WASHINGTON, D.C. – As the House Rules Committee prepares to vote next week on which amendments to H.R. 4365, Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2024 will be made in order for a vote, Demand Progress sent members of the House Rules Committee a list of amendments it strongly urges the committee to make in order, including two key amendments focused on Latin America.
First, Demand Progress supports the amendment submitted for consideration for the FY 2024 Defense Appropriations bill, co-sponsored by Representatives Garcia (IL), Velázquez (NY), Castro (TX) that contains simple language stating that no funding can be used for use of military force in Mexico, given that Congress has not passed any authorization to do so, citing the War Powers Resolution of 1973.
Our statement, from Foreign Policy Advisor Cavan Kharrazian, on the amendment regarding funding for use of military in Mexico:
“This amendment is an important reminder that there is no authority whatsoever for any president to send U.S. troops or bombs into Mexico. The War Powers Act and the Constitution dictates Congress must debate and pass an authorization for use of military force. There are many Republicans who support the invasion of Mexico who have been supportive of checking the Executive Branch in the area of war powers, and we hope that each one of them sticks by their principles and supports this amendment if it comes to a vote.
“In terms of policy, however, we wholeheartedly disagree that another militarized “War on Drugs” will solve the addiction and overdose crisis in the United States. Previous wars on drugs that the U.S. has supported have destabilized Latin American countries, created environments ripe for human rights abuses and government corruption, and strengthened the drug cartels we fought against. An invasion of Mexico would be a disaster.”
And second, we support the amendment proposed by Representatives Wild (PA), Castro (TX), and Velázquez (NY) prohibiting funding of assistance, training, and arms to two brigades of Peru’s armed forces implicated in the violent repression of protests in Peru following the ouster of former President Pedro Castillo, leading to the deaths of dozens of civilians.
Cavan Kharrazian on the amendment prohibiting funding to support Peru’s armed forces:
“We applaud these members of Congress for taking steps to hold the unelected Boluarte Administration accountable for the human rights abuses and deaths of protestors by Peruvian security forces under her watch. The U.S. has no reason to continue to funnel arms, training, and security assistance into Peru, and should cease all such aid until there has been full accountability for the repression of protests and new free and fair elections.”