2022: Fitzpatrick Voted To Authorize $75 Million Annually Through
2026 For The Caribbean Basin Security Initiative Program To Support
Governments And Law Enforcement. In April 2022, according to
Congressional Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted for the Caribbean Basin
Security Initiative Authorization Act, which would "authorize $75
million annually through 2026 for the Caribbean Basin Security
Initiative program to assist governments and law enforcement in
promoting safety, security and rule of law in Caribbean Basin
countries." The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote
of 340-86, thus the bill was sent to the Senate. [House Vote 135,
4/27/22; Congressional
Quarterly, 4/27/22;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
4133]
The Bill Would Require The State Department To Submit A Caribbean
Basin Security Initiative Program Implementation Plan And Prioritize
The Improvement Of Disaster Response And Resilience By Promoting
Coordination And Information Between Caribbean Basin Nations And The
U.S. According to Congressional Quarterly, "It would also require
the State Department to submit a CBSI implementation plan to
Congress and prioritize efforts to improve disaster response and
resilience in the region by encouraging coordination and information
sharing between Caribbean Basin countries and U.S. agencies, and by
improving rapid-response mechanisms for natural disasters."
[Congressional Quarterly,
4/27/22]
China Substantially Invested In Caribbean Agriculture, Resorts,
Highways And Ports And Has Made Diplomatic Efforts To Persuade
Caribbean Nations To No Longer Recognize Taiwan. According to
Congressional Quarterly, "While Republicans have generally been less
interested in the Caribbean, China's too-big-to-miss foreign
investments in Caribbean agricultural interests, resorts, highways
and ports have attracted their attention, as have Beijing's
checkbook diplomacy efforts to convince Caribbean countries to
switch their diplomatic recognition away from Taiwan."
[Congressional Quarterly,
9/30/21]
2022: Fitzpatrick Voted To Urge President Biden To Implement Caribbean
Trade Programs To Promote Sustainable And Resilient Economic Development
And Support Trade Policies And Programs Like The Haiti Economic Lift
Program And Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity Through Partnership
Encouragement Program. In July 2022, according to Congressional
Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted for a resolution that would "state that the
House of Representatives urges the president to implement trade programs
with the Caribbean region that promote sustainable and resilient
economic development; commits to engaging directly with diverse
stakeholders from the region to develop a shared multilateral trade
agenda; affirms trade and tariff preference programs that produce
economic benefits for individuals of all backgrounds; and supports
critical trade policies and preference programs such as the Haiti
Economic Lift Program (HELP) and Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity through
Partnership Encouragement (HOPE II) program." The vote was on passage.
The House passed the resolution by a vote 351-64. [House Vote 300,
7/12/22; Congressional
Quarterly, 7/12/22;
Congressional Actions, H.Res.
1168]