,,iii #aagth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 ,,res4 #bhj ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,june #ag1 #bjba,mr4 ,scott of ,florida 7for himself and ,mr4 ,cruz7 submitted the following resolution2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations ,,resolution ,supporting a stable ,colombia and opposing any threat to democracy in ,colombia4 ,whereas ,colombia is among the oldest standing democracies in ,latin ,america2 ,whereas the ,united ,states established diplomatic relations with ,colombia in #ahbb2 ,whereas ,colombia is a constitutional republic where the people of ,colombia hold the power and elect representatives to exercise that power2 ,whereas1 after many years of violence and armed conflict1 in #bjba ,colombia is the strongest ally to the ,united ,states in ,latin ,america2 ,whereas1 with the support of the ,united ,states1 ,colombia has transformed itself between #bjja and #bjba from a volatile and near-failed state into a rich democracy with a growing free market economy2 ,whereas ,may #ae1 #bjbb1 will mark the #aj-year anniversary of the entry into force of the ,united ,states-,colombia ,trade ,promotion ,agreement1 which has supported economic growth and employment opportunities in both ,colombia and the ,united ,states2 ,whereas the ,united ,states maintains support for ,colombia in response to the ,,covid-#ai pandemic1 including provision of excess vaccine doses to help revitalize the economy of ,colombia2 ,whereas presidential and legislative elections were held in ,colombia in #bjah1 and the people of ,colombia elected ,ivn ,duque ,mrquez president in a second round of elections that impartial international observers considered free and fair and the most peaceful in decades2 ,whereas the ,united ,states and ,colombia share a commitment to promoting security1 prosperity1 human rights1 and democracy in ,colombia and across the ,western ,hemisphere2 ,whereas1 in recent years1 the ,government of ,colombia has taken courageous steps to enforce the law1 stop drug traffickers1 and rein in foreign terrorist organizations like the ,national ,liberation ,army 7referred to in this preamble as the ,,eln7 and the ,revolutionary ,armed ,forces of ,colombia 7referred to in this preamble as the ,,farc72 ,whereas the ,united ,states continues to support the efforts of the ,government of ,colombia for peace1 including protection of vulnerable populations such as ,indigenous and ,afro-,colombian communities1 support for human rights defenders1 provision of greater educational opportunities1 increases in public and private investments1 especially in rural areas1 and respect for human rights and the rule of law2 ,whereas the ,united ,states maintains a strong commitment to cooperating with the ,government of ,colombia to investigate1 arrest1 and prosecute members of transnational criminal organizations and to dismantle terrorist groups like the ,,eln1 the ,,farc1 and ,hezbollah1 whose illicit activities1 specifically narcotrafficking1 devastate the citizens of ,colombia and ,latin ,america2 ,whereas1 since #bjaf1 the ,united ,states has provided more than #a1jjj1jjj1jjj in direct and indirect support to peace implementation in ,colombia2 ,whereas ,colombia is an essential partner of the ,united ,states in continuing efforts to support the courageous people of ,venezuela in their fight for freedom1 democracy1 and economic prosperity against the dictatorship of ,nicols ,maduro by generously hosting and providing aid to nearly #a1hjj1jjj citizens of ,venezuela as of ,june #bjba and by providing them essential services such as healthcare and education2 ,whereas1 in ,february #bjba1 ,president ,duque issued temporary protective status with work authorization to citizens of ,venezuela living in ,colombia2 ,whereas the leadership of the ,government of ,colombia during the humanitarian crisis in ,venezuela has been critical in organizing regional support for ,interim ,president ,juan ,guaid1 as well as in denouncing the dictatorship of ,maduro and helping implement policies to isolate his narcoterrorist regime1 specifically through the ,lima ,group and the ,organization of ,american ,states2 ,whereas the security situation in ,colombia has improved significantly between #bjjj and #bjba1 but the migrant influx from ,venezuela and the economic effects of the ,,covid-#ai pandemic have hurt the economy of ,colombia1 creating unique challenges for ,colombia that demand action and support from strong democratic allies like the ,united ,states2 ,whereas freedom of speech1 freedom to peacefully assemble1 and other human rights are inalienable1 and any acts of excess force against peaceful protesters should be condemned and investigated2 and ,whereas enemies of freedom1 such as the communist regime of ,raul ,castro in ,cuba and the ,maduro regime in ,venezuela1 exploit and abuse the vulnerable and individuals simply asking for their voices to be heard by promoting violent unrest1 vandalism1 and destruction of property3 ,now1 therefore1 be it ,that the ,senate-- 7#a7 declares its firm commitment to ,colombia1 the strongest ally of the ,united ,states in ,latin ,america2 7#b7 opposes any effort to undermine the democracy or sovereignty of ,colombia2 7#c7 encourages the international community to stand for democracy in ,colombia and to condemn any efforts to undermine that democracy2 7#d7 condemns any regime in any country1 such as ,cuba1 ,venezuela1 or ,iran1 that gives aid to terrorist groups in ,colombia by providing training1 weapons1 or funding1 or by hosting those groups within the borders of the nation-state2 7#e7 strongly condemns the terrorist attack perpetrated on ,june #ae1 #bjba1 and attributed to the ,national ,liberation ,army by the ,duque administration1 against the military base of the #cjth ,army ,brigade of ,colombia in ,ccuta1 ,colombia1 the northeastern border city near ,venezuela1 where ,united ,states soldiers were present1 at least #cf people were injured1 and infrastructure of the military base was destroyed2 7#f7 condemns any blockade of essential goods and services1 including imports or transports of medicine or food1 and strongly condemns all violence or attacks against innocent citizens of ,colombia or their private property or businesses2 7#g7 recognizes that a stable and prosperous ,colombia serves ,united ,states interests in ,latin ,america2 and 7#h7 reemphasizes the shared democratic values of ,colombia and the ,united ,states through free and fair elections with the peaceful participation of all political leaders and parties1 accompanied by credible local and international observers1 including in the presidential elections in ,colombia in #bjbb4