American Cooperation with Our Neighbors Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 4532
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- International Affairs
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-01-21: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 43 - 4.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-25T08:08:50Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
The "American Cooperation with Our Neighbors Act" (H.R. 4532) aims to improve U.S. cooperation with Mexico at local and state levels (subnational) to address security issues like fentanyl trafficking, while also directing a review to enhance financial access for countries in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), a regional group of 15 Caribbean nations. The bill seeks to build stronger partnerships through strategy development, capacity building, and targeted reviews to tackle drug trafficking, community needs, and economic barriers.
Key Provisions
- Subnational Cooperation Strategy with Mexico (Section 2):
- Requires the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), to submit a strategy to relevant congressional committees within 270 days of enactment.
- The strategy focuses on three main goals:
- Enhancing law enforcement and security cooperation at local, state, and federal levels to combat fentanyl and other synthetic opioids. This includes providing technical assistance, professional development exchange programs, and appropriate data sharing between U.S. and Mexican agencies.
- Promoting dialogue and capacity building among U.S. and Mexican federal/local governments, civil society, faith-based organizations, and business leaders to address local community issues, including opioid trafficking.
- Strengthening resources and capacity for border towns and organizations serving affected communities.
- An update on the strategy's implementation, effectiveness, lessons learned, and planned changes must be submitted by the President 2 years after the initial strategy.
- The strategy and update must be submitted in unclassified form (meaning they can be publicly accessed without security restrictions).
- Data Sharing Limitation: No data-sharing activities can begin until the Secretary notifies specific congressional committees about the intended data exchanges with foreign countries. These committees include those focused on judiciary, homeland security, foreign affairs, and intelligence in both the House and Senate.
- Review of Financial Access in CARICOM Member States (Section 3):
- Directs the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, to conduct a review of steps to expand financial access (e.g., banking and capital availability) in CARICOM countries, weighing costs and benefits.
- The review covers:
- Enforcement of international laws and compliance standards.
- Reporting requirements related to narcotics trafficking and illicit finance (illegal money flows).
- Potential expansion of U.S. embassies and consulates in the region.
- Existing or needed programs for improving access to capital (funds for investment or development).
- A report on the review's findings must be submitted to designated congressional committees (Foreign Affairs/Financial Services in the House; Foreign Relations/Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs in the Senate).
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill introduces new requirements without explicitly amending prior laws. It mandates the creation of a formal U.S.-Mexico subnational strategy and a CARICOM financial access review, which do not appear to exist in current statutes. It adds congressional oversight mechanisms, such as mandatory notifications for data sharing and unclassified reporting, to ensure transparency in foreign cooperation efforts.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The U.S. Department of State and USAID will need to allocate resources for strategy development, coordination, and implementation, potentially increasing administrative workloads. The Treasury Department will contribute to the CARICOM review, which could lead to new programs or diplomatic expansions. Congressional committees gain enhanced oversight roles through required reports and notifications.
- On Citizens: U.S. and Mexican border communities may benefit from improved anti-drug efforts, better local resources, and reduced fentanyl trafficking, potentially lowering public health risks. CARICOM residents could see expanded financial services, aiding economic development and reducing barriers to banking or investment.
- On International Relations: Strengthens U.S.-Mexico ties at subnational levels, fostering trust and joint action on shared issues like border security. For CARICOM, it could improve economic partnerships, addressing illicit finance and narcotics, which might enhance regional stability and U.S. influence in the Caribbean.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- U.S. Government Entities: Department of State, USAID, Treasury Department, and various congressional committees (e.g., Foreign Affairs, Judiciary, Homeland Security).
- Mexican Stakeholders: Local, state, and federal law enforcement, security forces, governments, civil society, faith-based organizations, business leaders, and border town communities.
- CARICOM Stakeholders: Governments and financial institutions in the 15 member states (e.g., Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago), which may gain from improved access to U.S. support and reduced illicit finance challenges.
- Broader Groups: U.S. and Mexican citizens impacted by opioid trafficking; international organizations involved in anti-drug and financial compliance efforts.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal Implications: The data-sharing limitation ensures compliance with U.S. privacy and intelligence laws by requiring congressional notification, preventing unauthorized exchanges with Mexico. The unclassified reporting promotes transparency under congressional oversight rules.
- Constitutional Implications: Aligns with Congress's constitutional authority over foreign affairs (Article I, Section 8) by directing executive branch actions and requiring reports, balancing executive flexibility with legislative checks.
- Political Implications: Introduced bipartisanship (by Reps. Stanton and Kean), the bill emphasizes practical cooperation on pressing issues like fentanyl without mandating major funding, potentially appealing across party lines. It could influence U.S. foreign policy priorities toward North America and the Caribbean, highlighting subnational diplomacy over purely federal approaches.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (4)
Rep. Kean, Thomas H. [R-NJ-7], Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1], Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17], Rep. Sherman, Brad [D-CA-32]
Recent Actions
- 2026-01-21: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 43 - 4.
- 2026-01-21: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- 2025-07-17: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
- 2025-07-17: Introduced in House
- 2025-07-17: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- American Cooperation with Our Neighbors Act — issued 2025-07-17 — PDF (5 pages)