[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 93 (Monday, June 13, 2016)]
[House]
[Pages H3724-H3727]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        UNITED STATES-CARIBBEAN STRATEGIC ENGAGEMENT ACT OF 2016

  Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(H.R. 4939) to increase engagement with the governments of the 
Caribbean region, the Caribbean diaspora community in the United 
States, and the private sector and civil society in both the United 
States and the Caribbean, and for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 4939

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``United States-Caribbean 
     Strategic Engagement Act of 2016''.

     SEC. 2. STATEMENT OF POLICY.

       Congress declares that it is the policy of the United 
     States to increase engagement with the governments of the 
     Caribbean region, the Caribbean diaspora community in the 
     United States, and the private sector and civil society in 
     both the United States and the Caribbean in a concerted 
     effort to--
       (1) enhance diplomatic relations between the United States 
     and the Caribbean region;
       (2) increase economic cooperation between the United States 
     and the Caribbean region;
       (3) support regional economic, political, and security 
     integration efforts in the Caribbean region;
       (4) encourage sustainable economic development and 
     increased regional economic diversification and global 
     competitiveness;
       (5) reduce levels of crime and violence, curb the 
     trafficking of illicit drugs, strengthen the rule of law, and 
     improve citizen security;
       (6) improve energy security by increasing access to 
     diverse, reliable, affordable, and sustainable power;
       (7) advance cooperation on democracy and human rights in 
     the Caribbean region and at multilateral fora; and
       (8) continue support for public health advances and 
     cooperation on health concerns and threats to the Caribbean 
     region.

     SEC. 3. STRATEGY.

       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 (USAID), shall submit to the appropriate 
     congressional committees a multi-year strategy for United 
     States engagement with the Caribbean region that--
       (1) identifies Department of State and USAID efforts, in 
     coordination with other executive branch agencies, to 
     prioritize United States policy towards the Caribbean region;
       (2) outlines an approach to broaden Department of State and 
     USAID outreach to the Caribbean diaspora community in the 
     United States to promote their involvement and participation 
     in the economic development and citizen security of the 
     Caribbean region;
       (3) outlines an approach to partner with the governments of 
     the Caribbean region to improve citizen security, reduce the 
     trafficking of illicit drugs, strengthen the rule of law, and 
     improve the effectiveness and sustainability of the Caribbean 
     Basin Security Initiative;
       (4) establishes a comprehensive, integrated, multi-year 
     strategy to encourage the efforts of the Caribbean region to 
     implement regional and national strategies that improve 
     energy security by increasing access to diverse, reliable, 
     affordable, and sustainable power, including significant 
     renewable energy resources within the Caribbean region such 
     as biomass, geothermal, hydropower, solar, tidal, waste-to-
     energy, and wind, and by taking advantage of the ongoing 
     energy revolution in the Unites States;
       (5) outlines an approach to improve diplomatic engagement 
     with the governments of the Caribbean region, including with 
     respect to key votes on human rights and democracy at the 
     United Nations and the Organization of American States;
       (6) develops an approach to assisting Caribbean countries 
     in the diversification of their economies, the reduction of 
     legal, technical, and administrative barriers that prevent 
     the free flow of foreign direct investment and trade to and 
     from each country and within the Caribbean region, and 
     support for the training and employment of youth and citizens 
     in marginalized communities; and
       (7) reflects the input of other executive branch agencies, 
     as appropriate.

     SEC. 4. BRIEFINGS.

       The Secretary of State shall provide annual briefings to 
     the appropriate congressional committees that review 
     Department of State efforts to implement the strategy for 
     United States engagement with the Caribbean region in 
     accordance with section 3.

     SEC. 5. PROGRESS REPORT.

       Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act and biennially thereafter for the following four 
     years, the President shall transmit to the appropriate 
     congressional committees a report on progress made toward to 
     implementing the strategy for United States engagement with 
     the Caribbean region in accordance with section 3.

[[Page H3725]]

  


     SEC. 6. GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE REPORT ON CARIBBEAN 
                   BASIN SECURITY INITIATIVE.

       Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall 
     submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report 
     that contains the following:
       (1) An evaluation of the Caribbean Basin Security 
     Initiative (CBSI) and the extent to which the CBSI has met 
     Department of State and USAID benchmarks.
       (2) An accounting of CBSI funding appropriated, obligated, 
     and expended from fiscal year 2010 through fiscal year 2016.
       (3) A breakdown of yearly CBSI assistance provided to each 
     CBSI country.
       (4) A description of how CBSI is coordinated with other 
     security assistance programs in the Western Hemisphere, 
     particularly the Merida Initiative and the Central America 
     Regional Security Initiative, and the role of the Department 
     of State's Senior Coordinator for the Citizen Security 
     Initiatives in the Western Hemisphere in such coordination.
       (5) A description of all United States security assistance 
     provided to the Caribbean region, exclusive of assistance 
     through CBSI.
       (6) Recommendations for legislative and executive action to 
     make CBSI more effective and efficient, as appropriate.

     SEC. 7. GAO REPORT ON DIPLOMATIC ENGAGEMENT IN THE EASTERN 
                   CARIBBEAN.

       Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall 
     submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report 
     that contains the following:
       (1) An evaluation of United States diplomatic outreach from 
     the United States embassy in Barbados to the countries of 
     Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia 
     and St. Vincent, and the Grenadines.
       (2) A list of visits over the previous five years of 
     personnel at the United States embassy in Barbados to the 
     countries of Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, St. Kitts and 
     Nevis, St. Lucia and St. Vincent, and the Grenadines.
       (3) A description of how personnel at the United States 
     embassy in Barbados have engaged with government officials 
     and civil society organizations in Antigua and Barbuda, 
     Dominica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia and St. Vincent, and 
     the Grenadines over the previous five years.
       (4) A description of how personnel at the United States 
     embassy in Grenada have engaged with government officials and 
     civil society organizations over the previous five years.

     SEC. 8. REPORTING COST OFFSET.

       Paragraph (4) of section 601(c) of the Foreign Service Act 
     of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 4001(c)) is amended in the matter 
     preceding subparagraph (A), by striking ``the following:'' 
     and all that follows through ``A workforce plan'' and 
     inserting ``a workforce plan'' and adjusting the margins 
     accordingly.

     SEC. 9. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (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) Caribbean region.--The term ``Caribbean region'' means 
     the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative beneficiary 
     countries.
       (3) Security assistance.--The term ``security assistance'' 
     has the meaning given such term in section 502B(b) of the 
     Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2304(d)).

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Royce) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.


                             General Leave

  Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to 
include any extraneous material on this bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this bill. This is the United 
States-Caribbean Strategic Engagement Act. It is authored by the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel), the committee's ranking member. As 
always, I appreciate him working closely with Chairman Emeritus Ileana 
Ros-Lehtinen to ensure this legislation's swift passage. These two 
Members have been particularly committed to developments in our 
Southern Hemisphere.
  For over a decade, Caribbean nations have received subsidized 
Venezuelan oil in exchange for their support of the authoritarian 
government of Hugo Chavez and now Nicolas Maduro. However, subsidized 
Venezuelan oil has done nothing to help the Caribbean address their 
need for a diversified energy strategy and instead has kept much of the 
region beholden to the Venezuelan strongmen.
  With Venezuela's inflation rate expected to rise to 500 percent this 
year, fueled partially by the low price of oil, the nations of the 
Caribbean have seen a marked decrease in oil shipments. Meanwhile, 
years of authoritarian socialism are coming to a head in Venezuela, as 
the political and economic crisis there threatens almost certain 
implosion.
  This presents an important responsibility here, a responsibility for 
the United States to finally develop a comprehensive strategy on how 
best to engage nations of the Caribbean diplomatically, how to help the 
region improve energy security, how to reduce violence and drug 
trafficking, and advance cooperation with regional governments on 
democracy and human rights in international organizations, particularly 
in the Organization of American States, as we know it, the OAS.
  So this legislation, authored by Eliot Engel, will require the State 
Department and USAID to develop that comprehensive and clear strategy 
on how best to engage the Caribbean region, and it also requires the 
Government Accountability Office to evaluate the Caribbean Basin 
Security Initiative so that we can be sure we are truly advancing our 
interests in the region using the best and most efficient approach.
  During this time of competing priorities and limited resources, this 
bill seeks to ensure that our government is not neglecting this key 
region so close to our shores; and, frankly, it is in our hemisphere, 
so we should not neglect it while developing a strategy that ensures 
the effectiveness of our diplomatic engagement with each Caribbean 
nation.
  I once again thank the author, Ranking Member Engel, for his 
leadership and attention to the Western Hemisphere and thank Ileana 
Ros-Lehtinen for her commitment as well, specifically to the Caribbean 
Basin.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time and yield the remainder 
of my time to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) and ask 
unanimous consent that she be allowed to manage that time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  I thank Chairman Royce and my good friend Mr. Engel for their 
continued leadership, both of these great leaders, their longstanding 
engagement to greater engagement with the Caribbean and for introducing 
this bill that we have before us today, H.R. 4939, the United States-
Caribbean Strategic Engagement Act.
  I am also pleased to be an original cosponsor and the Republican lead 
of Mr. Engel's legislation. I thank Mr. Engel. It is fitting that we 
bring this bill to the floor today, Mr. Speaker, during National 
Caribbean American Heritage Month.
  As a Member from south Florida, I see firsthand the wonderful 
contributions that Caribbean Americans have made to our local 
communities. The Caribbean culture has had a great and lasting impact 
on our country and has helped bolster our society and has enriched our 
traditions.
  But while we celebrate the contributions of the Caribbean American 
community to our country, we must also dedicate ourselves to doing more 
to enhance our relations with our neighbors. U.S. foreign policy in 
recent administrations--be they Republican or Democratic--have not 
strengthened our partnerships with the Caribbean in the right way. As 
the gentleman from California (Mr. Royce), our chairman, pointed out, 
our influence and friendship with these nations has waned, allowing the 
negative influence of the dictatorships in Cuba and Venezuela to take 
root in the Caribbean.
  Deepening our strategic relationship with the Caribbean represents an 
extraordinary opportunity to expand our economic ties, to cooperate on 
security issues, and to advance our values, our interests at 
institutions such as the OAS, the Organization of American States, and 
the U.N., the United Nations.
  That is why, Mr. Speaker, this bill is so important. It pushes the 
State Department to prioritize our relations

[[Page H3726]]

with the Caribbean nations. It requires our State Department to develop 
a strategy to partner with our friends in the region on all issues, 
from counternarcotics efforts, to energy security, to everything.
  There is great potential for energy in the Caribbean, for example, 
but we must help nations break from their dependency on Venezuelan 
energy, especially as the Maduro regime is leading that nation to total 
chaos. We should help our neighbors take advantage of abundant and 
cheap natural gas and new, advanced, clean wind and solar technologies. 
In this way, we can help strengthen the economies of the region from 
the impact of the Venezuelan collapse--because the collapse is coming, 
Mr. Speaker--and take realistic steps toward reducing carbon emissions.

  This engagement has the benefit of being positive and sound foreign 
policy, but it is also great for our domestic policy. This bill will 
broaden our outreach to the Caribbean diaspora community here in the 
United States, which has been so instrumental in helping to shape and 
influence our great American story, and they deserve recognition and 
greater collaboration.
  I urge my colleagues to give their strong support for this bill. I 
thank Ranking Member Engel for his leadership, as well as Chairman 
Royce, on this important initiative.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this bill, which I was 
proud to introduce, and I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I want to thank our chairman, Ed Royce, for bringing forward my 
legislation to ramp up our country's engagement with our Caribbean 
neighbors. I also want to thank our former chair, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, 
who joined me in offering this bill and who knows better than anyone 
the strategic importance of the Caribbean region.
  We spend a great deal of time focusing on challenges and 
opportunities in faraway places, but it is important that we never lose 
sight of our interests closer to home. Indeed, we should be working to 
strengthen our ties with countries in the Caribbean. That is the aim of 
this bill, which would prioritize U.S.-Caribbean relations for years to 
come.
  This bill would require the Secretary of State, along with the USAID 
Administrator, to devise a multiyear strategy for Caribbean engagement.

                              {time}  1800

  We want to see how our diplomatic and development efforts are focused 
on the Caribbean, with particular attention to energy security, the 
rule of law, efforts to combat drug trafficking, and ways to enhance 
economic cooperation.
  We also want to increase our engagement when it comes to regional 
issues by improving our diplomatic efforts with respect to key votes at 
the United Nations and the Organization of American States.
  In my view, the best way to put together a new strategy toward the 
Caribbean is to tap into the large and vibrant Caribbean American 
community here in the United States. I did that for the 4 years that I 
was chairman of the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee of the Foreign 
Affairs Committee.
  So this bill underscores the importance of consulting with the 
Caribbean diaspora community, promoting their involvement in economic 
development, and civilian security in the Caribbean.
  Finally, H.R. 4939 commissions two reports from the Government 
Accountability Office, or GAO--one which evaluates the Caribbean Basin 
Security Initiative and another which assesses U.S. diplomatic 
engagement in the eastern Caribbean.
  I have long believed that we do a real disservice to our country by 
having no physical diplomatic presence in five of the countries in the 
eastern Caribbean: Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, St. Kitts and Nevis, 
St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
  I have long said it makes no sense for us to continue to conduct 
diplomacy on these islands from our embassy in Barbados. They say you 
can't conduct diplomacy from a bunker. It is also true that you cannot 
conduct diplomacy from hundreds of miles away.
  I hope to work with the State Department to ensure that we establish 
a diplomatic presence in the eastern Caribbean as soon as possible. 
China has it. Venezuela has it. Others have it. We should have it.
  It is especially appropriate that we are considering this bill in 
June, which is National Caribbean American Heritage Month. As the 
President said in his proclamation: ``The bonds between the United 
States and the Caribbean remain strong. Both rooted in similar 
legacies--of trial and triumph, oppression and liberation--our 
narratives have advanced on a similar path of progress, driven forward 
by our shared dedication to fostering opportunity and forging a 
brighter future.''
  I couldn't agree more.
  I urge my colleagues to support this measure.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of 
my time.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Lee), a leader on the Caribbean and author of a 
resolution honoring Caribbean American Heritage Month.
  Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, first, let me take a moment to offer my 
condolences and prayers to the families and victims of the horrific gun 
violence against the LGBT community in Orlando. These despicable acts 
have shattered the lives of so many people. Our response must be not 
only in words, but also in deeds and in action.
  My congressional district has and will continue its outpouring of 
sympathy and support for the people of Orlando, and we stand ready to 
assist in whatever way is needed.
  Let me now take a moment to thank Chairman Royce and Congresswoman 
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. I also thank Congressman Engel for yielding and 
for his tremendous leadership on the Foreign Affairs Committee. I had 
the honor to serve on the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee of the 
Foreign Affairs Committee for several years when Mr. Engel was chair. 
We talked early on about the importance of the Caribbean as a region 
and how we must make it a priority in our foreign policy.
  So today I want to thank both sides: our ranking member, Chairman 
Royce, Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, and especially Mr. Engel, for 
not just their words, but also their tremendous leadership, as 
demonstrated by this important bill. It has taken a while to get to 
this point, but thank goodness we are doing this in a bipartisan way. 
So I just want to thank them very much for that.
  As a lead cosponsor, of course, I stand in strong support of H.R. 
4939. The bill would enhance U.S.-Caribbean relationships by requiring 
the Secretary of State, in coordination with the administrator of 
USAID, to submit a multiyear strategy for U.S. engagement with our 
Caribbean neighbors to Congress.
  I just want to, again, thank both sides. I remember when we had to 
work to really get the Caribbean to be included in all PEPFAR 
legislation, programs, and funding. So that was a major step in the 
right direction.
  This is a huge step now in moving forward. This bill is very timely. 
It is a very important bill. As a long-time supporter of the Caribbean 
and a frequent visitor to the region--actually, my son attended school 
in Grenada.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentlewoman has expired.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield the gentlewoman an additional 1 
minute.
  Ms. LEE. As I said, my son attended school in Grenada, and I am a 
frequent visitor to the region. So I am very proud to see us debate 
this today and, hopefully, pass the bill again on June 13.
  Congress unanimously passed H. Con. Res. 71, which Mr. Engel and Ms. 
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen referenced. I authored that, actually, in February 
2006, when President Bush was in office. He signed it. Since then, 
President Obama has issued a proclamation annually recognizing June as 
Caribbean American Heritage Month.
  Caribbean Americans have contributed immensely to the fabric of the 
United States. So as we celebrate this month, we are reminded also of 
the relationship between the United States and our Caribbean neighbors. 
This bill does that and more.

[[Page H3727]]

  H.R. 4939 strengthens and enhances ties between the U.S. and the 
Caribbean by promoting energy sustainability, diplomatic relations, and 
economic cooperation. Caribbean countries, unfortunately, have been 
neglected in our foreign policy. This bill brings a focus on making the 
Caribbean region and the West Indies a priority.

  So, Mr. Speaker, now is the time for the United States to recommit 
our strong priorities with our Caribbean neighbors. We must revitalize 
and enhance our outreach to our Caribbean neighbors now and in the 
future. This bill does just that. I urge an ``aye'' vote.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Rhode 
Island (Mr. Cicilline), a very valued member of the Foreign Affairs 
Committee.
  Mr. CICILLINE. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, before I begin my remarks, I, too, extend my prayers and 
sympathy to the people of Orlando. My constituents, like all Americans, 
are brokenhearted at this monstrous act of violence visited upon a 
community gathered together to enjoy friendship and community and to 
celebrate. This act of cowardice has caused so much pain to the LGBT 
community in Orlando and to our community all across this country. I 
know I speak for everyone when I say we stand ready to do everything 
that we can to help this community heal and to keep our communities 
safe.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4939, the United 
States-Caribbean Strategic Engagement Act of 2016.
  My home State of Rhode Island is home to many Caribbean Americans, 
particularly from the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and other countries in 
the region. It is critical to strengthen our relationship with these 
countries not just because of the national security interests we share, 
but also to support the interests of our constituents and their ties to 
this region.
  Geographic proximity has ensured strong linkages between the United 
States and the Caribbean region. H.R. 4939 will further enhance this 
relationship. Our interests in the regions are diverse, including 
economic, political, and security concerns.
  Despite its importance to the United States, the Caribbean often gets 
overlooked as we deal with concerns and threats from other regions of 
the world. Our Caribbean neighbors are important partners at the United 
Nations and the Organization of American States. Increasing engagements 
with the governments and the Caribbean diaspora in the United States, 
as well as the private sector and civil society in both the United 
States and the Caribbean, will be beneficial to everyone.
  H.R. 4939 will enhance diplomatic relations, increase economic 
cooperation, support security integration efforts to help reduce 
violence and drug trafficking, advance cooperation on democracy and 
human rights in the region and at multilateral fora, and enhance 
cooperation in combating public health threats.
  I want to end by thanking Ranking Member Engel, Chairman Royce, and 
subcommittee chair Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, and all the sponsors of this 
important bill, and I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, in April of 2009, I had the honor of joining President 
Obama in Trinidad and Tobago for the Summit of the Americas. That was 
one of his first trips abroad as President. I was chairman of the 
Western Hemisphere Subcommittee at the time.
  At that time, the President said: ``The energy, the dynamism, the 
diversity of the Caribbean people inspires us all, and are such an 
important part of what we share in common as a hemisphere.''
  Seven years later, those words continue to ring true. In that time, 
we have made a lot of progress. The Caribbean Basin Security Initiative 
and the Caribbean Energy Security Initiative have brought us closer to 
our Caribbean partners on a range of shared concerns. Let me say that 
Vice President Biden deserves a great deal of credit for this progress, 
but more needs to be done.
  For example, this week, Secretary Kerry is in the Dominican Republic 
for the general assembly meeting of the OAS, the Organization of 
American States, which has its headquarters right here in Washington, 
D.C. We are confronting some serious issues at this meeting, including 
the crisis in Venezuela.
  The Caribbean countries represented there will play a major role, and 
the more we work in partnership with these governments, the better. 
These may be small countries, but they pack a big punch in what is 
going on in our neighborhood. This legislation will keep us moving in 
the right direction when it comes to these partnerships.
  I was very honored to introduce the bill, and I am honored that we 
have strong support on both sides of the aisle. I, again, want to thank 
Chairman Royce and Chairwoman Emeritus Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, both 
excellent members and real, stalwart support for this committee. This 
is another example of bipartisanship on the House Foreign Affairs 
Committee. I am very, very proud of that. So this will keep us moving 
in the right direction.
  I urge a ``yes'' vote.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank, once again, Ranking Member Engel for his 
tremendous leadership and all of his efforts to promote stronger 
relationships with nations within our own hemisphere.
  I have the distinct pleasure, as I have said, to represent south 
Florida in Congress. We have many, many constituents in my district 
from the Caribbean. Part of what makes south Florida so unique is the 
contribution of the Caribbean diaspora.
  What we have here during Caribbean American Heritage Month is an 
opportunity to strengthen the U.S.-Caribbean alliance and contribute in 
a meaningful and positive way to our neighbors.
  We have been in a crisis mode, Mr. Speaker, focusing most of our 
attention on the many areas that, rightfully, demand our attention 
overseas, but it would be in both of our long-term interests, as well 
as our near-term interests, to develop mutually beneficial and 
strategic alliances close to home with the Caribbean nations.
  Just think of all the economic opportunities that we can help in 
working with our neighbors to open up. We have a great opportunity with 
this bill to help them diversify their economies by tearing down 
burdensome barriers that are preventing them from taking advantage of 
direct foreign investment and trade. That can lead to greater growth, 
more stability for the Caribbean, for the diaspora, and for the United 
States as a whole.
  So I urge my colleagues to support passage of this important bill. I 
look forward to continuing to work with Mr. Engel and Mr. Royce to 
develop even stronger ties to our neighbors in the hemisphere.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4939, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further 
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.

                          ____________________