Andean Regional Initiative launched in 2001. The Colombia request, which included a request for authority to support military action against illegal armed groups in Colombia, has proven highly controversial. On February 4, 2002, President Bush submitted a FY2003 budget request that would provide $979.8 million for the Andean Regional Initiative (ARI), with $731 million in counternarcotics assistance under the Andean Counterdrug Initiative (ACI). This request included $537 million in ARI funding for Colombia, with $439 million in ACI funding and $98 million in Foreign Military Financing (FMF) to train and equip a Colombian army brigade to protect an oil pipeline in northeastern Colombia.

On March 21, 2002, the Administration proposed an Emergency FY2002 Supplemental for counter-terrorism purposes that included a request for $4 million of State Department international narcotics control (INC) funding for Colombia police post support, $6 million of FMF funding for Colombia and $3 million for Ecuador for counter-terrorism equipment and training, and $25 million for counterkidnapping training in Colombia. Also included in the submission were requests to broaden the authorities of the Defense and State Departments to utilize FY2002 and FY2003 assistance and unexpended Plan Colombia assistance to support the Colombian government's "unified campaign against narcotics trafficking, terrorist activities, and other threats to its national security."

In legislative action in 2002, Congress passed the FY2002 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act (H.R. 4775/P.L. 107-206), with expanded authorities for activities in Colombia but with various human rights conditions, and it approved the Andean Trade Preference Act (ATPA) extension and expansion as part of an omnibus trade bill (H.R. 3009/P.L. 107-210). Later, it passed the Foreign Relations Authorization for FY2003 (H.R. 1646/P.L. 107-228), and the FY2003 Intelligence Authorization Act (H.R. 4628/P.L. 107-306), with provisions relating to Colombia.

In early 2003, passage of the FY2003 Foreign Operations Appropriation is still pending. The Senate Appropriations Committee reported its version (S. 2779) in July 2002, cutting $94 million from the President's Andean Counterdrug Initiative request, and requiring several certifications and reports, while the House Appropriations Committee approved its version (H.R. 5410) in September 2002 with different requirements. On January 15, 2003, Senator Stevens introduced an omnibus FY2003 appropriations bill as S.Amdt. 1 to H.J.Res. 2 (for continuing appropriations). The bill includes a slightly modified version of the ARI-related provisions of S. 2779, in particular providing $81 million less in ACI funding than the President's request.