Andean Counterdrug Initiative (ACI) and Related Funding Programs: FY2005 Assistance

Publication Date: May 2005

Publisher: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Author(s):

Research Area: Social conditions

Type:

Abstract:

In 2004, Congress considered a number of issues relating to the Andean region and drug trafficking. The Administration requested $731 million for the Andean Counterdrug Initiative for FY2005, and $114 million for economic assistance programs. Congress also changed the level of U.S. military and civilian contractor personnel allowed to be deployed in Colombia, in response to an Administration request. Congress continues to express concern with the volume of drugs readily available in the United States and elsewhere in the world. The three largest producers of cocaine are Colombia, Bolivia, and Peru, with 90% of the cocaine in the United States originating in, or passing through, Colombia. Regional security issues have also come into sharper focus after the attacks of September 11, 2001.

The United States has made a significant commitment of funds and material support to help Colombia and the Andean region fight drug trafficking since the development of Plan Colombia in 1999. Congress passed legislation providing $1.3 billion in assistance for FY2000 (P.L. 106-246) for Colombia and its neighbors. From FY2000 through FY2005, the United States has provided a total of about $5.4 billion for the region in both State Department and Defense Department counternarcotics funds. Congress appropriated $731 million in FY2005 funds for the Andean Counterdrug Initiative, with an additional $106.5 million in Foreign Military Financing (FMF) funds. The United States also provides funding for Development Assistance, Child Survival and Health, and Economic Support Funds. In FY2005, this economic assistance was estimated to be $115.3 million for ACI countries. Since 2002, Congress has granted expanded authority to use counternarcotics funds for a unified campaign to fight both drug trafficking and terrorist organizations in Colombia. Three illegally armed groups in Colombia participate in drug production and trafficking, and have been designated foreign terrorist organizations by the State Department.

In the first session of the 108th Congress, the House passed and the Senate considered the FY2004 Foreign Relations Authorization Act (H.R. 1950/S. 925) with provisions relating to Colombia and drug interdiction programs in the Andean region. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee reported out the FY2004 Foreign Assistance Authorization Act (S. 1161/S.Rept. 108-56) with several modifications on assistance to ACI countries. Neither of these bills received final approval. On March 4, 2004, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee reported out S. 2144, the Foreign Affairs Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005. It includes several provisions relating to Colombia and the Andean region that are similar to language contained in S. 925. The FY2005 National Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 4200, H.Rept. 108-767) was passed on October 9, 2004 and included provisions relating to the Andean region, including raising the statutory caps on U.S. personnel assigned in Colombia.

This report will be updated as events warrant.