Chairman Price Leads HDAC Delegation to Partner Nation Colombia

The House Democracy Assistance Commission (HDAC) sent a bipartisan delegation of seven House members to Colombia from August 27 to 31, 2007. The trip marked the Commission's eighth congressional delegation since its establishment in 2005. Rep. David Price (D-NC) led the group, which included Reps. David Dreier (R-CA), Rush Holt (D-NJ), Wayne Gilchrest (R-MD), Sam Farr (D-CA), Jeff Miller (R-FL), and Adam Schiff (D-CA).

HDAC partnered with the Colombian Congress to collaborate in strengthening its institutional capacities. The exchanges focused on supporting the oversight function by strengthening the budget analysis capacity of the legislature. The delegation focused on advancing this work with Colombian legislators through peer-to-peer exchanges.

The delegation began its visit in the Colombian capital of Bogotá. It first met with members of the Colombian Congress, including key committee and party leaders, members of the Modernization Commission, and members of the Afro-Colombian Caucus. The main focus of the discussions was the strengthening of the Colombian Congress's legislative and oversight capacity including research, bill drafting, and budget analysis.

In addition to congressional officials, the delegation met with President Alvaro Uribe, Attorney General Iguaran, and Defense Minister Santos, addressing a wide array of issues that included human rights, enhancing alternative development efforts, and improving implementation of the Justice and Peace Law. The U.S. lawmakers also discussed the status of the proposed U.S.-Colombian Free Trade Agreement with the Colombian Trade Minister and key labor and human rights leaders. Finally, the delegation met with the United Nations' High Commissioner for Human Rights and representatives of the Colombian Military to discuss internally displaced people and the human rights situation in Colombia.

Following its work in Bogotá, the delegation traveled with Colombian lawmakers to Medellin — the country's second largest city — to discuss constituent services and examine U.S. efforts to support Colombian government programs relating to demobilization and human rights issues. The delegation also visited U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) programs that provide alternative livelihoods to coca farmers.