[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 196 (Wednesday, November 18, 2020)]
[House]
[Pages H5900-H5902]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1400
         CARIBBEAN BASIN SECURITY INITIATIVE AUTHORIZATION ACT

  Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 7703) to authorize appropriations for the Caribbean Basin 
Security Initiative, enhance the United States-Caribbean security 
partnership, prioritize disaster resilience, and for other purposes, as 
amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 7703

       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 ``Caribbean Basin Security 
     Initiative Authorization Act''.

     SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE CARIBBEAN 
                   BASIN SECURITY INITIATIVE.

       (a) Authorization.--There is authorized to be appropriated 
     $74,800,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2025 to 
     carry out the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative to achieve 
     the purposes described in subsection (b).
       (b) Purposes.--The purposes described in this subsection 
     are the following:
       (1) To promote citizen safety, security, and the rule of 
     law in the Caribbean through increased strategic engagement 
     with the governments of beneficiary countries and with 
     elements of local civil society, including the private 
     sector, in such countries.
       (2) To carry out the promotion of such safety, security, 
     and the rule of law through efforts including the following:
       (A) Capacity building for law enforcement and military 
     units, including professionalization, anti-corruption and 
     human rights training, vetting, and community-based policing.
       (B) Maritime and aerial security cooperation, including 
     assistance to strengthen Caribbean maritime and aerial 
     interdiction operations capability and the provision of 
     support systems and equipment, training, and maintenance.
       (C) Border and port security cooperation, including support 
     to strengthen capacity for screening and to intercept 
     narcotics, weapons, bulk cash, and other contraband at 
     airports and seaports.
       (D) Support for justice sector reform and strengthening of 
     the rule of law, including capacity building for prosecutors, 
     judges, and other justice officials, and support to increase 
     the efficacy of criminal courts.
       (E) Cybersecurity and cybercrime cooperation, including 
     capacity-building and support for cybersecurity systems.
       (F) Countering transnational criminal organizations and 
     local gang activity, including capacity-building, equipment, 
     and support for operations targeting the finances and illegal 
     activities of transnational criminal networks and local gangs 
     such as their recruitment of at-risk youth, and the provision 
     of assistance to populations vulnerable to being victims of 
     extortion and crime by criminal networks.
       (G) Strengthening special prosecutorial offices and 
     providing technical assistance to combat corruption, money 
     laundering, financial crimes, extortion, and human rights 
     crimes, and conduct asset forfeitures and criminal analysis.
       (H) Strengthening the ability of the security sector to 
     respond to and become more resilient in the face of natural 
     disasters, including by carrying out training exercises to 
     ensure critical infrastructure and ports are able to come 
     back online rapidly following disasters and providing 
     preparedness training to police and first responders.
       (I) Supporting training for civilian police and appropriate 
     security services in criminal investigations, best practices 
     for citizen security, and the protection of human rights.
       (J) Improving community and law enforcement cooperation to 
     improve effectiveness and professionalism of police and 
     increase mutual trust.
       (K) Increasing economic opportunities for at-risk youth and 
     vulnerable populations, including workforce development 
     training and remedial education programs for at-risk youth.
       (L) Improving juvenile justice sectors through regulatory 
     reforms, separating youth from traditional prison systems, 
     and improving support and services in juvenile detention 
     centers.
       (3) To prioritize efforts to combat corruption and include 
     anti-corruption components to programs, including by--
       (A) strengthening national justice systems and attorneys 
     general and supporting independent media and investigative 
     reporting;
       (B) supporting multilateral anti-corruption mechanisms; and
       (C) encouraging cooperative agreements between the 
     Department of State, other relevant Federal departments and 
     agencies, and the attorneys general of relevant countries to 
     fight corruption in the Caribbean.
       (4) To promote the rule of law in the Caribbean and counter 
     malign influence from authoritarian regimes, including China 
     and Russia, by:
       (A) Monitoring security assistance from authoritarian 
     regimes and taking steps necessary to ensure that this 
     assistance does not undermine or jeopardize U.S. security 
     assistance.
       (B) Evaluating and, as appropriate, restricting United 
     States involvement in investment and infrastructure projects 
     financed by authoritarian regimes that might obstruct or 
     otherwise impact United States security assistance to 
     beneficiary countries.
       (C) Monitoring and restricting equipment and support from 
     high risk vendors for telecommunications infrastructure in 
     beneficiary countries.
       (D) Countering disinformation by promoting transparency and 
     accountability from beneficiary countries.
       (E) Eliminating corruption linked to investment and 
     infrastructure facilitated by authoritarian regimes through 
     support for investment screening, competitive tendering and 
     bidding processes, the implementation of investment law, and 
     contractual transparency.
       (5) To promote strategic engagement with the governments of 
     beneficiary countries through effective branding and 
     messaging of United States assistance and security 
     cooperation, including by developing a public diplomacy 
     strategy for educating citizens of beneficiary countries 
     about United States assistance and security cooperation 
     programs and benefits.

     SEC. 3. STRATEGY TO IMPROVE DISASTER RESILIENCE.

       (a) Prioritization.--During the 5-year period beginning on 
     the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State 
     shall, in consultation with the Administrator of the United 
     States Agency for International Development and the President 
     and Chief Executive Officer of the Inter-American Foundation, 
     prioritize efforts to increase disaster response and 
     resilience by carrying out programs in beneficiary countries 
     for the following purposes:
       (1) Encouraging coordination between beneficiary countries 
     and relevant Federal departments and agencies to provide 
     expertise and information sharing.
       (2) Supporting sharing of best practices on disaster 
     resilience including constructing resilient infrastructure 
     and rebuilding after natural disasters.
       (3) Improving rapid-response mechanisms and cross-
     government organizational preparedness for natural disasters.
       (b) Strategy.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall, in 
     coordination with the Administrator of the United States 
     Agency for International Development and in consultation with 
     the President and Chief Economic Officer of the Inter-
     American Foundation, submit to the appropriate congressional 
     committees a strategy that incorporates specific, measurable 
     benchmarks to achieve the purposes described in subsection 
     (a) and to inform citizens of beneficiary countries about the 
     extent and benefits of United States assistance to such 
     countries. In developing such strategy, the Secretary of 
     State shall also consult with nongovernmental organizations 
     in beneficiary countries and in the United States.
       (c) Annual Progress Update.--The Secretary, in coordination 
     with the Administrator, shall annually submit to the 
     appropriate congressional committees a written description of 
     the progress made as of the date of such submission in 
     meeting the benchmarks included in the strategy submitted 
     pursuant to subsection (b).

     SEC. 4. MONITORING AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.

       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, shall submit to the appropriate congressional 
     committees an implementation plan that includes a timeline 
     and stated objectives for actions to be taken with respect to 
     the Caribbean Basin Security

[[Page H5901]]

     Initiative. The plan shall also include the following 
     elements:
       (1) A multi-year strategy with a timeline, overview of 
     objectives, and anticipated outcomes for the region and for 
     each beneficiary country, with respect to each program area 
     described in section 2.
       (2) Specific, measurable benchmarks to track the progress 
     of the Initiative towards accomplishing the outcomes 
     described pursuant to paragraph (1).
       (3) A plan for the delineation of the roles to be carried 
     out by the Department of State, the United States Agency for 
     International Development, the Department of Justice, the 
     Department of Defense, and any other Federal department or 
     agency in carrying out the Initiative, to prevent overlap and 
     unintended competition between activities and resources.
       (4) A plan to coordinate and track all activities carried 
     out under the Initiative between all relevant Federal 
     departments and agencies, in accordance with the publication 
     requirements described in section 4 of the Foreign Aid 
     Transparency and Accountability Act of 2016 (Public Law 114-
     191; 22 U.S.C. 2394c).
       (5) The results achieved during the previous year--
       (A) of monitoring and evaluation measures to track the 
     progress of the Initiative in accomplishing the benchmarks 
     included pursuant to paragraph (2); and
       (B) of the implementation of the strategy and plans 
     described in paragraphs (1), (3), and (4).
       (6) A description of the process for co-locating Caribbean 
     Basin Security Initiative projects funded by the United 
     States Agency for International Development and the Bureau of 
     International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs of the 
     Department of State, to ensure that crime prevention funding 
     and enforcement funding are used in the same localities as 
     necessary.

     SEC. 5. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Appropriate congressional committees.--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) Beneficiary countries.--The term ``beneficiary 
     countries'' means the beneficiary countries of the Caribbean 
     Basin Security Initiative.

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


                             General Leave

  Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
include any extraneous material on H.R. 7703.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I first want to thank Chairman Engel for his leadership 
of the Foreign Affairs Committee and his role in passing this important 
bill.
  I also want to thank my colleague, Mr. Rooney, a staunch supporter of 
the Caribbean, for leading this bill with me, and Ranking Member McCaul 
for his collaboration.
  The Caribbean Basin Security Initiative is a vital tool to combat the 
illicit drug trade, promote good government, and improve civil society. 
The international narcotics trade has a devastating impact across our 
hemisphere, and much of the demand for illegal drugs, unfortunately, 
comes from right here in the U.S.
  We have worked hard to stop drug trafficking and combat corruption in 
Central America and Mexico, but all too often, our allies in the 
Caribbean are overlooked.
  The Caribbean is our third border and, for decades, has been growing 
as a hub for the illegal and illicit drug trade. Proper investment in 
the Caribbean will help to improve our allies' capacity to combat 
transnational crime, violence, and regional instability, while also 
enhancing our security.
  Crime from the drug trade has rattled many of our allies in the 
region, and this funding will go to programs that interdict 
traffickers, provide programming for at-risk youth, and improve the 
independence of the judicial system in those Caribbean countries.
  This bill also adds a focus on disaster resilience, given the 
increasingly frequent and worsening hurricanes in the region, which I 
believe is of primary importance as we continue to see the impact of 
climate change on national and regional security.
  We have seen the success of the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative 
over the last decade, and this bill will build on the success by 
authorizing $74.8 million per year for the next 5 years to further 
deepen our commitment to that region.
  By partnering to increase the security and stability of our Caribbean 
allies as we combat the narcotics trade, we will also be reducing the 
flow of illicit drugs into the United States.
  I believe CBSI is a crucial program, and I ask my colleagues to join 
in bolstering it.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 7703, the Caribbean Basin 
Security Initiative Authorization Act, authored by Mr. Espaillat and 
Mr. Rooney, and I want to thank them for their leadership on this.
  The countries of the Caribbean continue to face serious security 
challenges from criminal organizations, drug trafficking, corruption, 
and threats to the rule of law that seriously jeopardize the people of 
these nations as well as U.S. security interests in the region.
  Since 2010, the U.S. Congress has provided nearly $677 million to 
support the region's efforts to address these threats under the 
Caribbean Basin Security Initiative, or CBSI. Funding under CBSI has 
supported training for law enforcement, counternarcotics efforts, 
border and port security, and strengthening of the rule of law. The 
assistance has strengthened U.S. security cooperation with our 
Caribbean partners and remains critical as transnational criminal and 
terrorist organizations continue to threaten their security.
  The legislation before us today authorizes $74.8 million for the CBSI 
for each year until 2025 and continues to prioritize capacity building 
for local law enforcement, disruption of criminal organizations, drug 
and firearm interdiction, rule of law, and anticorruption efforts.
  The bill also supports disaster resilience and requires the State 
Department to establish benchmarks and indicators to track progress 
towards CBSI's stated objectives.
  I would also point out this legislation also includes important 
requirements for monitoring and countering the malign influence of the 
Chinese Communist Party in the region.
  I congratulate the gentleman on his very fine bill, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
the Virgin Islands (Ms. Plaskett).
  Ms. PLASKETT. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague representing 
the great people of New York, but also who hails from the Caribbean and 
understands the importance of legislation like this.
  As the representative of a Caribbean island, an English-speaking 
Caribbean island, I am grateful to be yielded the opportunity to talk 
about this important Caribbean Basin Security Initiative.
  Traffickers frequently transport cocaine and other contraband from 
South America through the Caribbean Sea. Building the law enforcement 
and interdiction capabilities of our Caribbean partners helps them stop 
illicit flows, making our Caribbean nations safer.
  By developing these capabilities, partner countries also can hold 
perpetrators accountable and deter further criminal activity that might 
harm their citizens, threaten their economies, and endanger U.S. 
citizens at home and as tourists in the Caribbean.
  The United States has committed over $556 million for CBSI for fiscal 
years 2010 to 2018. Congress has appropriated $58 million for fiscal 
year 2020.
  Bravo.
  To enhance maritime domain awareness and interdiction, we have 
improved radar coverage and sharing capacity, enhanced port security, 
and provided boats, equipment, and training to partner nations.

  In the Dominican Republic, the largest Caribbean transit point for 
cocaine,

[[Page H5902]]

CBSI programs have yielded a 250 percent increase in cocaine 
interdictions. USAID programming targets the drivers of youth crime and 
violence to reduce the risk of youth involvement in transnational 
organized crime.
  USAID uses risk assessment tools to identify at-risk youth in 
countries like St. Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis, and Guyana. USAID then 
partners with those host countries, delivering support to families and 
youth. Across those three countries, 75 percent of the youth targeted 
have reduced risk levels.
  To augment law enforcement, CBSI supports efforts to professionalize 
and reform law enforcement institutions and enables partner governments 
to better prevent, investigate, and prosecute crime. These are 
tremendous tools.
  Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands are transshipment points for 
illicit drugs that have been smuggled from source countries into the 
U.S. mainland, as well as destination points for drugs distributed 
within the two territories. This bill is very essential to us.
  Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands are situated between the U.S. 
mainland and drug-source countries such as Colombia and Peru, making 
them ideal gateways for movement of illicit drugs onward to the U.S. 
mainland.
  The Caribbean sits as a transshipment area for so many goods: first, 
people, sugar, and, in many instances, drug trafficking now.
  Drug trafficking organizations and criminal groups use commercial and 
private maritime vessels, commercial private aircraft, and package 
delivery services to smuggle illicit drugs into and through Puerto Rico 
and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
  Large drug shipments are often offloaded in Puerto Rico and the U.S. 
Virgin Islands, repackaged, and stored in secluded areas until they are 
distributed locally or transported to the U.S. mainland.
  What is the outcome of this? Wreaking havoc in our communities.
  There were 52 murders this year on the Virgin Islands, 49.2 per 
100,000 people; in 2018, a whopping 52 individuals in a community of 
100,000 people. Many of those deaths--most of those deaths--related to 
drug trafficking, drugs that we do not even use on the islands.
  This bill is vital to combating drug trafficking, promoting good 
governance, independent justice sectors, and empowering civil society 
in the Caribbean.
  Too often, the Caribbean is ignored. We must correct this by 
deepening our partnerships and cooperation with some of our closest 
allies. Working together, we can help increase citizen security, build 
resilience to natural disasters caused by climate change, and improve 
strategies to reduce illegal narcotics trafficking.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Horsford). The time of the gentlewoman 
has expired.
  Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, I yield the gentlewoman from the Virgin 
Islands an additional 1 minute.
  Ms. PLASKETT. Mr. Speaker, I won't need all of that minute, but I 
want to thank the gentleman for the time.
  This bill is so vital, not only to stopping drug trafficking, but 
supporting our communities, helping youth within the Caribbean to reach 
their potential.
  I want to thank the authors of this bill. I am grateful this is a 
bipartisan effort to not forget the Caribbean. I thank my colleague, 
Mr. Espaillat, and the members of the committee.
  Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, this is an important bill, and I urge my 
colleagues to support it. I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Espaillat) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 7703, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________