Caribbean Basin Security Initiative Authorization Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 4368
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- International Affairs
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-01-21: Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by the Yeas and Nays: 42 - 5.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-25T08:08:37Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Caribbean Basin Security Initiative Authorization Act (H.R. 4368) aims to formally authorize and fund the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI), a program to strengthen security partnerships between the United States and select Caribbean nations. It focuses on improving citizen safety, combating crime and corruption, enhancing law enforcement, preventing crime among vulnerable groups, building resilience to natural disasters, and countering foreign malign influences (such as from China, Russia, Iran, Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Cuba). The bill also promotes effective communication about U.S. assistance to build public support in the region.
Key Provisions
- Authorization of the CBSI (Section 3): Empowers the Secretary of State and the Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to implement the CBSI in 13 specified "beneficiary countries" (Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago). Key purposes include:
- Promoting safety, rule of law, and engagement with governments and civil society.
- Countering transnational crime and gangs through maritime/aerial security, border/port controls, and targeting finances/recruitment.
- Building law enforcement and justice capacity, including anti-corruption training, human rights protection, professionalization of police/military, justice reforms, and cybersecurity.
- Supporting crime prevention via community policing, economic opportunities for at-risk youth, juvenile justice improvements, and aid for crime victims.
- Enhancing disaster response for security forces, such as training for infrastructure recovery and first responders.
- Combating corruption through justice system capacity building and inter-agency cooperation.
- Promoting rule of law by monitoring/restricting authoritarian influences, countering disinformation, and ensuring transparent investments.
- Developing public diplomacy to highlight U.S. assistance benefits.
- Authorizes $88 million annually for fiscal years 2025–2029 to the Department of State and USAID.
- Implementation Plan (Section 4): Requires the Secretary of State, in coordination with USAID, to submit a detailed plan within 180 days of enactment, including:
- A multi-year regional and country-specific strategy with timelines, objectives, and outcomes.
- Measurable benchmarks for progress tracking.
- Defined roles for U.S. agencies (e.g., State, USAID, Justice, Defense) to avoid overlaps.
- Coordination and tracking mechanisms, aligned with existing transparency laws.
- Plans for co-locating crime prevention and enforcement projects.
- Annual progress reports to congressional committees on strategy implementation, benchmarks, and funding by country.
- Natural Disaster Response and Resilience Programs (Section 5): Over five years from enactment, the Secretary of State (with USAID and the Inter-American Foundation) must:
- Promote coordination, best practices sharing (e.g., resilient infrastructure), and rapid-response improvements.
- Submit a strategy within 180 days with benchmarks for these goals and public awareness of U.S. aid.
- Provide annual progress updates on benchmarks.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- The CBSI was originally launched as a presidential initiative in 2008 without statutory authorization. This bill provides the first formal congressional authorization, making it a permanent program with dedicated funding.
- Introduces specific requirements for anti-corruption, countering foreign authoritarian influence, and disaster resilience, which expand beyond the original executive framework.
- Mandates detailed implementation planning, benchmarks, inter-agency coordination, and annual reporting, enhancing accountability and transparency under laws like the Foreign Aid Transparency and Accountability Act of 2016.
- No direct amendments to prior statutes, but it integrates and prioritizes these elements into U.S. foreign assistance frameworks.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Increases workload and funding for the Departments of State, USAID, Justice, and Defense to execute programs, coordinate efforts, and report to Congress, potentially streamlining anti-crime and resilience initiatives but requiring new resources for planning and monitoring.
- Citizens: In beneficiary countries, could improve safety by reducing crime, corruption, and gang activity; enhance economic opportunities for youth; and build better disaster preparedness, leading to faster recovery from events like hurricanes. U.S. citizens may indirectly benefit from reduced regional threats like drug trafficking.
- International Relations: Strengthens U.S. ties with Caribbean nations through partnerships, potentially countering influence from adversarial regimes and promoting regional stability. May foster goodwill via public diplomacy but could strain relations if restrictions on foreign investments are seen as interference.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- U.S. Government: Departments of State, USAID, Justice, Defense, and congressional committees on foreign affairs and appropriations, which oversee funding and implementation.
- Beneficiary Countries' Governments and Citizens: Officials in law enforcement, justice, and disaster response sectors gain capacity-building support; at-risk youth, vulnerable populations, and communities benefit from crime prevention and resilience programs.
- Civil Society and Private Sector: Local organizations, including NGOs and businesses in beneficiary countries, receive engagement opportunities for security and development initiatives.
- Adversaries: Transnational criminal groups, gangs, and authoritarian regimes (e.g., China, Russia) face increased countermeasures, potentially limiting their operations and influence.
- Inter-American Foundation and NGOs: Involved in disaster strategy consultations and program execution.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Establishes statutory authority for executive actions, ensuring continuity beyond administrations and aligning with U.S. foreign policy laws on aid transparency. Includes human rights vetting for security assistance, reducing risks of aiding abusive forces.
- Constitutional: Reinforces Congress's power of the purse (Article I) by authorizing specific appropriations, while directing executive implementation without infringing on presidential foreign affairs authority.
- Political: Signals U.S. commitment to hemispheric security amid rising concerns over migration, drugs, and foreign interference; bipartisan sponsorship (by Reps. Espaillat and Salazar) suggests broad support. Could influence regional alliances by prioritizing U.S. partnerships over competitors, but implementation depends on annual funding approvals, introducing political variability.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Espaillat, Adriano [D-NY-13]
Cosponsors (3)
Rep. Salazar, Maria Elvira [R-FL-27], Rep. Sherman, Brad [D-CA-32], Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17]
Recent Actions
- 2026-01-21: Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by the Yeas and Nays: 42 - 5.
- 2026-01-21: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- 2025-07-14: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
- 2025-07-14: Introduced in House
- 2025-07-14: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Caribbean Basin Security Initiative Authorization Act — issued 2025-07-14 — PDF (13 pages)