United States–Caribbean Strategic Engagement Act of 2023

Bill: 118-hr-4015
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Castro, Joaquin [D-TX-20]
Introduced: 2023-06-12
Policy area: International Affairs
Latest action: action_date: 2023-06-12
text: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Summaries:

tv_txt: I 118th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 4015 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES June 12, 2023 Mr. Castro of Texas (for himself, Ms. Salazar , Mr. Espaillat , Ms. Kamlager-Dove , and Ms. Clarke of New York ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs A BILL To amend the United States-Caribbean Strategic Engagement Act of 2016 to require the submission of an updated multi-year strategy for United States engagement to support the efforts of interested nations in the Caribbean region.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the United States–Caribbean Strategic Engagement Act of 2023 . 2. Statement of policy Section 2 of the United States-Caribbean Strategic Engagement Act of 2016 ( Public Law 114–291 ; 130 Stat. 1497) is amended— (1) by redesignating paragraphs (6) through (9) as paragraphs (15) through (18), respectively; and (2) by inserting after paragraph (5) the following: (6) reduce the flow of illicit United States firearms to the Caribbean region and provide technical support, training, and information-sharing to Caribbean security forces charged with monitoring maritime borders, including formal and informal ports of entry; (7) enhance efforts to investigate and prosecute the regional criminal organizations engaged in the lottery scams that afflict United States citizens; (8) augment training, capacity-building, and information-sharing with local law enforcement agencies combating criminal gangs and transnational criminal organizations threatening the security and stability of partner nations; (9) improve energy security, resiliency, and independence by working to finance increasing access to diverse, reliable, secure, and affordable renewable power solutions; (10) support regional adaptation and resilience to the climate-driven effects of severe weather events and natural disasters; (11) advance cooperation on democracy and human rights throughout the region and in multilateral fora; (12) improve public health cooperation and infrastructure to mitigate health concerns and threats to the Caribbean region, including increasing professional exchanges, medical education, and United States exports of medical services, technology, and pharmaceuticals to prepare for future pandemics and health emergencies, expand the accessibility of health services to marginalized populations, and reduce dependence on medical imports from malign actors in the region and elsewhere; (13) continue to support regional initiatives to advance food security throughout the Caribbean; (14) expand internet access throughout the region, especially for marginalized communities, while working cooperatively to enhance data privacy and security; (15) advance access to education and critical skills for at-risk youth, women, and girls in the Caribbean region; . 3. Requirement to submit updated multi-year strategy for United States engagement to support the efforts of interested nations in the Caribbean region Section 3 of the United States-Caribbean Strategic Engagement Act of 2016 ( Public Law 114–291 ; 130 Stat. 1497) is amended— (1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1)— (A) by striking this Act and inserting the United States–Caribbean Strategic Engagement Act of 2023 ; and (B) by striking a multi-year strategy and inserting an updated multi-year strategy ; and (2) in paragraph (1), by inserting after other executive branch agencies the following: , including the Department of Defense, the Department of Justice, and the Department of the Treasury .