Representative Dan Burton, the Indiana Republican who is chairman of the Western Hemisphere subcommittee, said he thought the Colombians should be using a more powerful herbicide.

"I find it increasingly difficult to understand how we spend enormous amounts to eradicate, and then not go the next step to ensure that people have something to turn to," Representative Robert Menendez of New Jersey, the ranking Democrat on the Western Hemisphere subcommittee.

"I don't think that's a political contest they can win," said Senator Christopher J. Dodd, the Connecticut Democrat who is chairman of the Western Hemisphere subcommittee and of the Senate Observer Group on Central America Negotiations.

Western Hemisphere As a member of the Western Hemisphere subcommittee, Congressman Payne advocates for greater attention, resource, and cooperation with Caribbean nations and Latin America in general.

Senator Paul Coverdell, the Georgia Republican who heads the Western Hemisphere subcommittee, repeatedly told Administration witnesses that while he did not want to inflame Mexican opinion, "the status quo will not do."

"They hate Noriega in Panama, but abrogate the treaty and they'd build monuments to him in every village," said Senator Christopher J. Dodd, Democrat of Connecticut, who heads the Western Hemisphere subcommittee.

Because Mr. Weller is a member of the House Committee on International Relations and sits on its Western Hemisphere subcommittee, his newly announced tie to one of Guatemala's most notorious political figures has added spice to his re-election campaign.

Mr. Carter's visit comes a week after that of a Congressional delegation led by Representative Dan Burton, the Indiana Republican who is the new chairman of the Western Hemisphere subcommittee of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

Senator Christopher J. Dodd, a Connecticut Democrat who heads a Western Hemisphere subcommittee, announced hearings for this week to "review discrepancies" among administration officials on Cuba's ability to produce biological weapons.

Senator Christopher J. Dodd, the chairman of the Western Hemisphere subcommittee of the Foreign Relations Committee, requested the review after voicing concern that the Bush administration appeared to condone Mr. Chávez's removal.