United States-Caribbean Strategic Engagement Act of 2016

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
    This Act may be cited as the ``United States-Caribbean Strategic 
Engagement Act of 2016''.
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 
    human rights and democracy;
        (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)).

                               Speaker of the House of Representatives.

                            Vice President of the United States and    
                                               President of the Senate.

Summary: This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the Senate. United States-Caribbean Strategic Engagement Act of 2016 This bill declares that it is US policy to increase engagement with the governments of the Caribbean region, including the private sector, and with civil society in both the United States and the Caribbean. The Department of State shall submit to Congress a multi-year strategy for US engagement to support the efforts of interested nations in the Caribbean region that: identifies State Department and US Agency for International Development (USAID) priorities for US policy towards the Caribbean region. Outlines an approach to partner with Caribbean governments to improve citizen security, reduce illicit drug trafficking, strengthen the rule of law, and improve the effectiveness and longevity of the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI). Encourages efforts of the region to implement regional and national strategies that improve Caribbean 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, improves diplomatic engagement with Caribbean governments. 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. And describes ways to ensure the active participation of citizens of the Caribbean in existing program and initiatives administered by the State Department's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. The State Department shall offer to annually brief the appropriate congressional committees on efforts to implement such strategy. The President shall report within two years on progress made in implementing such strategy. The Foreign Service Act of 1980 is amended to eliminate from the State Department's Foreign Service workplace report descriptions of steps taken in furtherance of compatibility and the development of uniform procedures and consolidated personnel functions.