HM 0013E 2003
1	House Memorial
2	A memorial to the Congress of the United States, urging
3	Congress to continue its support of Plan Colombia.
4
5	WHEREAS, Plan Colombia is a $7.5 billion program developed
6	by the Government of Colombia in its ongoing efforts to combat
7	the narcotics industry, increase the rule of law, protect human
8	rights, expand economic development, institute judicial reform,
9	and promote peace, and
10	WHEREAS, citing numerous incentives for continuing United
11	States support of the plan, the Department of State, in its
12	report to Congress on December 3, 2002, described the
13	significant progress Colombia has made to date and called
14	attention to those areas most in need of continued improvement,
15	and
16	WHEREAS, on July 7, 2003, Secretary of State Colin Powell
17	certified to Congress that the Colombian Government and Armed
18	Forces are meeting United States congressional criteria related
19	to human rights and severance of ties to paramilitary groups,
20	thereby triggering the release of $31.6 million in addition to
21	an amount previously disbursed to the nation, with a decision to
22	be made within the next two months respecting the release of the
23	remaining $31.6 million authorized for the year, and
24	WHEREAS, in view of its close proximity to Colombia and
25	that nation's demonstrated commitment to working with the United
26	States to achieve their mutual objectives, the State of Florida
27	is especially desirous that the United States Government
28	continue its support of Plan Colombia, NOW, THEREFORE,
29
30	Be It Resolved by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
31
32	That the Congress of the United States is urged to continue
33	its support of Plan Colombia.
34	BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be
35	dispatched to the President of the United States, to the
36	President of the United States Senate, to the Speaker of the
37	United States House of Representatives, and to each member of
38	the Florida delegation to the United States Congress.