A Subcommittee of the United States House of Representatives Wednesday approved US$520 million financial aid for Plan Colombia, local media reported.
The financial resources are part of a giant budget of 49 billion
dollars with which the United States will finance its operations abroad
in the next year.
But the bill still has along way to go before becoming law. First it has to be approved by several committees including the Plenary of the Lower House and the Senate.
The bill will provide US$520 million for Plan Colombia to help the Colombian government to “fight the drug gangs and criminals and to promote alternatives to drug production,” said Democratic lawmaker Nita Lowey.
The money for Colombia will be mainly distributed to four sub
accounts. International Narcotics Control (Incle) will receive around
237 million dollars, Economic Support Fund (ESF) will be supported with
200 million dollars, 66 million will go to Military Funding Abroad
(MFA) and approximately 1.5 to the International Military Education and
Training (IMET).
Another 6 million dollars are planned for mine clearance and anti-terrorism training programs.
