{ "id": "R45120", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "number": "R45120", "active": false, "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "versions": [ { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 609139, "date": "2019-01-22", "retrieved": "2020-03-15T19:27:49.969903", "title": "Latin America and the Caribbean: Issues in the 115th Congress", "summary": "Geographic proximity has ensured strong linkages between the United States and Latin America and the Caribbean, based on diverse U.S. interests, including economic, political, and security concerns. The United States is a major trading partner and the largest source of foreign investment for many countries in the region, with free-trade agreements enhancing economic linkages with 11 countries. The region is a large source of U.S. immigration, both legal and illegal; proximity and economic and security conditions are major factors driving migration. Curbing the flow of illicit drugs has been a key component of U.S. relations with the region for more than three decades and currently involves close security cooperation with Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. U.S. support for democracy and human rights in the region has been long-standing, with particular current focus on Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. \nUnder the Trump Administration, the outlook for U.S. relations with the region has changed. The Administration proposed deep cuts in FY2018 and FY2019 assistance to the region compared with FY2017. On trade, President Trump ordered U.S. withdrawal from the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement, which would have increased U.S. economic linkages with Mexico, Chile, and Peru. President Trump criticized the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with Mexico and Canada as unfair, warned that the United States might withdraw, and initiated renegotiations; ultimately, the three countries agreed to a United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement in late September 2018. The proposed agreement, which requires congressional approval, largely leaves NAFTA intact but includes some updates and changes, especially to the dairy and auto industries. Administration actions on immigration have caused concern in the region, including efforts to end the deportation relief program known as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designations for Nicaragua, Haiti, El Salvador, and Honduras. President Trump unveiled a new policy in 2017 toward Cuba partially rolling back U.S. efforts to normalize relations and imposing new sanctions. \nCongressional Action in the 115th Congress\nCongress traditionally has played an active role in policy toward Latin America and the Caribbean in terms of both legislation and oversight. Congress rejected the Trump Administration\u2019s proposed FY2018 cuts in foreign assistance to the region when it enacted the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 (P.L. 115-141). Although the 115th Congress did not complete action on FY2019 appropriations funding foreign aid, both House and Senate Appropriations Committees\u2019 bills, H.R. 6385 and S. 3108, would have funded key countries and initiatives approaching FY2017 amounts. \nIn other action, Congress enacted the Nicaragua Human Rights and Anticorruption Act of 2018 (P.L. 115-335, H.R. 1918) in December 2018. The measure requires the United States to vote against loans from the international financial institutions to Nicaragua, except to address basic human needs or promote democracy, and authorizes the President to impose sanctions on persons responsible for human rights violations or acts of corruption. In August 2018, Congress enacted the FY2019 defense authorization measure, P.L. 115-232 (H.R. 5515), with several Latin America provisions, including required reports on narcotics trafficking corruption and illicit campaign financing in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras and on security cooperation between Russia and Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. The House also approved H.R. 2658 on Venezuela in December 2017, which, among its provisions, would have authorized humanitarian assistance for Venezuela; similar bills were introduced in the Senate but were not considered.\nBoth houses approved several resolutions indicating policy preferences on a range of issues and countries: S.Res. 35 and H.Res. 259 on Venezuela, S.Res. 83 and H.Res. 336 on Mexico, H.Res. 54 on Argentina, H.Res. 145 on Central America, S.Res. 224 on Cuba, and H.Res. 981 on Nicaragua. \nLooking ahead to the 116th Congress, in addition to completing action on FY2019 foreign aid appropriations, many of the U.S. economic, political, and security concerns discussed in this report likely will sustain congressional interest in Latin America and the Caribbean (see \u201cOutlook for the 116th Congress,\u201d below.)\nThis report, which will not be updated, tracks legislative action on Latin America and the Caribbean in the 115th Congress in 2017 and 2018.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "https://www.crs.gov/Reports/R45120", "sha1": "8a5bf200cc641e7ab7ed170dd0637afb245786e8", "filename": "files/20190122_R45120_8a5bf200cc641e7ab7ed170dd0637afb245786e8.html", "images": { "/products/Getimages/?directory=R/html/R45120_files&id=/1.png": "files/20190122_R45120_images_6dbf41fbfd91abe362775b9ab422e5c5c6828330.png", "/products/Getimages/?directory=R/html/R45120_files&id=/0.png": "files/20190122_R45120_images_19fc6bffe811d06216f6e0ff6efe68de40e418ef.png", "/products/Getimages/?directory=R/html/R45120_files&id=/2.png": "files/20190122_R45120_images_361baa1bfabc495ea0ba7ee05011447ab6abc595.png" } }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "https://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/R45120", "sha1": "c9faa96236074647fe5c9c8c2dfcf3ecbe04fd5a", "filename": "files/20190122_R45120_c9faa96236074647fe5c9c8c2dfcf3ecbe04fd5a.pdf", "images": {} } ], "topics": [ { "source": "IBCList", "id": 4847, "name": "Latin America, Caribbean, & Canada" } ] }, { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 587187, "date": "2018-10-04", "retrieved": "2018-11-02T13:15:52.610847", "title": "Latin America and the Caribbean: Issues in the 115th Congress", "summary": "Geographic proximity has ensured strong linkages between the United States and Latin America and the Caribbean, based on diverse U.S. interests, including economic, political, and security concerns. The United States is a major trading partner and the largest source of foreign investment for many countries in the region, with free-trade agreements enhancing economic linkages with 11 countries. The region is a large source of U.S. immigration, both legal and illegal; proximity and economic and security conditions are major factors driving migration. Curbing the flow of illicit drugs has been a key component of U.S. relations with the region for more than three decades and currently involves close security cooperation with Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. U.S. support for democracy and human rights in the region has been long-standing, with particular current focus on Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. \nUnder the Trump Administration, the outlook for U.S. relations with the region has changed. The Administration proposed deep cuts in FY2018 and FY2019 assistance to the region compared with FY2017. On trade, President Trump ordered U.S. withdrawal from the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement, which would have increased U.S. economic linkages with Mexico, Chile, and Peru. President Trump criticized the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with Mexico and Canada as unfair, warned that the United States might withdraw, and initiated renegotiations; ultimately, the three countries agreed to a United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement in late September 2018. The proposed agreement largely leaves NAFTA intact but includes some updates and changes (especially to the dairy and auto industries). Administration actions on immigration have caused concern in the region, including the announced ending of the deportation relief program known as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designations for Nicaragua, Haiti, El Salvador, and Honduras. President Trump unveiled a new policy in 2017 toward Cuba partially rolling back U.S. efforts to normalize relations. \nCongress traditionally has played an active role in policy toward Latin America and the Caribbean in terms of both legislation and oversight. Congress rejected many of the Trump Administration\u2019s proposed FY2018 cuts in foreign assistance to the region when it enacted the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 (P.L. 115-141). Likewise for FY2019, both the House and Senate Appropriations Committees\u2019 bills, H.R. 6385 and S. 3108, would fund key countries and initiatives approaching FY2017 amounts. \nTo date in the 115th Congress, the House has approved bills on Nicaragua and Venezuela. H.R. 1918 would require the United States to vote against certain loans from the international financial institutions benefiting Nicaragua until the government takes actions regarding democratic practices; a similar bill, S. 2265, was introduced in the Senate. In 2018, legislation was introduced in both houses, S. 3233 and H.R. 6683, that would impose sanctions on those responsible for human rights abuses in Nicaragua. On Venezuela, the House approved H.R. 2658 in 2017, which would authorize humanitarian assistance, among other provisions; a similar bill was introduced in the Senate, S. 1018 in 2017, and a newer version, S. 3486, was introduced in 2018. Both houses approved several resolutions indicating policy preferences on a range of issues and countries: S.Res. 35 and H.Res. 259 on Venezuela, S.Res. 83 and H.Res. 336 on Mexico, H.Res. 54 on Argentina, H.Res. 145 on Central America, S.Res. 224 on Cuba, and H.Res. 981 on Nicaragua. \nLooking ahead, in addition to completing action on FY2019 foreign aid appropriations, Congress also might turn to completing legislation on Nicaragua and Venezuela as the United States confronts crises in both countries. Other events in the region through the end of the year could generate congressional interest. These events include Brazil\u2019s presidential elections in October; Mexico\u2019s inauguration of a new president in December; and President Trump\u2019s planned attendance at the G-20 summit in Argentina (November 30-December 1, 2018) and subsequent visit to Colombia.\nThis report examines the political and economic environment in Latin America and the Caribbean and U.S. policy toward the region in the 115th Congress, highlighting congressional interest and legislative action. An Appendix lists hearings on the region in the 115th Congress.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": true, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/R45120", "sha1": "1fdd5733eca5d1046c22f769f6f14fb299e4db89", "filename": "files/20181004_R45120_1fdd5733eca5d1046c22f769f6f14fb299e4db89.html", "images": { "/products/Getimages/?directory=R/html/R45120_files&id=/1.png": "files/20181004_R45120_images_6dbf41fbfd91abe362775b9ab422e5c5c6828330.png", "/products/Getimages/?directory=R/html/R45120_files&id=/0.png": "files/20181004_R45120_images_19fc6bffe811d06216f6e0ff6efe68de40e418ef.png", "/products/Getimages/?directory=R/html/R45120_files&id=/2.png": "files/20181004_R45120_images_361baa1bfabc495ea0ba7ee05011447ab6abc595.png" } }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/R45120", "sha1": "5c91597618520f0e45cdb9e6636f22b00c8949e8", "filename": "files/20181004_R45120_5c91597618520f0e45cdb9e6636f22b00c8949e8.pdf", "images": {} } ], "topics": [ { "source": "IBCList", "id": 4847, "name": "Latin America, Caribbean, & Canada" } ] }, { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 579616, "date": "2018-03-12", "retrieved": "2018-04-03T13:43:43.834264", "title": "Latin America and the Caribbean: Issues in the 115th Congress", "summary": "Geographic proximity has ensured strong linkages between the United States and Latin America and the Caribbean, based on diverse U.S. interests, including economic, political, and security concerns. The United States is a major trading partner and the largest source of foreign investment for many countries in the region, with free-trade agreements enhancing economic linkages with 11 countries. The region is a large source of U.S. immigration, both legal and illegal; geographic proximity and economic and security conditions are major factors driving migration trends. Curbing the flow of illicit drugs has been a key component of U.S. relations with the region for more than three decades and currently involves close security cooperation with Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. U.S. support for democracy and human rights in the region has been long-standing and currently focuses on Cuba and Venezuela. \nUnder the Trump Administration, the outlook for U.S. relations with Latin America and the Caribbean has changed. The Administration\u2019s FY2018 and FY2019 foreign aid requests for the region would significantly cut assistance compared with FY2017. On trade, President Trump ordered U.S. withdrawal from the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement, an accord that would have increased U.S. economic linkages with Mexico, Chile, and Peru. The Administration is renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with Mexico and Canada. At times, President Trump has raised the possibility of withdrawal from NAFTA. The Administration announced it would end the deportation relief program known as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), potentially affecting some 550,000 Mexicans and more than 100,000 migrants from other countries in the region. It also announced the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designations for El Salvador, Haiti, and Nicaragua, affecting more than 300,000 nationals from those countries. President Trump unveiled a new policy toward Cuba that partially rolls back U.S. efforts to normalize relations. As the situation in Venezuela has deteriorated, the Trump Administration has imposed additional targeted sanctions on individuals and broader financial sanctions on the government and is considering restrictions on oil trade. \nCongress traditionally has played an active role in policy toward Latin America and the Caribbean in terms of both legislation and oversight. Although Congress has not completed action on FY2018 foreign aid appropriations (H.R. 3362, included in House-passed H.R. 3354; and S. 1780), it is poised to not include many of the cuts proposed by the Trump Administration for the region and will soon begin consideration of the FY2019 budget request.\nTo date in the 115th Congress, the House has approved bills on Nicaragua and Venezuela: H.R. 1918 would require the United States to vote against any loan to Nicaragua from the international financial institutions unless the government takes steps to hold free and fair elections, and H.R. 2658 would authorize humanitarian assistance for Venezuela. Both houses also have approved several resolutions indicating policy preferences on a range of issues and countries: S.Res. 35 and H.Res. 259 on Venezuela, S.Res. 83 and H.Res. 336 on Mexico, H.Res. 54 on Argentina, and H.Res. 145 on Central America. \nLooking ahead, congressional attention to the region could focus on numerous issues, including consideration of legislation affecting DACA recipients or TPS beneficiaries; the U.S. response to the crisis in Venezuela, including a planned presidential election in May; the upcoming Summit of the Americas to be hosted by Peru on April 13-14, 2018, which the White House recently announced that President Trump would attend; the Administration\u2019s efforts to renegotiate NAFTA; Cuba\u2019s expected political transition in April 2018; upcoming presidential elections in Colombia (May), Mexico (July), and Brazil (October); the status of security partnerships with Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean to combat transnational crime; Colombia\u2019s implementation of its peace accord; and the role of external actors in the region, including China and Russia.\nThis report provides an overview of U.S. policy toward Latin America and the Caribbean during the 115th Congress. It begins with background on the region\u2019s political and economic environment and then examines U.S. policy toward the region, focusing on the Trump Administration. The report then examines selected regional and country issues, highlighting congressional interest and legislative action. An Appendix lists hearings on the region in the 115th Congress.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": true, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/R45120", "sha1": "5488ecc7cdbe7a4cb3eb4d5c62cd9196af00eb97", "filename": "files/20180312_R45120_5488ecc7cdbe7a4cb3eb4d5c62cd9196af00eb97.html", "images": { "/products/Getimages/?directory=R/html/R45120_files&id=/1.png": "files/20180312_R45120_images_6dbf41fbfd91abe362775b9ab422e5c5c6828330.png", "/products/Getimages/?directory=R/html/R45120_files&id=/0.png": "files/20180312_R45120_images_19fc6bffe811d06216f6e0ff6efe68de40e418ef.png", "/products/Getimages/?directory=R/html/R45120_files&id=/2.png": "files/20180312_R45120_images_361baa1bfabc495ea0ba7ee05011447ab6abc595.png" } }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/R45120", "sha1": "c885d01093fcb9c2479bda975aeaff33d200d1bd", "filename": "files/20180312_R45120_c885d01093fcb9c2479bda975aeaff33d200d1bd.pdf", "images": {} } ], "topics": [ { "source": "IBCList", "id": 4847, "name": "Latin America, Caribbean, & Canada" } ] }, { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 578882, "date": "2018-03-05", "retrieved": "2018-03-09T00:03:40.921621", "title": "Latin America and the Caribbean: Issues in the 115th Congress", "summary": "Geographic proximity has ensured strong linkages between the United States and Latin America and the Caribbean, based on diverse U.S. interests, including economic, political, and security concerns. The United States is a major trading partner and the largest source of foreign investment for many countries in the region, with free-trade agreements enhancing economic linkages with 11 countries. The region is a large source of U.S. immigration, both legal and illegal; geographic proximity and economic and security conditions are major factors driving migration trends. Curbing the flow of illicit drugs has been a key component of U.S. relations with the region for more than three decades and currently involves close security cooperation with Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. U.S. support for democracy and human rights in the region has been long-standing and currently focuses on Cuba and Venezuela. \nUnder the Trump Administration, the outlook for U.S. relations with Latin America and the Caribbean has changed. The Administration\u2019s FY2018 and FY2019 foreign aid requests for the region would significantly cut assistance compared with FY2017. On trade, President Trump ordered U.S. withdrawal from the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement, an accord that would have increased U.S. economic linkages with Mexico, Chile, and Peru. The Administration is renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with Mexico and Canada. At times, President Trump has raised the possibility of withdrawal from NAFTA. The Administration announced it would end the deportation relief program known as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), potentially affecting some 550,000 Mexicans and more than 100,000 migrants from other countries in the region. It also announced the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designations for El Salvador, Haiti, and Nicaragua, affecting more than 300,000 nationals from those countries. President Trump unveiled a new policy toward Cuba that partially rolls back U.S. efforts to normalize relations. As the situation in Venezuela has deteriorated, the Trump Administration has imposed additional targeted sanctions on individuals and broader financial sanctions on the government and is considering restrictions on oil trade. \nCongress traditionally has played an active role in policy toward Latin America and the Caribbean in terms of both legislation and oversight. Although Congress has not completed action on FY2018 foreign aid appropriations (H.R. 3362 , included in House-passed H.R. 3354; and S. 1780), it is poised to not include many of the cuts proposed by the Trump Administration for the region and will soon begin consideration of the FY2019 budget request.\nTo date in the 115th Congress, the House has approved bills on Nicaragua and Venezuela: H.R. 1918 would require the United States to vote against any loan to Nicaragua from the international financial institutions unless the government takes steps to hold free and fair elections, and H.R. 2658 would authorize humanitarian assistance for Venezuela. Both houses also have approved several resolutions indicating policy preferences on a range of issues and countries: S.Res. 35 and H.Res. 259 on Venezuela, S.Res. 83 and H.Res. 336 on Mexico, H.Res. 54 on Argentina, and H.Res. 145 on Central America. \nLooking ahead, congressional attention to the region could focus on numerous issues, including consideration of legislation affecting DACA recipients or TPS beneficiaries; the U.S. response to the crisis in Venezuela, including a planned presidential election in May; the upcoming Summit of the Americas in April 2018 hosted by Peru; the Administration\u2019s efforts to renegotiate NAFTA; Cuba\u2019s expected political transition in April 2018; upcoming presidential elections in Colombia (May), Mexico (July), and Brazil (October); the status of security partnerships with Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean to combat transnational crime; Colombia\u2019s implementation of its peace accord; and the role of external actors in the region, including China and Russia.\nThis report provides an overview of U.S. policy toward Latin America and the Caribbean during the 115th Congress. It begins with background on the region\u2019s political and economic environment and then examines U.S. policy toward the region, focusing on the Trump Administration. The report then examines selected regional and country issues, highlighting congressional interest and legislative action. An Appendix lists hearings on the region in the 115th Congress.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": true, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/R45120", "sha1": "6944ad472aff82d7548d4d756c1056bfd0503813", "filename": "files/20180305_R45120_6944ad472aff82d7548d4d756c1056bfd0503813.html", "images": { "/products/Getimages/?directory=R/html/R45120_files&id=/1.png": "files/20180305_R45120_images_6dbf41fbfd91abe362775b9ab422e5c5c6828330.png", "/products/Getimages/?directory=R/html/R45120_files&id=/0.png": "files/20180305_R45120_images_19fc6bffe811d06216f6e0ff6efe68de40e418ef.png", "/products/Getimages/?directory=R/html/R45120_files&id=/2.png": "files/20180305_R45120_images_361baa1bfabc495ea0ba7ee05011447ab6abc595.png" } }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/R45120", "sha1": "4cde20b20550168144f787652f7295037cb2077e", "filename": "files/20180305_R45120_4cde20b20550168144f787652f7295037cb2077e.pdf", "images": {} } ], "topics": [ { "source": "IBCList", "id": 4847, "name": "Latin America, Caribbean, & Canada" } ] } ], "topics": [ "Appropriations", "Economic Policy", "Foreign Affairs", "Industry and Trade", "Latin American Affairs", "National Defense" ] }