American Cooperation with Our Neighbors Act

Bill: 118-hr-2789
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Stanton, Greg [D-AZ-4]
Introduced: 2023-04-20
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Border security and unlawful immigration

Caribbean area

Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad

Drug trafficking and controlled substances

International exchange and broadcasting

Internet, web applications, social media

Latin America

Law enforcement administration and funding

Mexico

Sanctions

Spacecraft and satellites

Telephone and wireless communication
Latest action: action_date: 2024-07-08
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

Summaries:
action_date: 2023-04-20
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>American Cooperation with Our Neighbors Act</b></p> <p>This bill addresses certain types of cooperation between the United States, Mexico, and countries in Central America and the Caribbean.</p> <p>The bill requires the Department of State to </p> <ul> <li>submit to Congress a strategy to strengthen subnational cooperation between the United States and Mexico related to fentanyl and synthetic opioid trafficking,</li> <li>conduct a feasibility study on certain space-based telecommunications technologies for Mexico and the countries of Central America and the Caribbean, and</li> <li>conduct a review related to expanding financial access to the countries of the Caribbean.</li> </ul>

tv_txt: IIB 118th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 2789 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES July 8, 2024 Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations AN ACT To direct the Secretary of State to develop a strategy on efforts to strengthen subnational cooperation between the United States and Mexico, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the American Cooperation with Our Neighbors Act . 2. Subnational Cooperation Strategy (a) In general Not later than 270 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, shall submit to the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate a strategy on efforts to strengthen subnational cooperation between the United States and Mexico for the purposes of— (1) enhancing law enforcement cooperation and local, State, and Federal security forces cooperation at a subnational level for the purpose of curbing fentanyl trafficking and other synthetic opioids, including activities such as— (A) bolstering technical assistance and coordination for law enforcement agencies and local, State, and Federal security forces; (B) carrying out exchange programs for the purposes of professional development; and (C) enhancing data sharing, as appropriate; (2) bolstering subnational dialogue and capacity building between Federal and local governments, civil society, faith-based organizations, and business community leaders and integrating issues faced by local communities, including with respect to trafficking of fentanyl and other synthetic opioids; and (3) strengthening capacity building and provide resources for border towns and organizations within those towns that attempt to meet the needs of communities. (b) Update Not later than 2 years after the date of the submission of the strategy under subsection (a), the President shall submit to the congressional committees specified in subsection (a) an update containing an assessment of the implementation and effectiveness of the strategy, lessons learned from the past year with respect to the strategy, and planned changes to the strategy. (c) Form The strategy under subsection (a), and the update under subsection (b), shall be submitted in unclassified form. (d) Limitation on data sharing (1) Limitation The Secretary of State may not carry out any project, program, or activity that implements the strategy under subsection (a) for the purpose specified in paragraph (1)(C) of such subsection until the Secretary submits to the appropriate congressional committees a notification regarding the data intended to be shared with foreign countries pursuant to such strategy. (2) Appropriate congressional committees In this subsection, the term appropriate congressional committees means— (A) the Committee on the Judiciary, the Committee on Homeland Security, the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives; and (B) the Committee on the Judiciary, the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, the Committee on Foreign Relations, and the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate. 3. Department of State review of access to finance in CARICOM member states (a) Review The Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of Treasury, shall conduct a review to determine any steps, balancing costs and benefits, that the Secretaries could take to expand financial access to the member states of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), including through a review of— (1) sanctions enforcement laws and compliance standards; (2) reporting requirements pertaining to narcotics trafficking and illicit finance thereof; (3) possible expansion of embassies and consulates in the region; and (4) programming or lack thereof pertaining to access to capital in the region. (b) Report The Secretary shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the findings of the Secretary pertaining to the review under subsection (a). (c) Appropriate congressional committees defined In this section, the term appropriate congressional committees means— (1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives; and (2) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate.

Passed the House of Representatives June 25, 2024. Kevin F. McCumber, Clerk.

tv_txt: I 118th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 2789 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AN ACT To direct the Secretary of State to develop a strategy on efforts to strengthen subnational cooperation between the United States and Mexico, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the American Cooperation with Our Neighbors Act . 2. Subnational Cooperation Strategy (a) In general Not later than 270 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, shall submit to the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate a strategy on efforts to strengthen subnational cooperation between the United States and Mexico for the purposes of— (1) enhancing law enforcement cooperation and local, State, and Federal security forces cooperation at a subnational level for the purpose of curbing fentanyl trafficking and other synthetic opioids, including activities such as— (A) bolstering technical assistance and coordination for law enforcement agencies and local, State, and Federal security forces; (B) carrying out exchange programs for the purposes of professional development; and (C) enhancing data sharing, as appropriate; (2) bolstering subnational dialogue and capacity building between Federal and local governments, civil society, faith-based organizations, and business community leaders and integrating issues faced by local communities, including with respect to trafficking of fentanyl and other synthetic opioids; and (3) strengthening capacity building and provide resources for border towns and organizations within those towns that attempt to meet the needs of communities. (b) Update Not later than 2 years after the date of the submission of the strategy under subsection (a), the President shall submit to the congressional committees specified in subsection (a) an update containing an assessment of the implementation and effectiveness of the strategy, lessons learned from the past year with respect to the strategy, and planned changes to the strategy. (c) Form The strategy under subsection (a), and the update under subsection (b), shall be submitted in unclassified form. (d) Limitation on data sharing (1) Limitation The Secretary of State may not carry out any project, program, or activity that implements the strategy under subsection (a) for the purpose specified in paragraph (1)(C) of such subsection until the Secretary submits to the appropriate congressional committees a notification regarding the data intended to be shared with foreign countries pursuant to such strategy. (2) Appropriate congressional committees In this subsection, the term appropriate congressional committees means— (A) the Committee on the Judiciary, the Committee on Homeland Security, the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives; and (B) the Committee on the Judiciary, the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, the Committee on Foreign Relations, and the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate. 3. Department of State review of access to finance in CARICOM member states (a) Review The Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of Treasury, shall conduct a review to determine any steps, balancing costs and benefits, that the Secretaries could take to expand financial access to the member states of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), including through a review of— (1) sanctions enforcement laws and compliance standards; (2) reporting requirements pertaining to narcotics trafficking and illicit finance thereof; (3) possible expansion of embassies and consulates in the region; and (4) programming or lack thereof pertaining to access to capital in the region. (b) Report The Secretary shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the findings of the Secretary pertaining to the review under subsection (a). (c) Appropriate congressional committees defined In this section, the term appropriate congressional committees means— (1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives; and (2) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate.

Passed the House of Representatives June 25, 2024. Kevin F. McCumber, Clerk.

tv_txt: I 118th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2789 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 20, 2023 Mr. Stanton introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs A BILL To direct the Secretary of State to develop a strategy on efforts to strengthen subnational cooperation between the United States and Mexico, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the American Cooperation with Our Neighbors Act . 2. Subnational Cooperation Strategy (a) In general Not later than 270 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, shall submit to the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate a strategy on efforts to strengthen subnational cooperation between the United States and Mexico for the purposes of— (1) enhancing law enforcement cooperation at a subnational level for the purpose of curbing fentanyl trafficking and other synthetic opioids, including activities such as— (A) bolstering technical assistance for law enforcement agencies; (B) carrying out exchange programs for the purposes of professional development; and (C) enhancing data sharing, as appropriate; (2) bolstering subnational dialogue between local governments, civil society, faith-based organizations, and business community leaders and integrating issues faced by local communities, including with respect to trafficking of fentanyl and other synthetic opioids; and (3) strengthening capacity building and provide resources for border towns and organizations within those towns that attempt to meet the needs of local communities. (b) Update Not later than 2 years after the date of the submission of the strategy under subsection (a), the President shall submit to the congressional committees specified in subsection (a) an update containing an assessment of the implementation and effectiveness of the strategy, lessons learned from the past year with respect to the strategy, and planned changes to the strategy. (c) Form The strategy under subsection (a), and the update under subsection (b), shall be submitted in unclassified form. 3. Low-earth orbit satellite technologies feasibility study and report (a) Feasibility study The Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of Commerce, the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, the Director of the United States Trade and Development Agency, and the heads of other Federal agencies as appropriate, shall conduct a feasibility study for the countries of Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean on the possibility of low-Earth orbit satellites, high altitude platforms systems, or other trusted space-based telecommunications technologies to— (1) provide broadband connection to remote areas that lack access to network service; (2) provide mobile and internet services without the use of untrusted telecommunications equipment or services; and (3) provide uncensored internet access to the people of such countries the governments of which use firewalls to prevent their populations from freely accessing information. (b) Report Not later than 180 days after the completion of the feasibility study under subsection (a), the Secretary shall prepare and submit to the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate a report on the results of the feasibility study under subsection (a) that includes an analysis of the— (1) scalability of the implementation of the technologies described in subsection (a); (2) economic viability of using space-based technologies to reach remote areas, including the cost of space-enabled broadband service per newly connected person; (3) feasibility of using such technologies to limit or phase out the use of untrusted telecommunications equipment or services; and (4) capability of satellite internet technologies to provide uncensored internet to people in countries where open internet access is forbidden or curtailed. 4. Department of State review of access to finance in the countries of the Caribbean (a) Review The Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of Treasury, shall conduct a review to determine any steps, balancing costs and benefits, that the Secretaries could take to expand financial access to the countries of the Caribbean, including through a review of— (1) sanctions enforcement laws and compliance standards; (2) reporting requirements pertaining to narcotics trafficking and illicit finance thereof; (3) possible expansion of embassies and consulates in the region; and (4) programming or lack thereof pertaining to access to capital in the region. (b) Report The Secretary shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the findings of the Secretary pertaining to the review under subsection (a). (c) Appropriate congressional committees defined In this section, the term appropriate congressional committees means— (1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives; and (2) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate.