Letter to Congressional
Leaders on
DearXXXX :
As
the Congress returns to an exceedingly heavy work schedule prior to sine die
adjournment, I wanted to once again convey to you my grave concern about the
situation in Central America and the urgency of completing final action on a
compromise plan to provide assistance to the Nicaraguan freedom fighters. This
bipartisan proposition has passed the House and Senate and now awaits final
conference action on the Military Construction Appropriations bill.
The
Nicaraguan freedom fighters cling to our promise of assistance. The affirmative
votes of the House and Senate have confirmed congressional commitment to that
goal. However, months have passed since House action and weeks have passed
since the Senate reaffirmed its position. In the intervening time, supplies of
food and medicine have been drained and the ability of the democratic
resistance to defend itself has been significantly reduced. There has been no
lack of resolve on the part of the Soviets or their proxies in arming and
sustaining a regime that clearly seeks to destroy the hope of freedom for
millions in
It
is my hope that you will assist in expediting conference action on the Military
Construction Appropriations bill in order that it might reach my desk for
signature as quickly as possible. Time is short, and we must avoid further
delay in order to sustain those in
Sincerely,
/s/Ronald
Reagan
Note:
Identical letters were sent to Thomas P. O'Neill, Jr., Speaker of the House of
Representatives; George Bush, President of the Senate; Robert Dole, Senate
Majority Leader; Robert Michel, House Minority Leader; Mark O. Hatfield,
chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee; and Jamie L. Whitten, chairman
of the House Appropriations Committee. The original was not available for
verification of the content of this letter, which was released by the Office of
the Press Secretary on September 11.