[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.
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