Dear marc frucht: 13 May 1999 Thank you for taking the time to contact me regarding the School of the Americas. I appreciate having the benefit of your views on this matter. I am appalled at the very high number of SOA graduates who have been implicated in human rights abuses throughout Latin America, especially those responsible for the killings of the Jesuits in San Salvador, and others cited as human rights violators by the U.N. Truth Commission. I recognize that the Pentagon and others have argued that the SOA plays an important role in the professionalization of Latin American military leaders by providing training in human rights and in the appropriate role of the military vis-a-vis civilian governments in democratic societies. However, I believe the long record of abuses perpetrated by many of the School's graduates undermines the strength of those arguments. To the contrary, closing the SOA would be an important signal of the Administration's commitment to promoting human rights and democratic institutions throughout Latin America. As you may know, I am an original cosponsor of S. 908, a bill which would require the Secretary of the Army to close the SOA. This legislation is currently being considered by the Senate Committee on Armed Services. In addition, the FY 1998 Foreign Operations Appropriations bill signed into law by the President on November 26, 1997, mandates that no funding shall be provided for military training at the SOA until the Secretary of Defense certifies that certain requirements have been met. First, it must be consistent with the training provided to U.S. military personnel. Second, specific guidelines regarding the selection and admission of students to the SOA must be established. Finally, the Secretary of Defense must submit a report to the Committee on Appropriations detailing training activities and providing an assessment of the performance of the SOA's 1996 graduates. As I have stated previously, I believe we continue to spend too much on international military aid, education and training, and I will continue to oppose wasteful and unnecessary spending in this area which could better be used to meet pressing domestic needs. Again, thank you for contacting me. I hope that you will continue to keep me informed about matters that concern you. Sincerely, Paul David Wellstone United States Senator