WASHINGTON, DC—Today, upon their return from travel to Latin America, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce (R-CA) and Ranking Member Eliot Engel (D-NY), issued this joint statement after meeting in Bogotá with Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos on Tuesday:

"The partnership between the United States and Colombia is stronger than ever. Under the leadership of President Santos, Colombia has continued to make progress. Homicides are down nearly 50 percent since 2002 while kidnappings have dropped by almost 90 percent. The Colombian economy has had an average growth rate of 4.7 percent over the last decade. Colombia is a true success story and a country where our joint efforts have made a real difference.

"Now more than ever, the United States must stand with Colombia as President Santos negotiates a historic peace agreement with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). If a peace agreement is reached, we pledge to do our part in Congress to continue to provide Colombia with the support it needs."

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