[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2615 Referred in Senate (RFS)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2615
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
July 16, 2019
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To support the people of Central America and strengthen United States
national security by addressing the root causes of migration from El
Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``United States-
Northern Triangle Enhanced Engagement Act''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as
follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Report on drivers of migration from the Northern Triangle to
the United States.
Sec. 3. Actions to promote inclusive economic growth and development in
the Northern Triangle.
Sec. 4. Actions to combat corruption in the Northern Triangle.
Sec. 5. Actions to strengthen democratic institutions in the Northern
Triangle.
Sec. 6. Actions to improve security conditions in the Northern
Triangle.
Sec. 7. Authorization of appropriations for assistance to Central
America.
Sec. 8. Conditions on assistance to the Northern Triangle.
Sec. 9. Enhancing engagement with the Government of Mexico on the
Northern Triangle.
Sec. 10. Targeting assistance to address migration from communities in
the Northern Triangle.
Sec. 11. Targeted sanctions to fight corruption in the Northern
Triangle.
Sec. 12. Requirement to provide advance notification to Congress of
security assistance to Northern Triangle
countries.
Sec. 13. Definitions.
Sec. 14. Determination of budgetary effects.
SEC. 2. REPORT ON DRIVERS OF MIGRATION FROM THE NORTHERN TRIANGLE TO
THE UNITED STATES.
(a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in coordination with the
Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development
and the heads of other relevant Federal agencies, shall submit to the
appropriate congressional committees a report on the drivers of
migration from each of the Northern Triangle countries and the progress
United States foreign assistance is making in addressing such drivers.
(b) Elements.--The report required under subsection (a) shall
include the following elements for each of the Northern Triangle
countries, with data disaggregated by municipality, age, and gender, as
necessary:
(1) Information and data on all criminal activities,
including drug trafficking, extortion, trafficking in persons,
and gender-based violence, with particular emphasis on such
activities carried out by criminal gangs and transnational
criminal organizations such as MS-13 and the 18th Street Gang.
(2) Data on the extent to which criminal activities
referred to in paragraph (1) are reported to government
authorities and the number of perpetrators investigated,
apprehended, prosecuted, or convicted, versus the number of
known perpetrators who are not so investigated, apprehended,
prosecuted, or convicted.
(3) Data on children and young adults forcibly recruited
for criminal activities referred to in paragraph (1), including
the extent to which government authorities received reports of
forced recruitment.
(4) Data on internal displacement due to criminal
activities referred to in paragraph (1), and services,
including temporary shelters, provided to those displaced by
violence.
(5) Data on gender-based violence by region and
municipality and descriptions of gender-based violence and
domestic violence trends, including gender-based violence
against indigenous women, and correlation to outward migration.
(6) Descriptions of the obstacles (including capacity gaps
within the criminal justice systems) to resolving gender-based
violence cases and deterring violence against women and
children.
(7) Information on the availability of trauma-informed
legal and social services, including in shelters, for victims
of gender-based violence.
(8) Data on the number of police officers, prosecutors,
court personnel, and specialized units trained in violence
against women and children, including data on the number of
female police officers in each of the Northern Triangle
countries.
(9) Data on reported cases of abuse, including
extrajudicial executions, torture, forced disappearance, and
arbitrary detention, allegedly committed by members of the
security forces, and collusion between members of such security
forces and gangs and other criminal groups, including
transnational criminal organizations, and the number of
perpetrators investigated, apprehended, prosecuted, or
convicted, versus the number of known perpetrators not so
investigated, apprehended, prosecuted, or convicted.
(10) Descriptions of the strategies being implemented to
guarantee the rights of indigenous and rural communities.
(11) Descriptions of the strategies being implemented to
address forced recruitment of children and youth by gangs,
transnational criminal organizations, and other criminal
groups, and how such strategies are complemented by United
States efforts.
(12) Descriptions of the strategies being implemented by
the governments of each of the Northern Triangle countries to
address corruption and organized crime and how such strategies
are complemented by United States efforts.
(13) Data on the effectiveness of anti-corruption
strategies, including through bilateral and multilateral anti-
corruption assistance.
(14) An assessment of the extent of corruption, including
regarding narcotics trafficking and illicit campaign financing,
a description of steps taken and to be taken to impose
sanctions pursuant to the Global Magnitsky Human Rights
Accountability Act (22 U.S.C. 2656 note), and a list of senior
officials who are known or credibly alleged to have committed
or facilitated such corruption, not including individuals who
have already been sentenced to crimes in criminal courts.
(15) Descriptions of operating conditions for civil society
organizations and independent media in each of the Northern
Triangle countries, and data on harassment and attacks on civil
society and independent media from political and criminal
actors.
(16) An assessment of information sharing regarding known
or suspected terrorists and other individuals and groups that
pose a potential threat to United States national security that
are crossing through or residing in the Northern Triangle.
(17) Descriptions of the obstacles (including capacity gaps
within the criminal justice systems) to resolving criminal
cases and corruption and deterring violence.
(18) Data on the capacity of child welfare systems in each
Northern Triangle country to protect unaccompanied children,
including runaways and refugee returnees.
(19) Data on the governance capacity of Northern Triangle
country governments at the local and national level, including
ability to deliver basic citizen services, including tax
collection and citizen security.
(20) Data on the rates of extortion, the impact of
extortion on local businesses and economies, and the number of
extortion cases investigated, prosecuted, or convicted.
(21) Data on the extent to which the Northern Triangle
governments are promoting economic growth and educational
opportunities, improving health outcomes, and addressing the
underlying causes of poverty and inequality through public
policies.
(22) Data on the activities of China and Russia, an
assessment of the threat of such activities to United States
interests, and the impact of such activities on irregular
migration.
(23) An analysis of the manner and extent to which
assistance made available to the Northern Triangle countries in
fiscal years 2015 through 2017 were expended, particularly
including--
(A) the extent to which funds made available to
private and nongovernmental entities to provide such
assistance were subsequently expended on activities
conducted within such countries; and
(B) the manner in which such funds were expended on
activities in other countries.
(24) Data on the geographic regions where highest incidence
of violence occurs against women and children.
(25) An evaluation of the extent to which women and
children who are victims of violence have access to protection
and justice.
(26) An evaluation of the capacity of the justice system in
each Northern Triangle country to respond to reports of
femicide, sexual assault, domestic violence, trafficking, or
child abuse and neglect, and to hold perpetrators of such
crimes accountable.
(c) Public Availability.--The report required under subsection (a)
shall be made publicly available on the website of the Department of
State.
SEC. 3. ACTIONS TO PROMOTE INCLUSIVE ECONOMIC GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT IN
THE NORTHERN TRIANGLE.
(a) Secretary of State Prioritization.--The Secretary of State
shall prioritize economic development in the Northern Triangle
countries by carrying out the following initiatives:
(1) Supporting market-based solutions to eliminate
constraints to inclusive economic growth, including through
support for increased digital connectivity and the use of
financial technology, and private sector and civil society-led
efforts to create jobs and foster economic prosperity.
(2) Addressing underlying causes of poverty and inequality,
including by improving nutrition and food security, providing
health resources and access to clean water, sanitation,
hygiene, and shelter, and improving livelihoods.
(3) Responding to immediate humanitarian needs by
increasing humanitarian assistance, including through access to
clean water, sanitation, hygiene, and shelter, improving
livelihoods, and by providing health resources and improving
nutrition and food security.
(4) Supporting conservation and community resilience and
strengthening community preparedness for natural disasters and
other external shocks.
(5) Identifying, as appropriate, a role for the United
States International Development Finance Corporation, the
Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), the United States
Agency for International Development, and the United States
private sector in supporting efforts to increase private sector
investment and strengthen economic prosperity.
(6) Expanding comprehensive reintegration mechanisms for
repatriated individuals once returned to their countries of
origin and supporting efforts by the private sector to hire and
train eligible returnees.
(7) Establishing monitoring and verification services to
determine the well-being of repatriated children in order to
determine if United States protection and screening functioned
effectively in identifying persecuted and trafficked children.
(8) Supporting efforts to increase domestic resource
mobilization, including through strengthening of tax collection
and enforcement and legal arbitration mechanisms.
(b) Strategy.--
(1) Elements.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in
coordination with the Administrator of the United States Agency
for International Development, the President and Chief
Executive Officer of the Inter-American Foundation, the
Director of the United States Trade and Development Agency, the
Chief Executive Officer of the United States International
Development Finance Corporation, and the heads of other
relevant Federal agencies, shall submit to the appropriate
congressional committees a 5-year strategy to support inclusive
economic growth and development in the Northern Triangle
countries by carrying out the initiatives described in
subsection (a).
(2) Consultation.--In developing the strategy required
under paragraph (1), the Secretary of State shall consult with
nongovernmental organizations in the Northern Triangle
countries and the United States.
(3) Benchmarks.--The strategy required under paragraph (1)
shall include annual benchmarks to track the strategy's
progress in curbing irregular migration from the Northern
Triangle to the United States.
(4) Public diplomacy.--The strategy required under
paragraph (1) shall include a public diplomacy strategy for
educating citizens of the Northern Triangle countries about
United States assistance and its benefits to them, and
informing such citizens of the dangers of illegal migration to
the United States.
(5) Annual progress updates.--Not later than 1 year after
the submission of the strategy required under paragraph (1) and
annually thereafter for 4 years, the Secretary of State shall
provide the appropriate congressional committees with a written
description of progress made in meeting the benchmarks
established in the strategy.
(6) Public availability.--The strategy required under
paragraph (1) shall be made publicly available on the website
of the Department of State.
(c) Report on Establishing an Investment Fund for the Northern
Triangle Countries and Southern Mexico.--Not later than 180 days after
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Chief Executive Officer of
the United States International Development Finance Corporation shall
submit to the appropriate congressional committees a detailed report
assessing the feasibility, costs, and benefits of the Corporation
establishing an investment fund to promote economic and social
development in the Northern Triangle countries and southern Mexico.
SEC. 4. ACTIONS TO COMBAT CORRUPTION IN THE NORTHERN TRIANGLE.
(a) Secretary of State Prioritization.--The Secretary of State
shall prioritize efforts to combat corruption in the Northern Triangle
countries by carrying out the following initiatives:
(1) Supporting anti-corruption efforts, including by
strengthening national justice systems and attorneys general,
providing technical assistance to financial institutions to
identify money laundering and other financial crimes, breaking
up financial holdings of organized criminal syndicates,
including illegally acquired lands and proceeds from illegal
activities, and supporting independent media and investigative
reporting.
(2) Supporting anti-corruption efforts through bilateral
assistance and complementary support through multilateral anti-
corruption mechanisms when necessary.
(3) Encouraging cooperation agreements between the
Department of State and relevant United States Government
agencies and attorneys general to fight corruption.
(4) Supporting efforts to strengthen special prosecutorial
offices and financial institutions to combat corruption, money
laundering, financial crimes, extortion, human rights crimes,
asset forfeiture, and criminal analysis.
(5) Supporting initiatives to advance judicial integrity
and improve security for members of the judicial sector.
(6) Supporting transparent, merit-based selection processes
for prosecutors and judges and the development of professional
and merit-based civil services.
(7) Supporting the establishment or strengthening of
methods, procedures, and expectations for internal and external
control mechanisms for the security and police services and
judiciary.
(8) Supporting the adoption of appropriate technologies to
combat corruption in public finance.
(b) Strategy.--
(1) Elements.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in
coordination with the Administrator of the United States Agency
for International Development and the heads of other relevant
Federal agencies, shall submit to the appropriate congressional
committees a 5-year strategy to combat corruption in the
Northern Triangle countries by carrying out the initiatives
described in subsection (a).
(2) Consultation.--In developing the strategy required
under paragraph (1), the Secretary of State shall consult with
nongovernmental organizations in the Northern Triangle
countries and the United States.
(3) Benchmarks.--The strategy required under paragraph (1)
shall include annual benchmarks to track the strategy's
progress in curbing irregular migration from the Northern
Triangle to the United States.
(4) Public diplomacy.--The strategy required under
paragraph (1) shall include a public diplomacy strategy for
educating citizens of the Northern Triangle countries about
United States assistance and its benefits to them, and
informing such citizens of the dangers of illegal migration to
the United States.
(5) Annual progress updates.--Not later than 1 year after
the submission of the strategy required under paragraph (1) and
annually thereafter for 4 years, the Secretary of State shall
provide the appropriate congressional committees with a written
description of progress made in meeting the benchmarks
established in the strategy.
(6) Public availability.--The strategy required under
paragraph (1) shall be made publicly available on the website
of the Department of State.
(c) Designation of a Senior Rule of Law Advisor for the Northern
Triangle in the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs.--The Secretary of
State shall designate in the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs of
the Department of State a Senior Rule of Law Advisor for the Northern
Triangle who shall lead diplomatic engagement with the Northern
Triangle countries in support of democratic governance, anti-corruption
efforts, and the rule of law in all aspects of United States policy
towards the countries of the Northern Triangle, including carrying out
the initiatives described in subsection (a) and developing the strategy
required under subsection (b). The individual designated in accordance
with this subsection shall be a Department of State employee in the
Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs.
SEC. 5. ACTIONS TO STRENGTHEN DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS IN THE NORTHERN
TRIANGLE.
(a) Secretary of State Prioritization.--The Secretary of State
shall prioritize strengthening democratic institutions, good
governance, human rights, and the rule of law in the Northern Triangle
countries by carrying out the following initiatives:
(1) Providing support to strengthen government institutions
and actors at the local and national levels to provide services
and respond to citizen needs through transparent, inclusive,
and democratic processes.
(2) Supporting efforts to strengthen access to information
laws and reform laws that currently limit access to
information.
(3) Financing efforts to build the capacity of independent
media with a specific focus on professional investigative
journalism.
(4) Ensuring that threats and attacks on journalists and
human rights defenders are fully investigated and perpetrators
are held accountable.
(5) Developing the capacity of civil society to conduct
oversight and accountability mechanisms at the national and
local levels.
(6) Training political actors committed to democratic
principles.
(7) Strengthening electoral institutions and processes to
ensure free, fair, and transparent elections.
(8) Advancing conservation principles and the rule of law
to address multiple factors, including the impacts of illegal
cattle ranching and smuggling as drivers of deforestation.
(b) Strategy.--
(1) Elements.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in
coordination with the Administrator of the United States Agency
for International Development and the heads of other relevant
Federal agencies, shall submit to the appropriate congressional
committees a strategy to support democratic governance in the
Northern Triangle countries by carrying out the initiatives
described in subsection (a).
(2) Consultation.--In developing the strategy required
under paragraph (1), the Secretary of State shall consult with
nongovernmental organizations in the Northern Triangle
countries and the United States.
(3) Benchmarks.--The strategy required under paragraph (1)
shall include annual benchmarks to track the strategy's
progress in curbing irregular migration from the Northern
Triangle to the United States.
(4) Public diplomacy.--The strategy required under
paragraph (1) shall include a public diplomacy strategy for
educating citizens of the Northern Triangle countries about
United States assistance and its benefits to them, and
informing such citizens of the dangers of illegal migration to
the United States.
(5) Annual progress updates.--Not later than 1 year after
the submission of the strategy required under paragraph (1) and
annually thereafter for 4 years, the Secretary of State shall
provide the appropriate congressional committees with a written
description of progress made in meeting the benchmarks
established in the strategy.
(6) Public availability.--The strategy required under
paragraph (1) shall be made publicly available on the website
of the Department of State.
SEC. 6. ACTIONS TO IMPROVE SECURITY CONDITIONS IN THE NORTHERN
TRIANGLE.
(a) Secretary of State Prioritization.--The Secretary of State
shall prioritize security in the Northern Triangle countries by
carrying out the following initiatives:
(1) Implementing the Central America Regional Security
Initiative of the Department of State.
(2) Continuing the vetting and professionalization of
security services, including the civilian police and military
units.
(3) Supporting efforts to combat the illicit activities of
criminal gangs and transnational criminal organizations,
including MS-13 and the 18th Street Gang, through support to
fully vetted elements of attorneys general offices, appropriate
government institutions, and security services.
(4) Supporting training for fully vetted civilian police
and appropriate security services in criminal investigations,
best practices for citizen security, and human rights.
(5) Providing capacity-building to relevant security
services and attorneys general to support counternarcotics
efforts and combat human trafficking, forcible recruitment of
children and youth by gangs, gender-based violence, and other
illicit activities, including trafficking of wildlife, and
natural resources.
(6) Encouraging collaboration with regional and
international partners in implementing security assistance,
including by supporting cross-border information sharing on
gangs and transnational criminal organizations.
(7) Providing equipment, technology, tools, and training to
security services to assist in border and port inspections.
(8) Providing equipment, technology, tools, and training to
assist security services in counternarcotics and other efforts
to combat illicit activities.
(9) Continuing information sharing regarding known or
suspected terrorists and other individuals and entities that
pose a potential threat to United States national security that
are crossing through or residing in the Northern Triangle.
(10) Supporting information sharing on gangs and
transnational criminal organizations between relevant Federal,
State, and local law enforcement and the governments of the
Northern Triangle countries.
(11) Considering the use of assets and resources of United
States State and local government entities, as appropriate, to
support the activities described in this subsection.
(12) Providing thorough end-use monitoring of equipment,
technology, tools, and training provided pursuant to this
subsection.
(b) Strategy.--
(1) Elements.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in
coordination with the Administrator of the United States Agency
for International Development and the heads of other relevant
Federal agencies, shall submit to the appropriate congressional
committees a 5-year strategy to prioritize the improvement of
security in the Northern Triangle countries by carrying out the
initiatives described in subsection (a).
(2) Consultation.--In developing the strategy required
under paragraph (1), the Secretary of State shall consult with
nongovernmental organizations in the Northern Triangle
countries and the United States.
(3) Benchmarks.--The strategy required under paragraph (1)
shall include annual benchmarks to track the strategy's
progress in curbing irregular migration from the Northern
Triangle to the United States.
(4) Public diplomacy.--The strategy required under
paragraph (1) shall include a public diplomacy strategy for
educating citizens of the Northern Triangle countries about
United States assistance and its benefits to them, and
informing such citizens of the dangers of illegal migration to
the United States.
(5) Annual progress updates.--Not later than 1 year after
the submission of the strategy required under paragraph (1) and
annually thereafter for 4 years, the Secretary of State shall
provide the appropriate congressional committees with a written
description of progress made in meeting the benchmarks
established in the strategy.
(6) Public availability.--The strategy required under
paragraph (1) shall be made publicly available on the website
of the Department of State.
(c) Women and Children Protection Compacts.--
(1) In general.--The President, in consultation with the
Secretary of State, the Administrator of the United States
Agency for International Development, and the heads of other
relevant Federal departments or agencies, is authorized to
enter into bilateral agreements with one or more of the
Governments of El Salvador, Guatemala, or Honduras to provide
United States assistance for the purposes of--
(A) strengthening the capacity of the justice
systems in such countries to protect women and children
fleeing domestic, gang, or drug violence and to serve
victims of domestic violence, sexual assault,
trafficking, or child abuse or neglect, including by
strengthening the capacity of such systems to hold
perpetrators accountable; and
(B) creating, securing, and sustaining safe
communities and schools in such countries, by building
on current approaches to prevent and deter violence
against women and children in such communities or
schools.
(2) Requirements.--An agreement under the authority
provided by paragraph (1)--
(A) shall establish a 3- to 6-year plan to achieve
the objectives described in subparagraphs (A) and (B)
of such paragraph;
(B) shall include measurable goals and indicators
with respect to such objectives;
(C) may not provide for any United States
assistance to be made available directly to any of the
governments of El Salvador, Guatemala, or Honduras; and
(D) may be suspended or terminated with respect to
a country or an entity receiving assistance pursuant to
the agreement, if the Secretary of State determines
that such country or entity has failed to make
sufficient progress towards the goals of the Compact.
SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR ASSISTANCE TO CENTRAL
AMERICA.
(a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated to the
President $577,000,000 for fiscal year 2020 to carry out the United
States Strategy for Engagement in Central America in accordance with
subsection (b). Funds authorized to be appropriated to carry out this
section shall be used only for the purposes set forth in subsection
(b).
(b) Use of Funds.--
(1) In general.--Amounts authorized to be appropriated
pursuant to subsection (a) shall be made available for
assistance to Central American countries to implement the
United States Strategy for Engagement in Central America,
including efforts to carry out sections 3, 4, 5, and 6.
(2) Effective targeting of assistance.--The Secretary of
State shall ensure that, to the extent practicable, assistance
provided to Central American countries to carry out this Act is
obligated and expended on projects, programs, or activities
within such countries, in order to better support inclusive
economic growth and development, combat corruption, strengthen
democratic institutions, and improve security conditions in
such countries.
(c) Inter-American Foundation.--Not less than $10,000,000 of the
funds authorized to be appropriated pursuant to subsection (a) shall be
made available to the Inter-American Foundation to address the root
causes of migration from Central America.
(d) Northern Triangle.--Not less than $490,000,000 of the funds
authorized to be appropriated pursuant to subsection (a) shall be made
available for programming in the Northern Triangle counties.
(e) Women and Children Protection Compacts.--Not less than
$20,000,000 of the funds authorized to be appropriated pursuant to
subsection (a) shall be made available to provide assistance pursuant
to agreements authorized by section 6(c).
SEC. 8. CONDITIONS ON ASSISTANCE TO THE NORTHERN TRIANGLE.
(a) In General.--Of the funds authorized to be appropriated to the
President by this Act that are made available for assistance for each
of the central governments of the Northern Triangle countries, 50
percent of such funds for each such central government may only be
obligated with respect to each such country after the Secretary of
State certifies and reports to the appropriate congressional committees
that such central government is meeting the following conditions:
(1) Informing its citizens of the dangers of the journey to
the southwest border of the United States.
(2) Combating all human smuggling and trafficking entities.
(3) Countering the trafficking of illicit drugs, firearms,
wildlife, natural resources, and other contraband.
(4) Combating corruption, including investigating and
prosecuting current and former government officials credibly
alleged to be corrupt.
(5) Implementing reforms, policies, and programs to
increase transparency and strengthen public institutions and
the rule of law.
(6) Countering the activities of criminal gangs, drug
traffickers, and transnational criminal organizations.
(7) Ensuring that human rights are respected by national
security forces.
(8) Investigating and prosecuting in the civilian justice
system government personnel who are credibly alleged to have
violated human rights.
(9) Cooperating with commissions against corruption and
impunity and with regional human rights entities.
(10) Supporting programs to reduce poverty, expand
education and vocational training for at-risk youth, create
jobs, and promote equitable economic growth, particularly in
areas contributing to large numbers of migrants.
(11) Creating a professional, accountable civilian police
force and ending the role of the military in internal policing.
(12) Protecting the right of political opposition parties
and other members of civil society to operate without
interference.
(13) Implementing tax reforms, ensuring property rights,
and supporting increased private investment in the region.
(14) Resolving commercial disputes.
(b) Reprogramming.--
(1) In general.--Funds withheld pursuant to the limitation
described in subsection (a) shall be made available for
programs in the Northern Triangle that do not directly support
the central governments of such countries.
(2) Exception.--The limitation described in subsection (a)
does not apply to funds authorized to be appropriated by this
Act for humanitarian assistance or global food security
programs.
SEC. 9. ENHANCING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF MEXICO ON THE
NORTHERN TRIANGLE.
(a) Enhanced Engagement With the Government of Mexico on the
Northern Triangle.--The Secretary of State shall collaborate with the
Government of Mexico to--
(1) enhance development, particularly in collaboration with
the Administrator of the United States Agency for International
Development, the President and Chief Executive Officer of the
Inter-American Foundation, the Chief Executive Officer of the
United States International Development Finance Corporation,
and the heads of other relevant Federal agencies, in southern
Mexico; and
(2) strengthen security cooperation at Mexico's shared
border with Guatemala and Belize.
(b) Strategy.--
(1) Elements.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit
to the appropriate congressional committees a strategy to carry
out the collaboration described in subsection (a).
(2) Consultation.--In developing the strategy required
under paragraph (1), the Secretary of State shall consult with
nongovernmental organizations in Mexico, Belize, the Northern
Triangle countries, and the United States.
(3) Public availability.--The strategy required under
paragraph (1) shall be made publicly available on the website
of the Department of State.
SEC. 10. TARGETING ASSISTANCE TO ADDRESS MIGRATION FROM COMMUNITIES IN
THE NORTHERN TRIANGLE.
Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act
and annually thereafter for each of the three succeeding years, the
Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the
appropriate congressional committees a report that contains the
following:
(1) Raw data from Federal agencies on the number of
migrants coming to the United States from each community or
geographic area in the Northern Triangle countries, with a
specific focus on communities targeted by United States foreign
assistance.
(2) An assessment of whether United States foreign
assistance to the Northern Triangle countries is effectively
reaching the communities from which individuals are migrating.
(3) An assessment of the extent to which United States
foreign assistance is mitigating Northern Triangle migration to
the United States, including a breakdown of effectiveness by
project and implementer.
(4) An assessment of the extent to which the Department of
State and the United States Agency for International
Development are adjusting foreign assistance programming in the
Northern Triangle countries as migration patterns shift.
(5) An assessment of how the Department of State, the
United States Agency for International Development, and other
implementers of United States foreign assistance in the
Northern Triangle are measuring the impact of programs on
migration trends.
(6) An assessment of how the Department of State, the
United States Agency for International Development, and other
implementers of United States foreign assistance in the
Northern Triangle are implementing a public diplomacy strategy
that is widely informing local citizens about United States
Government assistance and the dangers of illegal migration to
the United States, including an assessment of the effectiveness
of such strategy on curbing such illegal migration.
(7) An assessment of the extent to which the governments of
the Northern Triangle countries are addressing drivers of
migration, including efforts to increase economic prosperity,
citizen security, anti-corruption efforts, democratic
principles, and rule of law.
(8) An assessment of how the Northern Triangle countries
are educating their citizens about the dangers of illegal
migration to the United States and the effectiveness of such
educational efforts on curbing such illegal migration.
SEC. 11. TARGETED SANCTIONS TO FIGHT CORRUPTION IN THE NORTHERN
TRIANGLE.
(a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) corruption in the Northern Triangle countries by
private citizens and select officials in local, regional, and
federal governments significantly damages the economies of such
countries and deprives citizens of opportunities;
(2) corruption in the Northern Triangle is facilitated and
carried out not only by private citizens and select officials
from those countries but also in many instances by individuals
from third countries; and
(3) imposing targeted sanctions on individuals from
throughout the world and particularly in the Western Hemisphere
who are engaged in acts of significant corruption that impact
the Northern Triangle countries will benefit the citizens and
governments of such countries.
(b) Imposition of Sanctions.--The President shall impose the
sanctions described in subsection (c) with respect to a foreign person
who the President determines on or after the date of the enactment of
this Act to have knowingly engaged in significant corruption in a
Northern Triangle country, including the following:
(1) Corruption related to government contracts.
(2) Bribery and extortion.
(3) The facilitation or transfer of the proceeds of
corruption, including through money laundering.
(c) Sanctions Described.--
(1) In general.--The sanctions described in this subsection
are the following:
(A) Asset blocking.--The blocking, in accordance
with the International Emergency Economic Powers Act
(50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), of all transactions in all
property and interests in property of a foreign person
if such property and interests in property are in the
United States, come within the United States, or are or
come within the possession or control of a United
States person.
(B) Ineligibility for visas and admission to the
united states.--In the case of a foreign person who is
an individual, such foreign person is--
(i) inadmissible to the United States;
(ii) ineligible to receive a visa or other
documentation to enter the United States; and
(iii) otherwise ineligible to be admitted
or paroled into the United States or to receive
any other benefit under the Immigration and
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.).
(C) Current visas revoked.--
(i) In general.--The issuing consular
officer or the Secretary of State, (or a
designee of the Secretary of State) shall, in
accordance with section 221(i) of the
Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C.
1201(i)), revoke any visa or other entry
documentation issued to a foreign person
regardless of when the visa or other entry
documentation is issued.
(ii) Effect of revocation.--A revocation
under clause (i) shall--
(I) take effect immediately; and
(II) automatically cancel any other
valid visa or entry documentation that
is in the foreign person's possession.
(2) Penalties.--A person that violates, attempts to
violate, conspires to violate, or causes a violation of a
measure imposed pursuant to paragraph (1)(A) or any regulation,
license, or order issued to carry out such paragraph shall be
subject to the penalties specified in subsections (b) and (c)
of section 206 of the International Emergency Economic Powers
Act (50 U.S.C. 1705) to the same extent as a person that
commits an unlawful act described in subsection (a) of such
section.
(3) Exception to comply with international obligations.--
Sanctions under subparagraph (B) and (C) of paragraph (1) shall
not apply with respect to a foreign person if admitting or
paroling such person into the United States is necessary to
permit the United States to comply with the Agreement regarding
the Headquarters of the United Nations, signed at Lake Success
June 26, 1947, and entered into force November 21, 1947,
between the United Nations and the United States, or other
applicable international obligations.
(d) Implementation; Regulatory Authority.--
(1) Implementation.--The President may exercise all
authorities provided under sections 203 and 205 of the
International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1702 and
1704) to carry out this section.
(2) Regulatory authority.--The President shall issue such
regulations, licenses, and orders as are necessary to carry out
this section.
(e) National Interest Waiver.--The President may waive the
application of the sanctions under subsection (c) if the President--
(1) determines that such a waiver is in the national
interest of the United States; and
(2) submits to the appropriate congressional committees a
notice of and justification for the waiver.
(f) Termination.--The authority to impose sanctions under
subsection (b), and any sanctions imposed pursuant to such authority,
shall expire on the date that is 3 years after the date of the
enactment of this Act.
(g) Exception Relating to Importation of Goods.--The authorities
and requirements to impose sanctions authorized under this Act shall
not include the authority or requirement to impose sanctions on the
importation of goods.
(h) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term
``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
(A) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee
on the Judiciary, and the Committee on Financial
Services of the House of Representatives; and
(B) the Committee on Foreign Relations, the
Committee on the Judiciary, and the Committee on
Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate.
(2) Good.--The term ``good'' means any article, natural or
man-made substance, material, supply or manufactured product,
including inspection and test equipment, and excluding
technical data.
(3) Person from a northern triangle country.--The term
``person from a Northern Triangle country'' means--
(A) a citizen of a Northern Triangle country; or
(B) an entity organized under the laws of a
Northern Triangle country or any jurisdiction within a
Northern Triangle country.
SEC. 12. REQUIREMENT TO PROVIDE ADVANCE NOTIFICATION TO CONGRESS OF
SECURITY ASSISTANCE TO NORTHERN TRIANGLE COUNTRIES.
(a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the
President may not provide security assistance to a Northern Triangle
country during the 3-year period beginning on the date of the enactment
of this Act until 30 days after the date on which the President has
provided to the appropriate congressional committees notice of such
proposed provision of security assistance.
(b) Waiver.--The President may waive the application of subsection
(a) on a case-by-case basis if the President--
(1) determines it is in the national security interests of
the United States to do so; and
(2) submits to the appropriate congressional committees
such determination and the rationale for the determination.
(c) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term
``appropriate congressional committees'' means the Committee on
Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate.
(2) Security assistance.--The term ``security
assistance''--
(A) has the meaning given such term in section
502B(d)(2) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22
U.S.C. 2304); and
(B) includes assistance under any international
security assistance program conducted under any other
provision of law not specified in section 502B(d)(2) of
such Act.
SEC. 13. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Appropriate congressional committees.--Except as
otherwise provided, the term ``appropriate congressional
committees'' means--
(A) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the
Committee on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives; and
(B) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the
Committee on Appropriations of the Senate.
(2) Northern triangle.--The term ``Northern Triangle''
means the region of Central America that encompasses the
countries of El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras.
(3) Northern triangle countries.--The term ``Northern
Triangle countries'' means the countries of El Salvador,
Guatemala, and Honduras.
(4) Transnational criminal organization.--The term
``transnational criminal organization'' has the meaning given
the term ``significant transnational criminal organization'' in
Executive Order No. 13581 (July 24, 2011).
SEC. 14. DETERMINATION OF BUDGETARY EFFECTS.
The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of complying
with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go-Act of 2010, shall be determined by
reference to the latest statement titled ``Budgetary Effects of PAYGO
Legislation'' for this Act, submitted for printing in the Congressional
Record by the Chairman of the House Budget Committee, provided that
such statement has been submitted prior to the vote on passage.
Passed the House of Representatives July 15, 2019.
Attest:
CHERYL L. JOHNSON,
Clerk.