114TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 4939 
AN ACT 
To increase engagement with the governments of the Carib-
bean 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 Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
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, the Caribbean diaspora community 
in the United States, and the private sector and civil soci-
ety in both the United States and the Caribbean in a con-
certed 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 se-
curity integration efforts in the Caribbean region; 
(4) encourage sustainable economic develop-
ment 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, affordable, and sustainable 
power;
(7) advance cooperation on democracy and 
human rights in the Caribbean region and at multi-
lateral fora; and 
(8) continue support for public health advances 
and cooperation on health concerns and threats to 
the Caribbean region. 
SEC. 3. STRATEGY. 
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enact-
ment 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 strat-
egy for United States engagement with the Caribbean re-
gion that— 
(1) identifies Department of State and USAID 
efforts, in coordination with other executive branch 
agencies, to prioritize United States policy towards 
the Caribbean region; 
(2) outlines an approach to broaden Depart-
ment of State and USAID outreach to the Carib-
bean diaspora community in the United States to 
promote their involvement and participation in the 
economic development and citizen security of the 
Caribbean region;
(3) outlines an approach to partner with the 
governments of the Caribbean region to improve cit-
izen security, reduce the trafficking of illicit drugs, 
strengthen the rule of law, and improve the effective-
ness and sustainability of the Caribbean Basin Secu-
rity Initiative; 
(4) establishes a comprehensive, integrated, 
multi-year strategy to encourage the efforts of the 
Caribbean region to implement regional and national 
strategies that improve energy security by increasing 
access to diverse, reliable, affordable, and sustain-
able power, including significant renewable energy 
resources within the Caribbean region such as bio-
mass, geothermal, hydropower, solar, tidal, waste-to- 
energy, and wind, and by taking advantage of the 
ongoing energy revolution in the Unites States; 
(5) outlines an approach to improve diplomatic 
engagement with the governments of the Caribbean 
region, including with respect to key votes on human 
rights and democracy at the United Nations and the 
Organization of American States; 
(6) develops an approach to assisting Caribbean 
countries in the diversification of their economies, 
the reduction of legal, technical, and administrative 
barriers that prevent the free flow of foreign direct
investment and trade to and from each country and 
within the Caribbean region, and support for the 
training and employment of youth and citizens in 
marginalized communities; and 
(7) reflects the input of other executive branch 
agencies, as appropriate. 
SEC. 4. BRIEFINGS. 
The Secretary of State shall provide annual briefings 
to the appropriate congressional committees 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 1 year after the date of the enactment 
of this Act and biennially thereafter for the following 4 
years, the President shall transmit to the appropriate con-
gressional committees a report on progress made toward 
to implementing the strategy for United States engage-
ment with the Caribbean region in accordance with section 
3. 
SEC. 6. GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE REPORT 
ON CARIBBEAN BASIN SECURITY INITIATIVE. 
Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States
shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees 
a report that contains the following: 
(1) An evaluation of the Caribbean Basin Secu-
rity Initiative (CBSI) and the extent to which the 
CBSI has met Department of State and USAID 
benchmarks. 
(2) An accounting of CBSI funding appro-
priated, obligated, and expended from fiscal year 
2010 through fiscal year 2016. 
(3) A breakdown of yearly CBSI assistance pro-
vided to each CBSI country. 
(4) A description of how CBSI is coordinated 
with other security assistance programs in the West-
ern Hemisphere, particularly the Merida Initiative 
and the Central America Regional Security Initia-
tive, and the role of the Department of State’s Sen-
ior Coordinator for the Citizen Security Initiatives in 
the Western Hemisphere in such coordination. 
(5) A description of all United States security 
assistance provided to the Caribbean region, exclu-
sive of assistance through CBSI. 
(6) Recommendations for legislative and execu-
tive action to make CBSI more effective and effi-
cient, as appropriate.
SEC. 7. GAO REPORT ON DIPLOMATIC ENGAGEMENT IN 
THE EASTERN CARIBBEAN. 
Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States 
shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees 
a report that contains the following: 
(1) An evaluation of United States diplomatic 
outreach from the United States embassy in Bar-
bados to the countries of Antigua and Barbuda, 
Dominica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia and St. 
Vincent, and the Grenadines. 
(2) A list of visits over the previous 5 years of 
personnel at the United States embassy in Barbados 
to the countries of Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, 
St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia and St. Vincent, and 
the Grenadines. 
(3) A description of how personnel at the 
United States embassy in Barbados have engaged 
with government officials and civil society organiza-
tions in Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, St. Kitts 
and Nevis, St. Lucia and St. Vincent, and the Gren-
adines over the previous 5 years. 
(4) A description of how personnel at the 
United States embassy in Grenada have engaged 
with government officials and civil society organiza-
tions over the previous 5 years.
SEC. 8. REPORTING COST OFFSET. 
Paragraph (4) of section 601(c) of the Foreign Serv-
ice Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 4001(c)) is amended in the 
matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘the fol-
lowing:’’ and all that follows through ‘‘A workforce plan’’ 
and inserting ‘‘a workforce plan’’ and adjusting the mar-
gins accordingly. 
SEC. 9. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) APPROPRIATE
CONGRESSIONAL
COMMIT-
TEES.—The term ‘‘appropriate congressional com-
mittees’’ 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 Initia-
tive beneficiary countries. 
(3) SECURITY ASSISTANCE.—The term ‘‘secu-
rity assistance’’ has the meaning given such term in 
section 502B(b) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 
1961 (22 U.S.C. 2304(d)). 
Passed the House of Representatives June 13, 2016. 
Attest: 
Clerk.
114TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 4939 
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.