In the Senate of the United States, 
December 10 (legislative day, December 9), 2016. 
Resolved, That the bill from the House of Representa-
tives (H.R. 4939) entitled ‘‘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.’’, do pass with the fol-
lowing 
AMENDMENT: 
Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert: 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘United States–Carib-
bean 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 pri-
vate sector, in both the United States and the Caribbean, 
in a concerted effort to—
† HR 4939 EAS 
(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 se-
curity 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 infra-
structure. 
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
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Administrator of the United States Agency for Inter-
national Development (USAID), shall submit to the appro-
priate 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 Carib-
bean region; 
(2) outlines an approach to partner with govern-
ments of the Caribbean region to improve citizen se-
curity, reduce the trafficking of illicit drugs, strength-
en 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 Carib-
bean 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 re-
† HR 4939 EAS 
gion, including with respect to human rights and de-
mocracy; 
(5) Describes how the United States can develop 
an approach to supporting Caribbean countries in ef-
forts they are willing to undertake with their own re-
sources to diversify their economies; 
(6) describes ways to ensure the active participa-
tion 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 De-
partment of State efforts to implement the strategy for 
United States engagement with the Caribbean region in ac-
cordance with section 3. 
SEC. 5. PROGRESS REPORT. 
Not later than 2 years after the submission of the strat-
egy required under section 3, the President shall submit to 
the appropriate congressional committees a report on 
progress made toward implementing the strategy.
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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 fol-
lowing:’’ and all that follows through ‘‘(B) A workforce 
plan’’ and inserting ‘‘a workforce plan’’. 
SEC. 7. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) 
APPROPRIATE
CONGRESSIONAL
COMMIT-
TEES.—The term ‘‘appropriate congressional commit-
tees’’ means the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the 
House of Representatives and the Committee on For-
eign Relations of the Senate. 
(2) CARIBBEAN REGION.—The term ‘‘Caribbean 
region’’ means the Caribbean Basin Security Initia-
tive beneficiary countries. 
(3) SECURITY ASSISTANCE.—The term ‘‘security 
assistance’’ has the meaning given such term in sec-
tion 502B(d)(2) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 
(22 U.S.C. 2304(d)(2)). 
Attest: 
Secretary.