Speech #990050044

McDades provision for expedited consideration of appropriate measures if the parties to the conflict are not willing to negotiate seriously was originally proposed by the Barnes/Hamilton resolution last April. Building on the policy concepts of the Barnes/Hamilton resolution. the McDade amendment did attract bipartisan support and with that broad support it does provide a basis for a sustainable. effective policy toward Nicaragua and Central America. I believe it improves on Barnes/Hamilton resolution by permitting the humanitarian assistance to be provided directly to opposition groups within Nicaragua rather than limiting it to refugees outside the country. Also. it specifically permits information exchange between the United States and the opposition groups that under some interpretations would have been prohibited by the language of the Barnes/Hamilton resolution last April. However. in keeping with at least the spirit of the Barnes/Hamilton resolution. the McDade amendment does not provide assistance to opposition groups for the purpose of supporting combatthe author.