| (WASHINGTON) - U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Ranking Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, today offered an amendment to the State Department and Foreign Operations Appropriations bill (H.R. 3081) to cut funding to the Organization of American States. Statement by Ros-Lehtinen:
“The OAS is fast abandoning its founding mandate.
“From its warm overtures towards the Cuban tyrants to its knee-jerk support of Manuel Zelaya, echoing the rhetoric and agenda of autocratic leaders like Chavez, Morales, and Ortega, the OAS is losing credibility as an entity that stands for democratic institutions, human rights, and the rule of law.
“U.S. funds can be better spent elsewhere where they can truly be used to advance the freedom agenda.
“For this reason, my amendment transfers funds from the OAS to the National Endowment for Democracy, an organization which fights for fundamental freedoms and democracy worldwide and which recently recognized the brave efforts of five dissidents and peaceful opposition leaders fighting for freedom in Cuba.”
Note: Ros-Lehtinen’s amendment reduces funding to the OAS by $15 million and transfers this amount to the National Endowment for Democracy.
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