H. R. 4939 

One Hundred Fourteenth Congress 

of the 

United States of America 

AT THE SECOND SESSION 

Begun and held at the City of Washington on Monday, 

the fourth day of January, two thousand and sixteen 

An Act 

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. 

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 ‘‘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— 
H. R. 4939—2 

(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. 
H. R. 4939—3 

(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.