[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.
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