Bill Summary
This bill, known as the United States-Caribbean Strategic Engagement Act of 2023, aims to amend the United States-Caribbean Strategic Engagement Act of 2016. The amendment would require the submission of an updated multi-year strategy for United States engagement in the Caribbean region. This updated strategy would focus on several areas, including reducing the flow of illicit firearms, combating lottery scams against US citizens, and improving energy security and access to renewable power solutions. The strategy would also address issues related to climate change, democracy and human rights, public health cooperation, food security, and education and skills training for at-risk youth, women, and girls. The bill also specifies that the Department of Defense, Department of Justice, and Department of the Treasury must be involved in the development and implementation of this strategy.
Possible Impacts
1. The requirement to reduce the flow of illicit United States firearms to the Caribbean region could affect people by potentially limiting access to firearms in the region, which could impact their ability to defend themselves or participate in activities such as hunting or shooting sports.
2. The expansion of internet access throughout the region could benefit marginalized communities by providing them with more opportunities for education, employment, and communication.
3. The support for regional initiatives to advance food security could positively impact people by ensuring they have access to a stable and reliable food supply, potentially reducing food insecurity and hunger within the region.
[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4015 Introduced in House (IH)]
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118th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4015
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.
_______________________________________________________________________
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.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``United States-Caribbean Strategic
Engagement Act of 2023''.
SEC. 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;''.
SEC. 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''.
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