The Michel amendment does not place in a permanent statutory language a prohibition against further U.S. aid. This is not another Clarke amendment. The Michel plan does not support the Sandinista government and it does not punish our friends and allies by saddling them with an enormous refugee problem. Ten days ago the President of Honduras and the Foreign Minister of Costa Rica told me that "This is a vital year for Central America." This is not a year that the United States should waiver in its commitment to peace. freedom. and democracy in the region. In a nutshell. the Michel amendment sends the right signals: It signals our commitment for those who fight for democracy in Central America.