I 
114TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1579 
To establish United States embassies with consular services in the five coun-
tries in the Caribbean with which the United States has diplomatic 
relations but no permanent diplomatic presence: Antigua and Barbuda, 
Dominica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and the 
Grenadines. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 24, 2015 
Mr. ENGEL (for himself, Mr. MEEKS, Ms. WILSON of Florida, Mr. HASTINGS, 
Ms. LEE, Ms. CLARKE of New York, Ms. FRANKEL of Florida, Mr. 
SIRES, and Mr. DEUTCH) introduced the following bill; which was re-
ferred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs 
A BILL 
To establish United States embassies with consular services 
in the five countries in the Caribbean with which the 
United States has diplomatic relations but no permanent 
diplomatic presence: Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, 
St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and 
the Grenadines. 
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 Partnership Act of 2015’’. 
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SEC. 2. DEFINITION. 
In this Act, 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. 
SEC. 3. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) While often overlooked, the countries of the 
Caribbean are important United States partners. 
(2) United States-Caribbean cooperation on 
commerce, security, and energy must be deepened. 
(3) The countries of the Caribbean are key vot-
ing members of the Organization of American 
States. 
(4) There are five countries in the Caribbean 
with which the United States has diplomatic rela-
tions, but within which the United States does not 
have a permanent diplomatic presence. Those coun-
tries are Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, St. Kitts 
and Nevis, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Gren-
adines. 
(5) Diplomatic relations with these five coun-
tries are conducted through the United States Em-
bassy in Bridgetown, Barbados. 
(6) Due to the lack of presence of United 
States diplomats in these five countries, citizens of 
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these five countries are required to travel to Bar-
bados for all consular services. 
(7) Due to the lack of presence of United 
States diplomats in these five countries, in order to 
meet with local officials, civil society representatives, 
private sector leaders, United States citizens or oth-
ers, embassy officials must fly from Barbados to 
these countries on what are often expensive, some-
times infrequent flights and remain overnight in 
what are often expensive hotel rooms. 
(8) Due to the lack of presence of United 
States diplomats in these five countries, United 
States citizens living in and visiting these five coun-
tries do not have full consular services, and in the 
event of a consular emergency, air traffic could be 
shut off to any of these islands, in effect stranding 
United States citizens without full in-country con-
sular services. 
(9) Due to the lack of presence of United 
States diplomats in these five countries, key events, 
meetings, ceremonies, and other opportunities are 
often not attended by United States officials as they 
are in other countries where there is a permanent 
diplomatic presence. 
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(10) Due to the lack of presence of United 
States diplomats in these five countries, it is more 
difficult for United States diplomats to establish 
close working relationships with local officials, civil 
society representatives, and others. 
(11) Due to the lack of presence of United 
States diplomats in these five countries, United 
States official diplomatic interaction with these 
countries, including delivery of demarches and other 
diplomatic messages, which the Secretary of State 
sometimes requires embassy officials to personally 
deliver, particularly if of a confidential nature, is 
often relegated to telephone, facsimile, or email, dra-
matically reducing the ability of the United States to 
engage host governments in substantive dialogue. 
(12) Due to the lack of presence of United 
States diplomats in these five countries, it is more 
difficult for the United States to conduct public di-
plomacy in these five countries. 
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SEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF UNITED STATES EMBASSIES 
WITH CONSULAR SERVICES IN ANTIGUA AND 
BARBUDA, DOMINICA, ST. KITTS AND NEVIS, 
ST. LUCIA, AND ST. VINCENT AND THE GREN-
ADINES. 
Not later than five years after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall establish 
United States embassies with consular services in Antigua 
and Barbuda, Dominica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, 
and St. Vincent and the Grenadines to— 
(1) provide consular services to citizens of these 
countries and United States citizens living in or 
traveling to these countries; and 
(2) engage in direct diplomacy with appropriate 
government counterparts in these countries. 
SEC. 5. REPORT. 
Not later than one year after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act and annually thereafter until the require-
ments under section 4 have been satisfied, the Secretary 
of State shall submit to the appropriate congressional 
committees a report on the progress made toward carrying 
out such section. 
SEC. 6. EXCEPTION FOR DELAY. 
The Secretary of State may delay for up to one year 
the carrying out of section 4 if the Secretary determines 
that more time is needed to carry out such section and 
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submits to the appropriate congressional committees a re-
port explaining the reason for such delay. 
SEC. 7. LIMITATION ON ADDITIONAL FUNDING. 
To carry out this Act, the Secretary of State may 
use only amounts that are available from the Embassy Se-
curity, Construction, and Maintenance account and the 
Diplomatic and Consular Programs account of the De-
partment of State for such purpose. 
Æ 
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