SEC. 403. PERIODIC REPORTS AND MEETINGS ON LABOR 
OBLIGATIONS AND LABOR CAPACITY-BUILD-
ING PROVISIONS. 
(a) REPORTS TO CONGRESS.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than the end of 
the 2-year period beginning on the date the Agree-
ment enters into force, and not later than the end 
of each 2-year period thereafter during the suc-
ceeding 14-year period, the President shall report to 
the Congress on the progress made by the CAFTA–
DR countries in—
(A) implementing Chapter Sixteen and 
Annex 16.5 of the Agreement; and 
(B) implementing the White Paper. 
(2) WHITE PAPER.—In this section, the term 
‘‘White Paper’’ means the report of April 2005 of 
the Working Group of the Vice Ministers Respon-
sible for Trade and Labor in the Countries of Cen-
tral America and the Dominican Republic entitled 
‘‘The Labor Dimension in Central America and the 
Dominican 
Republic 
- 
Building 
on 
Progress: 
Strengthening Compliance and Enhancing Capac-
ity’’. 
(3) CONTENTS
OF
REPORTS.—Each report 
under paragraph (1) shall include the following:
(A) A description of the progress made by 
the Labor Cooperation and Capacity Building 
Mechanism established by article 16.5 and 
Annex 16.5 of the Agreement, and the Labor 
Affairs Council established by article 16.4 of 
the Agreement, in achieving their stated goals, 
including a description of the capacity-building 
projects undertaken, funds received, and results 
achieved, in each CAFTA–DR country. 
(B) Recommendations on how the United 
States can facilitate full implementation of the 
recommendations contained in the White Paper. 
(C) A description of the work done by the 
CAFTA–DR countries with the International 
Labor Organization to implement the rec-
ommendations contained in the White Paper, 
and the efforts of the CAFTA–DR countries 
with international organizations, through the 
Labor Cooperation and Capacity Building 
Mechanism referred to in subparagraph (A), to 
advance common commitments regarding labor 
matters. 
(D) A summary of public comments re-
ceived on—
(i) capacity-building efforts by the 
United States envisaged by article 16.5 
and Annex 16.5 of the Agreement; 
(ii) efforts by the United States to fa-
cilitate full implementation of the White 
Paper recommendations; and 
(iii) the efforts made by the CAFTA–
DR countries to comply with article 16.5 
and Annex 16.5 of the Agreement and to 
fully implement the White Paper rec-
ommendations, 
including 
the 
progress 
made by the CAFTA–DR countries in af-
fording to workers internationally-recog-
nized worker rights through improved ca-
pacity. 
(4) SOLICITATION OF PUBLIC COMMENTS.—The 
President shall establish a mechanism to solicit pub-
lic comments for purposes of paragraph (3)(D). 
(b) PERIODIC MEETINGS OF SECRETARY OF LABOR 
WITH LABOR MINISTERS OF CAFTA–DR COUNTRIES.—
(1) PERIODIC
MEETINGS.—The Secretary of 
Labor should take the necessary steps to meet peri-
odically with the labor ministers of the CAFTA–DR 
countries to discuss—
(A) the operation of the labor provisions of 
the Agreement; 
(B) progress on the commitments made by 
the CAFTA–DR countries to implement the 
recommendations contained in the White Paper; 
(C) the work of the International Labor 
Organization in the CAFTA–DR countries, and 
other cooperative efforts, to afford to workers 
internationally-recognized worker rights; and 
(D) such other matters as the Secretary of 
Labor and the labor ministers consider appro-
priate. 
(2) INCLUSION
IN
BIENNIAL
REPORTS.—The 
President shall include in each report under sub-
section (a), as the President deems appropriate, 
summaries of the meetings held pursuant to para-
graph (1).
Passed the House of Representatives July 28 (legis-
lative day, July 27), 2005. 
Attest:
Clerk.