[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 178 (Friday, December 9, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7127-S7128]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        UNITED STATES-CARIBBEAN STRATEGIC ENGAGEMENT ACT OF 2016

  Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 713, H.R. 4939.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A 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.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill, 
which had been reported from the Committee on Foreign Relations, with 
an amendment to strike all after the enacting clause and insert in lieu 
thereof the following:

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

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

[[Page S7128]]

  


     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 and with civil society, including the 
     private sector, 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 enduring 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, and affordable power;
       (7) advance cooperation on democracy and human rights at 
     multilateral fora;
       (8) continue support for public health advances and 
     cooperation on health concerns and threats to the Caribbean 
     region; and
       (9) expand Internet access throughout the region, 
     especially to countries lacking the appropriate 
     infrastructure.

     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 to support the efforts of interested 
     nations in the Caribbean region that--
       (1) identifies Department of State and USAID priorities, in 
     coordination with other executive branch agencies, for United 
     States policy towards the Caribbean region;
       (2) outlines an approach to partner with 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 longevity of the Caribbean 
     Basin Security Initiative;
       (3) establishes a comprehensive, integrated, multi-year 
     strategy to encourage efforts of the Caribbean region to 
     implement regional and national strategies that improve 
     energy security, by increasing access to all available 
     sources of energy, including by taking advantage of the 
     indigenous energy sources of the Caribbean and the ongoing 
     energy revolution in the United States;
       (4) 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;
       (5) Describes how the United States can develop an approach 
     to supporting Caribbean countries in efforts they are willing 
     to undertake with their own resources to diversify their 
     economies;
       (6) describes ways to ensure the active participation of 
     citizens of the Caribbean in existing program and initiatives 
     administered by the Department of State's Bureau of 
     Educational and Cultural Affairs; and
       (7) reflects the input of other executive branch agencies, 
     as appropriate.

     SEC. 4. BRIEFINGS.

       The Secretary of State shall offer to the appropriate 
     congressional committees annual briefings 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 2 years after the submission of the strategy 
     required under section 3, the President shall submit to the 
     appropriate congressional committees a report on progress 
     made toward implementing the strategy.

     SEC. 6. REPORTING COST OFFSET.

       Section 601(c)(4) of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 
     U.S.C. 4001(c)(4)) is amended by striking ``the following:'' 
     and all that follows through ``(B) A workforce plan'' and 
     inserting ``a workforce plan''.

     SEC. 7. 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(d)(2) of the 
     Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2304(d)(2)).

  Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. President, I further ask unanimous consent that the 
Corker amendment be agreed to, the committee-reported substitute 
amendment, as amended, be agreed to; the bill, as amended, be read a 
third time and passed; and the motions to reconsider be considered made 
and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The amendment (No. 5177) was agreed to, as follows:

   (Purpose: To revise the multi-year strategy requirement regarding 
        diplomatic engagement with Caribbean region governments)

       On page 11, beginning on line 3, strike ``with respect to'' 
     and all that follows through line 5 and insert ``with respect 
     to human rights and democracy''.

  The committee-reported amendment in the nature of a substitute, as 
amended, was agreed to.
  The bill (H.R. 4939), as amended, was ordered to a third reading, was 
read the third time, and passed.

                          ____________________