Sec. 2. Findings

431 words·~2 min read·/bill/117/s/4334/is/section-2

A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

Congress makes the following findings: On June 19, 2022, the United States and Colombia will celebrate 200 years of formal diplomatic relations, commemorating the United States Congress’ recognition of the independence of Colombia. On May 15, 2022, the United States and Colombia will celebrate 10 years since the entry into force of the United States-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement, which has contributed to economic growth in both the United States and Colombia. On July 13, 2000, the United States and Colombia launched Plan Colombia, an ambitious bilateral strategy that strengthened Colombia’s institutions and capacity to combat drug trafficking, organized crime, and violence, and promote rule of law.

On February 4, 2016, the United States and Colombia launched a new chapter in bilateral security cooperation between the two countries through the announcement of Peace Colombia, the successor strategy to Plan Colombia aimed at supporting Colombia’s consolidation of peace, democratic governance, and security. To implement Plan Colombia and its successor strategies, the United States Congress has appropriated more than $12,000,000,000 since 2000. The Government of Colombia has contributed more than 90 percent of the total costs of the implementation of Plan Colombia.

Increased military and security cooperation through Plan Colombia and Peace Colombia has helped Colombia expand and professionalize its police and armed forces. The United States and Colombia have entered into formal partnerships with governments throughout Latin America and the Caribbean to bolster hemispheric security cooperation through the United States-Colombia Action Plan on Regional Security Cooperation (USCAP). In May 2017, Colombia became the first Latin American partner of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

Colombia is the second most biodiverse country on Earth and is home to 10 percent of the world’s flora and fauna. Colombia hosts more than 1,800,000 refugees from Venezuela. In addition, Colombia has a population of 8,100,000 registered victims of internal displacement since 1985. Colombia is the United States third largest trade partner in Latin America, with United States goods and services trade with Colombia totaling an estimated $40,700,000,000 in 2019. The Government of Colombia is a strong advocate for democratic governance in Latin America and the Caribbean, publicly condemning ongoing violations of civil liberties and human rights in Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela.

The Government of Colombia has been an active participant in global peacekeeping and peacebuilding missions, including the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Sierra Leone (UNOSIL), and the Multinational Force and Observers in the Sinai, since 1979. In February 2021, Colombian President Ivan Duque announced he would grant temporary protected status to nearly 1,800,000 Venezuelan refugees in the country.