Notes from last week's House Foreign Affairs hearing
WOLA Intern Ana Goerdt attended last week's House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing with Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. Several members of the committee had Latin America-related questions, and Ana took good notes. Here they are.
Assessing U.S. Foreign Policy Priorities and Needs Amidst Economic Challenges
Hearing of the House Foreign Affairs Committee
March 1, 2011
On Tuesday March 1, 2011, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton testified before the House Foreign Affairs Committee regarding budgetary challenges facing the State Department for FY 2011 and the remainder of FY 2011. Following opening statements by Representatives Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Howard Berman, Secretary Clinton summarized the key components of the State Department’s budget. She cited the training of Mexican police as an example of utilizing spending to “strengthen our partners.” In discussing the importance of increased trade liberalization, the Secretary mentioned that the recent Open Skies agreements with Brazil and Colombia will create help create domestic jobs, especially in Florida. Summaries of questions pertaining to Latin America, as well as Secterary Clinton’s responses, are below.
Eni Faleomavaega, D-American Samoa
I wrote a letter to Assistant Secretary of State Arturo Valenzuela regarding the Chilean military’s use of force against the people of Easter Island and have yet to receive a reply from the State Department.
Does the State Department have any information on the economic and social plight of the millions of indigenous in Latin America?
Secretary’s response: Secretary Clinton did not address either of these statements in her response.
Gregory Meeks, D-NY
Afro-Colombians and indigenous people in Latin America are caught in the middle of conflicts that are not of their own making. Since the US is a leader in the protection of displaced populations, what would be the effects reducing assistance for migration/ refugees/displaced populations?
Secretary’s response: I’m glad that you brought up the topic of refugees. During post-conflict and post-disaster situations, the U.S. “brand” needs to be front and center because people around the world are not aware of the U.S. contributions of such efforts.
Albio Sires, D-NJ
The Castro government is one of the worst human rights abusers. For example, the Cuban government put more people in jail and beat up Zapata’s mother just last week. We have appropriated money for human rights activity in Cuba. Why haven’t we spent it yet?
I attended the swearing in of President Santos in Colombia. Although there was a delegation from Congress present, I thought that the representation from the State Department was weak. This month President Obama will fly from Brazil to El Salvador without stopping in Colombia. Colombia has made remarkable changes in the fast few years. If Colombia is such a good friend to the U.S. why isn’t Obama stopping there?
Secretary’s response: We are trying to strengthen direct engagement with the Cuban people. There have been abuses of the Castro government against the Cuban people and Alan Gross. We are committed to freedom and democracy for the Cuban people and increasing on-the-ground access to Cubans.
The representation of the U.S. in Colombia is only part of our engagement with Santos. He’s doing an extraordinary job and the US has been a partner of the Colombian people for a long time. I am a strong supporter of the Colombian and Panamian FTAs. They are in America’s interest and we’re working with the Colombians and the Congress to make it happen.
Connie Mack, R-FL
Last week Assistant Secretary of State Valenzuela testified that Venezuela is in violation of sanctions. If Venezuela is in violation of U.S. sanctions on Iran, will you act? The evidence is out there and we would like you to act on it.
Valenzuela also testified that Chavez is supporting international terrorist organizations, do you agree with this statement? It’s clear that Chavez supports dictatorships and the destruction of human rights, and he supports Gadhafi.
Are you prepared to condemn Joe Kennedy for his support of Chavez?
Secretary’s response: (On violating Iran sanctions) Of course we’ll act if there is a violation, our latest information does not indicate that they have violated it yet.
(On Chavez supporting international terrorist organizations) I agree with your description of his statements and rhetoric, it is deeply troubling and deplorable. We constantly look for evidence and we have a certain evidence standard.
(On Joe Kennedy) I am not going to condemn him, I have no information that leads me to that conclusion.
Michael McCaul, R-TX
Last month two U.S. law enforcement agents were shot on the Mexican border after identifying themselves as U.S. diplomats. The Mexican government says this is a case of mistaken identity, which I do not believe. I hope that the killers will be extradited to the United States.
The Mérida Initiative was meant to provided $3 billion to Mexico, only 25% of which has been sent to Mexico since 2008. Why is this the case?
I would also like the administration to rethink a 1990 agreement that prohibits our law enforcement agents from carrying weapons in foreign territory. As President Calderón has said, it is a war zone.
Secretary’s response: The U.S. Congress has appropriated 1.5 billion dollars since the beginning of the Mérida Initiative. However, the negotiating of technical details and the staffing of such a large operation takes time. We have found that what works best is providing professional training for police and prosecutors in Mexico.
Jean Schmidt, R-OH
This weekend I spoke with constituent business owners that would like the Colombian FTA to move forward. When will this administration push for this agreement?
Secretary’s response: I want to push expeditiously for this agreement. We still need to work out trade adjustment assistance and trade preferences. The Western Hemisphere is our biggest trading partner. We need to create jobs both here and there. I would like to move forward with Panama and Colombia as well as Korea
David Rivera, D-FL
Last week was the 15th anniversary of the Brothers to the Rescue plane shootdown. Did the State Department or the White House issue any statement condemning that heinous act?
I would like to address American citizens who could avail themselves of Helms-Burton. Title III states that U.S. nationals can sue foreign companies that traffic in property expropriated by the Cuban government. The president may suspend Title III for a period of not more than six months if the president reports in writing that it will expedite a transition to democracy in Cuba. Title III has been suspended every six months since the enactment of Helms-Burton, can you tell us how such suspensions have expedited a transition to democracy in Cuba?
Can you give us a specific example of its expediting the transition to democracy?
Regarding the recent lifting of sanctions on the regime, it is similar to what we saw with President Carter, the Mariel boatlift, and Clinton’s establishment of people-to-people contact. Why would we expect a different reaction now from the Castro regime in terms of democratic reforms when they haven’t done so in the past following relaxed sanctions?
Secretary’s response: (On Brothers to the Rescue) I’ll have to check on that, it was a terrible injustice and murder.
(On Helms-Burton) Obviously we don’t have democracy and freedom in Cuba. We do believe that the current regime is having to face the reality of its economic mismanagement and repressive policies. Prisoners are being released but we are still seeing terrible abuses, such as the reaction to Zapata’s mother. The assessment of three presidents has been that continuing to suspend Title III is in the national security interest of the US. It’s predicated on many different factors but the ultimate conclusion has been the same for the past sixteen years.
(On a specific example) I’d like to provide a response for the record.
(On relaxing sanctions) Our lifting of sanctions aren’t meant to support the Castro regime. We’re trying to help the people of Cuba in the midst of their laying off of hundreds of thousands of workers and economic changes. We are letting them know that we support their freedom and eventual democracy.