Mark Souder: “I wanted to congratulate the chairman on his leadership and his diligence in coming down here to the House to keep…”

“I wanted to congratulate the chairman on his leadership and his diligence in coming down here to the House to keep America informed as to this process. I was privileged to join the chairman when we were in Colombia, Bolivia, Peru, Panama again this last winter, as we have been multiple times. This week we finally have Blackhawk helicopters going into Colombia that we fought 4 years to get there. It has been a very frustrating process, and I commend the persistence of the gentleman. The President is quick to make promises to Colombia, as he did to President Pastrano when he was recently here when the cameras were going. But when the rubber hits the road and we are in the budget negotiations, all of a sudden there is not any money for their anti-narcotics force. I really appreciate the leadership of the gentleman to keep that pressure on, and it is a privilege to work with him and his subcommittee.”