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March 28,2076

The Honorable Kay Granger

Chair
House Appropriations Committee
Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations
and Related Programs
Room HT-2, The Capitol
Washington, D.C. 20515

The Honorable Nita Lowey

Ranking Member
House Appropriations Committee
Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations
and Related Programs
1016 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515

Dear Chairwoman Granger and Ranking Member Lowey:

As you drafl the FY 2017 State, Foreign Operations and Related Agencies Appropriations bill,
we write to urge you to continue Congress' record of strong, bipartisan support for Colombia by
fully tunding the President's budget request, This aid has never been more important. Colombia
- our closest ally in South America - is on the brink of concluding a landmark agreement with
the FARC guerrillas, and we strongly believe that continued, robust U.S. assistance will be
critical in enabling the Colombian people to secure a just and lasting peace.
For over half a century, leftist guerrillas in Colombia have fought a bloody insurrection, which
has claimed more than 220,000lives and forced 6 million people to flee their homes. However,
thanks in part to generous American aid beginning under President Clinton and continuing under
Presidents Bush and Obama, Colombia is on the verge of signing an agreement that could usher
in a new era ofpeace and prosperity.

In February, during a visit to Washington by Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos.

President Obama announced a new aid package totaling $450 million - $391 million in the State
and Foreign Operations accounts - for FY l7 to assist the Colombian government in
implementing a potential peace deal and to support Colombia's efforts to address our shared
security challenges, including the threat posed by violent drug cartels. We believe this important
commitment should be fully funded by Congress.
I

Now, just as the peace process is beginning to bear fruit, is not the time to reduce our financial
assistance to our ally and partner. After decades of equipping Colombia to fight, we have a
vested interest in helping the Colombian people to rebuild. We must continue the robust,
bipartisan support which, at long last, has brought Colombia to the precipice of peace.
Sincerely,

Ruben Gallego
Member of Congress

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