Caribbean Basin Security Initiative Authorization Act
Sponsored By: Representative Espaillat
Introduced
Summary
Creates the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative to expand U.S. support for security, rule of law, and disaster resilience across 13 Caribbean countries. The program sets goals, reporting rules, and a five-year disaster resilience plan carried out by the State Department with USAID and partners.
Show full summary
- Families and communities: Funds crime-prevention work and programs for at-risk youth, including workforce development, remedial education, and juvenile-justice improvements to reduce gang recruitment and extortion.
- Law enforcement and justice systems: Provides technical assistance and training for prosecutors, judges, police, and cybercrime units to fight corruption, money laundering, trafficking, extortion, and other transnational crimes.
- Regional security and disaster response: Supplies maritime and aerial interdiction equipment and training, strengthens port and airport screening, supports joint operations against criminal networks, and creates a five-year natural disaster response and resilience program.
*Authorizes $88.0 million per year for fiscal years 2025 through 2029 to implement the initiative, increasing federal spending by that amount annually over the period.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Five-year Caribbean disaster readiness plan
If enacted, the Secretary of State, with USAID and the Inter‑American Foundation, would run disaster resilience programs for five years. They would coordinate with U.S. agencies, share best practices on resilient infrastructure and rebuilding, and improve rapid response and preparedness. A strategy with measurable goals would be due within 180 days, followed by yearly progress reports.
New Caribbean security aid program
If enacted, the Secretary of State and USAID would be able to run a Caribbean Basin Security Initiative. It would operate only in Antigua and Barbuda; the Bahamas; Barbados; Dominica; the Dominican Republic; Grenada; Guyana; Jamaica; Saint Lucia; Saint Kitts and Nevis; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; Suriname; and Trinidad and Tobago. The work would focus on public safety, justice, crime prevention for youth, disaster response, and anti‑corruption. This would authorize the program but would not fund it by itself.
Authorize $88 million a year for Caribbean security
If enacted, the bill would authorize $88 million each year for fiscal years 2025 through 2029. The State Department and USAID would use the funds to carry out the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative. Congress would still need to appropriate the money before it could be spent.
Caribbean security plans and yearly reports
If enacted, State and USAID would send Congress an implementation plan within 180 days with timelines, goals, benchmarks, and agency roles. Starting one year after that plan, they would report results each year, including progress and funding by country. Reports would go to the Senate Foreign Relations and Appropriations committees and the House Foreign Affairs and Appropriations committees.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Espaillat
NY • D
Cosponsors
Salazar
FL • R
Sponsored 7/14/2025
Sherman
CA • D
Sponsored 1/20/2026
Lawler
NY • R
Sponsored 1/20/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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