TITLE 
II—CARIBBEAN 
BASIN 
SKILLS-BASED 
TRAINING 
PROGRAM 
SEC. 201. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) Studies demonstrate that greater emphasis 
needs to be given to secondary education in coun-
tries of the Western Hemisphere, including Carib-
bean Basin countries, in order to bridge the wid-
ening educational and technology gap in such coun-
tries, which ultimately hinders job growth. 
(2) Access to education is fundamental in help-
ing to eradicate the poverty which limits economic 
growth in the countries of the Caribbean Basin. 
(3) Countries of the Western Hemisphere have 
consistently lagged behind the countries of Asia and 
other regions, suffering a self-perpetuating cycle of 
low-growth and increasing poverty. 
(4) The community college system in the 
United States provides skills-based training for 
United States workers and is a useful model for a 
skills-based training system for Caribbean Basin 
countries. 
(5) A skills-based training program established 
under the management of the Organization of Amer-
ican States (OAS) would be an effective means of 
addressing the needs of individuals and economic 
concerns in the Caribbean Basin region. 
(6) Such a program would provide individuals 
with the skills required to improve their standard of 
living and, together with employers, would further 
facilitate the economic integration of the countries of 
the Western Hemisphere. 
SEC. 202. ESTABLISHMENT. 
The Secretary of State is authorized to make a vol-
untary contribution on a grant basis to the Organization 
of American States to establish a skills-based training pro-
gram for Caribbean Basin countries (hereinafter in this 
title referred to as the ‘‘program’’) in accordance with the 
provisions of this title. 
SEC. 203. ACTIVITIES. 
The program shall carry out activities to support a 
productive workforce in Caribbean Basin countries. 
SEC. 204. SENSE OF CONGRESS. 
It is the sense of Congress that the program should 
focus on mid-level technical education and training for the 
workforce in Caribbean Basin countries, utilizing existing 
educational facilities, cooperative private sector and gov-
ernment entities, and Internet-based training.
TITLE III—GENERAL 
PROVISIONS 
SEC. 301. REPORT. 
Not later than one year after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit to 
the appropriate congressional committees a report on the 
implementation of this Act. 
SEC. 302. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) APPROPRIATE
CONGRESSIONAL
COMMIT-
TEES.—The term ‘‘appropriate congressional com-
mittees’’ means— 
(A) the Committee on International Rela-
tions 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) CARIBBEAN BASIN COUNTRIES; COUNTRIES 
OF THE CARIBBEAN BASIN.—The term ‘‘Caribbean 
Basin countries’’ or ‘‘countries of the Caribbean 
Basin’’ means the countries and territories specified 
in the matter preceding paragraph (1) of section 
212(b) of the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery 
Act (19 U.S.C. 2702(b)).
(3) OAS.—The term ‘‘OAS’’ means the Organi-
zation of American States. 
SEC. 303. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
(a) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of State 
to carry out this Act such sums as may be necessary for 
fiscal year 2006. 
(b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—Of the amount appro-
priated pursuant to the authorization of appropriations 
under subsection (a), it is the sense of Congress that up 
to $10,000,000 should be available to carry out title I of 
this Act and up to $10,000,000 should be available to 
carry out title II of this Act. 
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