Caribbean Basin Security Initiative Authorization Act
Sponsored By: Senator Kaine, Tim [D-VA]
Introduced
Summary
strengthen U.S.–Caribbean security partnerships is the bill's main aim. It would create the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative to counter transnational crime and boost rule of law. It would authorize $88 million per year from 2025 through 2029 for 13 named Caribbean countries.
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- Families and communities: Would fund community policing, crime‑prevention programs for at‑risk youth, workforce development, and support for people vulnerable to extortion and gang recruitment.
- Law enforcement and justice sectors: Would provide maritime and aerial interdiction support, port and border screening equipment and training, and capacity building for prosecutors, judges, anti‑corruption efforts, cybercrime cooperation, and police professionalization and vetting.
- Regional resilience and oversight: Would create a five‑year disaster response and resilience program, require a 180‑day implementation strategy and annual progress updates, coordinate with USAID and the Inter‑American Foundation, use public diplomacy to explain U.S. assistance, and monitor or restrict high‑risk foreign investments and telecommunications vendors.
*Would increase federal spending by $88 million per year, about $440 million over five years.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Disaster readiness and resilience programs
If enacted, the bill would require a disaster resilience strategy within 180 days and start a five‑year resilience program in the named countries. The strategy must include measurable benchmarks and public outreach. Annual progress reports on the benchmarks would be required.
Limit foreign influence and risky tech
If enacted, the bill would direct monitoring and actions to limit influence from certain foreign authoritarian regimes in the named countries. It would evaluate and, where appropriate, restrict U.S. involvement in projects they fund, limit high‑risk telecom vendors, and promote investment screening and contract transparency.
More help for police and courts
If enacted, the bill would fund equipment, training, and technical help to fight transnational crime and gangs in the listed Caribbean countries. Activities would include maritime and air security, border and port screening, police and prosecutor training, anti‑corruption work, victim protections, and youth crime‑prevention programs.
New Caribbean security program and funding
If enacted, the bill would create the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative. The State Department and USAID would run it for 13 named Caribbean countries. It would authorize $88 million per year for each fiscal year 2025 through 2029 to carry out the program.
Required planning and annual reporting
If enacted, the bill would require the Secretary of State and USAID to submit an implementation plan within 180 days. The plan must include benchmarks, agency roles, co‑location steps, and Haiti coordination. Agencies would provide annual results reports starting one year after the plan.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Kaine, Tim [D-VA]
VA • D
Cosponsors
Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]
TX • R
Sponsored 3/3/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov