[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 117 (Thursday, June 25, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3550-S3551]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 2129. Mr. RUBIO submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
him to the bill S. 4049, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 
2021 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military 
construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, 
to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for 
other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the end of section G of title XII, add the following:

     SEC. __. WESTERN HEMISPHERE SECURITY STRATEGY.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense and the 
     Secretary of State shall jointly submit to appropriate 
     committees of Congress a strategy for enhancing security 
     cooperation and security assistance, and advancing United 
     States strategic interests, in the Western Hemisphere.
       (b) Elements.--The strategy required by subsection (a) 
     shall include the following:
       (1) Activities to expand bilateral and multilateral 
     security cooperation in Latin America and the Caribbean so as 
     to maintain consistent United States presence in the region.
       (2) Activities to build the defense and security capacity 
     (other than civilian law enforcement) of partner countries in 
     Latin America and the Caribbean.
       (3) Activities to counter malign influence of state actors 
     and transnational criminal organizations with connections to 
     illicit trafficking, terrorism, or weapons proliferation.
       (4) Efforts to disrupt, degrade, and counter transregional 
     and transnational illicit trafficking, with an emphasis on 
     illicit narcotics and precursor chemicals that produce 
     illicit narcotics.
       (5) Activities to provide transparency and support for 
     strong and accountable defense institutions in the region 
     through institutional capacity-building efforts, including 
     efforts to ensure compliance with internationally-recognized 
     human rights standards.
       (6) Steps to expand bilateral and multinational military 
     exercises and training with partner countries in Latin 
     America and the Caribbean.
       (7) The provision of assistance to such partner countries 
     for regional defense and security organizations and 
     institutions and national military or other security forces 
     (other than civilian law enforcement) that carry out national 
     or regional security missions.
       (8) The provision of training and education to defense and 
     security ministries, agencies, and headquarters-level 
     organizations for organizations and forces described in 
     paragraph (7).
       (9) Activities to counter misinformation and disinformation 
     campaigns and highlight corrupt, predatory and illegal 
     practices.
       (10) The provision of Department of Defense humanitarian 
     assistance and disaster relief to support partner countries 
     by promoting the development and growth of responsive 
     institutions through activities such as--
       (A) the provision of equipment, training, logistical 
     support;
       (B) transportation of humanitarian supplies or foreign 
     security forces or personnel;
       (C) making available, preparing, and transferring on-hand 
     nonlethal Department stocks for humanitarian or health 
     purposes to respond to unforeseen emergencies;
       (D) the provision of Department humanitarian demining 
     assistance and conducting physical security and stockpile-
     management activities; and
       (E) as appropriate, conducting medical support operations 
     or medical humanitarian missions, such as hospital ship 
     deployments and base-operating services, to the extent 
     required by the operation.
       (11) Continued support for the women, peace, and security 
     efforts of the Department of State to support the capacity of 
     partner countries in the Western Hemisphere--
       (A) to ensure that women and girls are safe and secure and 
     the rights of women and girls are protected; and

[[Page S3551]]

       (B) to promote the meaningful participation of women in the 
     defense and security sectors.
       (12) The provision of support to increase the capacity and 
     effectiveness of Department educational programs and 
     institutions, such as the William J. Perry Center, and 
     international institutions, such as the Inter-American 
     Defense Board and the Inter-American Defense College, that 
     promote United States defense objectives through bilateral 
     and regional relationships.
       (13) Professional military education initiatives, including 
     International Military and Education Training (IMET) 
     assistance.
       (14) The permanent assignment of Navy maritime vessels to 
     the United States 4th Fleet, including the use of ships 
     scheduled to be decommissioned.
       (15) A detailed assessment of the resources required to 
     carry out such strategy and a plan to be executed in fiscal 
     year 2022.
       (c) Appropriate Committees of Congress.--In this section, 
     the term ``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
       (1) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on 
     Foreign Relations of the Senate; and
       (2) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on 
     Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives.
                                 ______