From the Latin America Working Group:

Dear Colombia advocates,

We've just heard that the Senate could debate the 2004 foreign aid bill, with over $500 million for Colombia, as early as today or tomorrow (Tuesday or Wednesday, October 28/29). Also, tomorrow afternoon (Wednesday 10/29), there is a hearing in the Senate on the impact of Plan Colombia. This hearing will be dominated by administration officials who largely support the current policy. With many apologies for the short notice-- we were caught off-guard as well-- there are two actions we need your help with.

Please take a minute to make a quick phone call today! You can reach your senators by calling the congressional switchboard at 202-224-3121 or toll-free at 1-800-839-5276. If you don't know who your senators are, see www.senate.gov.

ACTIONS:

1) Call your Senators before the end of the day TODAY (Tuesday, October 28) and ask them to raise concerns about US military policy and fumigation in Colombia during debate on the 2004 foreign aid bill. No senator is offering an amendment on Colombia, so there will be no questioning of the policy unless we ask them to stand up and make statements.

2) The Plan Colombia hearing tomorrow is being organized by the Senate foreign relations committee. Members are listed below. If you live in one of these states, please call your senator's office TODAY (Tuesday 10/28) and ask him or her to raise concerns about the impact of US military policy and fumigation in Colombia during the hearing. For more information and talking points on US/Colombia policy, go to http://www.lawg.org/pages/new%20pages/countries/Colombia/Senate-debate.htm.

The Senators on the Foreign Relations Committee are: Lugar (R-IN), Hagel (R-NE), Chafee (R-RI), Allen (R-VA), Brownback (R-KS), Enzi (R-WY), Voinovich (R-OH), Alexander (R-TN), Coleman (R-MN), Sununu (R-NH), Biden (D-DE), Sarbanes (D-MD), Dodd (D-CT), Kerry (D-MA), Feingold (D-WI), Boxer (D-CA), Nelson (D-FL), Rockefeller (D-WV), Corzine (D-NJ). If you live in one of these states, please make a quick phone call today and help make the hearing more balanced by asking them to raise concerns. These efforts also help educate other senators, building more support for a change in policy.

Thank you for your hard work in favor of a more just and humane US policy toward Colombia!

Elanor Starmer

Associate for Colombia and Central America

Latin America Working Group

T: 202/546-7010 F: 202/543-7647 estarmer@lawg.org

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Latin America Working Group

Action at home for just policies abroad www.lawg.org

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