A Dear Colleague letter on the Colombia aid package was distributed to the Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee last week, urging the committee to preserve elements of both the Senate and House versions of the package. The letter, organized by Representatives McGovern and Farr, describes a specific combination of the two bills that would preserve the largest amount of economic aid to victims of the civil conflict, while continuing to give significant resources to the Colombian military.

The original version of the bill that was passed in the House included a 10% cut in overall aid to Colombia, with a signficant reduction in military aid. The Senate version shifted some funds away from military aid as compared to last year's bill, but lost several important advances that were acheived in the House. Now in conference committee, the two bills will be reconciled.

Read the full text of the Dear Colleague Letter. [1]