	Andean Counterdrug Initiative

The Andean Counterdrug Initiative was designed to provide assistance to seven countries inthe broadly defined Andean region: Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, Peru, andVenezuela. Funding for ACI from FY2000 through FY2005 totaled nearly $4.3 billion. The request also included a newcomponent, $40 million for a Critical Flight Safety Program that was described as the firstinstallment of a multi-year program to upgrade and refurbish of State Department aircraft used foreradication and interdiction missions. In the FY2006 Foreign Operations Appropriations Act ( H.R. 3057 , P.L.109-102 ), Congress approved the Administration's request of $734.5 million for ACI but changedhow those funds are allocated. Congress provided $14 million for the Air Bridge Denial programinstead of the requested $21 million. Related Funding Programs

Additional funding for the Andean region is provided through the Foreign Military Financing(FMF) program and the International Military Education and Training (IMET) program, bothmanaged by the State Department. In the FY2006 Foreign Operations Appropriations Act( H.R. The three have been designated foreign terroristorganizations by the United States. 109-102 ), which included a numberof longstanding provisions relating to the Andean Counterdrug Initiative. 1815 , P.L.109-163 ) authorized funding for Department of Defense drug interdiction activities. Personnel Caps

The FY2005 National Defense Authorization Act changed existing law with regard to the capon the number of U.S. military and civilian contractors that can be deployed in Colombia in supportof Plan Colombia. Demobilization of Illegally Armed Groups in Colombia

The FY2006 Foreign Operations Appropriations Act makes $20 million available in FY2006to assist in the demobilization and disarmament of former members of foreign terrorist organizations(FTOs), if the Secretary of State certifies that:
assistance will be provided only for individuals who have verifiably renouncedand terminated any affiliation or involvement with FTOs, and are meeting all the requirements ofthe Colombia Demobilization program;
the Colombian government is fully cooperating with the United States inextraditing FTO leaders and members who have been indicted in the United States for murder,kidnaping, narcotics trafficking, and other violations of U.S. law;
the Colombian government is implementing a concrete and workableframework for dismantling the organizational structures of FTOs; and
funds will not be used to make cash payments to individuals, and funds willonly be available for any of the following activities: verification, reintegration (including trainingand education), vetting, recovery of assets for reparations for victims, and investigations andprosecutions. The Senate passed H.R. The bill also calls for a report from the Secretary of State thatdetails tax code enforcement in Colombia. The Senate has had under consideration its version of the foreign relations authorization bill, S. 600 . The bill authorizes funding for ACI and includes a number of conditions onassistance consistent with current law. Unlike theFY2005 authorization, it did not include provisions relating to Colombia or the Andean CounterdrugInitiative.
In 2005, Congress considered a number of issues relating to the Andean region and drugtrafficking, including continued funding for the Andean Counterdrug Initiative (ACI) and conditionson U.S. assistance. In addition to ACI, Andean countries benefit from Foreign Military Financing(FMF), International Military Education and Training (IMET) funds, and other types of economicaid. Congress continues to express concern with the volume of drugs readily available in the UnitedStates and elsewhere in the world. The three largest producers of cocaine are Colombia, Bolivia, andPeru. Ninety percent of the cocaine in the United States originates in, or passes through, Colombia.
The United States has made a significant commitment of funds and material support to helpColombia and the Andean region fight drug trafficking since the development of Plan Colombia in1999. From FY2000 through FY2005, the United States has provided a total of about $5.4 billionfor the region in both State Department and Defense Department counternarcotics funds. The UnitedStates also provides funding for Development Assistance (DA), Child Survival and Health (CSH),and Economic Support Funds (ESF) to some countries in the region. Since 2002, Congress hasgranted expanded authority to use counternarcotics funds for a unified campaign to fight both drugtrafficking and terrorist organizations in Colombia. Three illegally armed groups in Colombiaparticipate in drug production and trafficking, and have been designated foreign terroristorganizations by the State Department. In 2004, Congress also increased the level of U.S. militaryand civilian contractor personnel allowed to be deployed in Colombia, in response to anAdministration request.
For FY2006, Congress approved the Administration's request for $734.5 million for ACI inthe Foreign Operations Appropriations Act ( H.R. 3057 / P.L. 109-102 ). As part of therequested amount for ACI, the Administration had requested $21 million for the Air Bridge DenialProgram; Congress provided $14 million. The request also included $40 million for a Critical FlightSafety Program that is described as the first installment of a multi-year program to upgrade andrefurbish aircraft used for eradication and interdiction missions. Congress provided $30 million.
In the House, the Foreign Relations Authorization Act ( H.R. 2601 ) was passedwith provisions relating to the demobilization process, tax code enforcement in Colombia, and thetransfer of aircraft to the Colombian Navy. The Senate did not finish consideration of its version( S. 600 ). It would authorize funding for the Andean Counterdrug Initiative and includesa number of conditions on assistance consistent with current law. The FY2006 National DefenseAuthorization Act ( H.R. 1815 , P.L. 109-163 ) authorized funds for Defense Departmentinterdiction activities.
This report will not be updated. For further information, see CRS Report RL32774 , PlanColombia: A Progress Report ; CRS Report RL32250 , Colombia: Issues for Congress ; and CRS Report RL32337 , Andean Counterdrug Initiative (ACI) and Related Funding Programs: FY2005Assistance.