2022: Schweikert Voted Against Authorizing $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, Schweikert voted against 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: Schweikert 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, Schweikert 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]