Nancy Pelosi: “the point is that the Jesuits are calling for the closing of the School of the Americas. The gentleman from Alabama is…”

“the point is that the Jesuits are calling for the closing of the School of the Americas. The gentleman from Alabama is asking for a study, a good faith request for a study and certification. The gentleman from California splits the difference, and I think it is a very wise proposal. The amendment of the gentleman from California just cuts off the funding that is in this legislation. The School of the Americas receives about $4 million from the U.S. Congress. As the Chairman knows, $1.2 million comes out of foreign operations and the rest out of the DOD appropriations bill. This is not about closing the School of the Americas. This is about cutting off this funding. It is about sending a strong message that when we ask for a report, we want it in a timely fashion and we want it to be appropriate. I look forward to visiting, at the invitation of Mr. Collins and Mr. Bishop, the School of the Americas to impress upon them that Congress does... universally support human rights; that we do not associate ourselves with or condone any of the atrocities that have been performed by people who are graduates of the School of the Americas, but that indeed the terms that the chairman put forth in this bill are terms that we expect to be met. Mr. Chairman, this is what we did last year and they did not come through. That is what made the Torres amendment necessary.”