{ "id": "R42582", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "number": "R42582", "active": false, "source": "EveryCRSReport.com, University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "versions": [ { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 423281, "date": "2013-04-05", "retrieved": "2016-04-06T23:32:06.460272", "title": "U.S. Foreign Assistance to Latin America and the Caribbean: Recent Trends and FY2013 Appropriations", "summary": "Geographic proximity has forged strong linkages between the United States and the nations of Latin America and the Caribbean, with critical U.S. interests in the region encompassing economic, political, and security concerns. U.S. policymakers have emphasized different strategic interests in the region at different times, from combating Soviet influence during the Cold War to advancing democracy and open markets since the 1990s. Current U.S. policy toward the region is designed to promote economic and social opportunity, ensure citizen security, strengthen effective democratic institutions, and secure a clean energy future. As part of broader efforts to advance these priorities, the United States provides Latin American and Caribbean nations with substantial amounts of foreign assistance. In recent years, the State Department, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs appropriations measure has been the primary legislative vehicle through which Congress reviews U.S. assistance and influences executive branch policy toward the region.\nTrends in Assistance\nSince 1946, the United States has provided over $148 billion (constant 2010 dollars) in assistance to the region. Funding levels have fluctuated over time, however, according to regional trends and U.S. policy initiatives. U.S. assistance to the region spiked during the 1960s under President Kennedy\u2019s Alliance for Progress, and then declined in the 1970s before spiking again during the Central American conflicts of the 1980s. After another decline during the 1990s, assistance to the region remained on a generally upward trajectory through the first decade of this century, reaching its most recent peak in the aftermath of the 2010 earthquake in Haiti. Aid levels for the region have fallen in each of the past two fiscal years, however, as Congress has sought to trim the foreign aid budget.\nFY2013 Obama Administration Request\nThe Obama Administration\u2019s FY2013 foreign aid budget request would have continued the recent downward trend in assistance to Latin America and the Caribbean. The Administration requested some $1.7 billion for the region to be provided through the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Beyond the assistance provided through the State Department and USAID, many Latin American and Caribbean nations will continue to receive additional aid from agencies such as the Department of Defense, the Inter-American Foundation, the Millennium Challenge Corporation, and the Peace Corps.\nCongressional Action\nIn May 2012, the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations marked up their annual appropriations bills for the State Department, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs (H.R. 5857 and S. 3241). Funding in the FY2013 House bill was 11.8% lower than the Administration\u2019s request, and funding in the Senate bill was 4.7% lower than the Administration\u2019s request. It is unclear how much foreign assistance each of the nations of Latin America and the Caribbean would have received under the two bills, however, since appropriation levels for individual countries and programs are generally not specified in the legislation or accompanying reports. \nUltimately no action was taken on these measures. Congress delayed floor consideration of FY2013 appropriations bills until after the start of the new fiscal year and the November 2012 elections, instead enacting a six-month continuing resolution that would expire in March 2013 (P.L. 112-175). In March 2013, before the continuing resolution expired, Congress approved new legislation (P.L. 113-6) funding federal programs through the end of FY2013. Under that measure, State Department and Foreign Operations accounts were funded at the same level as in FY2012 with some exceptions. Funding, however, was also subject to the budget sequestration cuts set forth in the Budget Control Act of 2011 (P.L. 112-25) and the American Taxpayers Relief Act (P.L. 112-240). While sequestration reduced State Department-Foreign Operations funding by about 5%, those reductions will be applied at the account level, and as a result, country-level allocations for FY2013 are not yet available.\nNote: The FY2013 foreign aid statistics cited in this report reflect the Administration FY2013 request for assistance to Latin America and the Caribbean. The discussion and analysis throughout this report reflect comparisons of the Administration\u2019s FY2013 request with FY2012 aid estimates. Discussion of FY2013 legislative action focuses on bills reported by the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, but never considered by Congress.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/R42582", "sha1": "d5991fe958df45cf2c393fbb6ccf6bc431c5b6f5", "filename": "files/20130405_R42582_d5991fe958df45cf2c393fbb6ccf6bc431c5b6f5.html", "images": null }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/R42582", "sha1": "74350b71ca730e702d8667327f1307de30cc01f2", "filename": "files/20130405_R42582_74350b71ca730e702d8667327f1307de30cc01f2.pdf", "images": null } ], "topics": [] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc93944/", "id": "R42582_2012Jun26", "date": "2012-06-26", "retrieved": "2012-07-24T12:39:36", "title": "U.S. Foreign Assistance to Latin America and the Caribbean: Recent Trends and FY2013 Appropriations", "summary": "Current U.S. policy toward the region is designed to promote economic and social opportunity; ensure citizen security; strengthen effective democratic institutions; and secure a clean energy future. As part of broader efforts to advance these priorities, the United States provides Latin American and Caribbean nations with substantial amounts of foreign assistance. This report specifically looks at trends in this assistance, FY2013 Obama Administration report, and Congressional action.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20120626_R42582_b497965cbb934340a8c3cdb3fdb407dc92998f5e.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20120626_R42582_b497965cbb934340a8c3cdb3fdb407dc92998f5e.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign aid", "name": "Foreign aid" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Economic assistance", "name": "Economic assistance" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Budgets", "name": "Budgets" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign policy", "name": "Foreign policy" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign relations -- Latin America -- U.S.", "name": "Foreign relations -- Latin America -- U.S." }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign relations -- U.S. -- Latin America", "name": "Foreign relations -- U.S. -- Latin America" } ] } ], "topics": [ "Appropriations", "Foreign Affairs", "National Defense" ] }