H.R. 4939: United States-Caribbean Strategic Engagement Act of 2016

114th Congress · introduced 2016-04-14 · International Affairs · Latest: Became Public Law No: 114-291.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2016-04-14 · official record
Who proposed it: Rep. Engel, Eliot L. [D-NY-16] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: 1 recorded vote in our records. Latest: House roll call 297 (2016): On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended, HR4939 (2016-06-13), Passed. See all
Where it stands now: Became Public Law No: 114-291. (final step reached)
If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

United States-Caribbean Strategic Engagement Act of 2016

Plain summary

(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the Senate. The summary of that version is repeated here.) United States-Caribbean Strategic Engagement Act of 2016 (Sec. 2) This bill declares that it is U.S. policy to increase engagement with the governments of the Caribbean region, including the private sector, and with civil society in both the United States and the Caribbean. (Sec. 3) The Department of State shall submit to Congress a multi-year strategy for U.S. engagement to support the efforts of interested nations in the Caribbean region that: identifies State Department and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) priorities for U.S. policy towards the Caribbean region; outlines an approach to partner with Caribbean governments to improve citizen security, reduce illicit drug trafficking, strengthen the rule of law, and improve the effectiveness and longevity of the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI); encourages efforts of the region to implement regional and national strategies that improve Caribbean energy security by increasing access to all available sources of energy, including by taking advantage of the indigenous energy sources of the Caribbean and the ongoing energy revolution in the United States; improves diplomatic engagement with Caribbean governments; describes how the United States can develop an approach to supporting Caribbean countries in efforts they are willing to undertake with their own resources to diversify their economies; and describes ways to ensure the active participation of citizens of the Caribbean in existing program and initiatives administered by the State Department's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. (Sec. 4) The State Department shall offer to annually brief the appropriate congressional committees on efforts to implement such strategy. (Sec. 5) The President shall report within two years on progress made in implementing such strategy. (Sec. 6) The Foreign Service Act of 1980 is amended to eliminate from the State Department's Foreign Service workplace report descriptions of steps taken in furtherance of compatibility and the development of uniform procedures and consolidated personnel functions.

Congressional Research Service summary (Public Law), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

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A “Nay” vote

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What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

United States-Caribbean Strategic Engagement Act of 2016

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Public Law)

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The strongest published arguments

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Engel, Eliot L. [D-NY-16] · 9 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: H.R. 4939, United States-Caribbean Strategic Engagement Act of 2016 (2016-06-01)

Cosponsors on this site

Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY), Brad Sherman (D-CA), Robin L. Kelly (D-IL)

Recorded votes

House roll call 297 (2016): On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended, HR4939 (2016-06-13): Passed

Words on this page, explained (5)

Appropriation: Money a legislature sets aside by law for a specific purpose. Government agencies may spend public money only as it has been appropriated.
Ballot initiative: A proposed law or constitutional amendment that citizens place on the ballot by gathering enough voter signatures, so voters decide it directly. About half the states allow some form of it.
Bill: A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).
Rulemaking: The process agencies use to write regulations that carry out laws passed by Congress or a legislature. Usually an agency publishes a proposed rule, takes public comments, then publishes a final rule.
Securities: Financial investments that can be bought and sold, such as stocks and bonds.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Public Law)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-114hr4939.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/114/hr>

Record fed-us-cong114-hr4939 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong114 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong114