[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1704 Introduced in House (IH)]
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118th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1704
To decrease dependency on People's Republic of China manufacturing and
decrease migration due to lost regional economic opportunities.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 22, 2023
Mr. Green of Tennessee (for himself and Mr. McCaul) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To decrease dependency on People's Republic of China manufacturing and
decrease migration due to lost regional economic opportunities.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Latin America and Caribbean
Nearshoring Act''.
SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS; STATEMENT OF POLICY.
(a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that the United
States has economic and national security interests in securing the
critical mineral and energy supply chains of Latin American and
Caribbean countries from control and influence by the People's Republic
of China.
(b) Statement of Policy.--It is the policy of the United States
to--
(1) advance United States foreign policy and development
goals by assisting Latin American and Caribbean countries to
reduce their dependence on critical mineral and energy supply
chains controlled or influenced by the People's Republic of
China;
(2) promote private sector-led long-term economic
development, economic competitiveness and promoting good
governance, human rights, and the rule of law in Latin American
and Caribbean countries, particularly in the areas of
investment, sustainable development, commercial relations,
anti-corruption activities, and infrastructure projects;
(3) encourage United States public and private sector
investment in energy infrastructure projects of such countries
to bridge the gap between energy security requirements and
commercial demand in a way that is consistent with the region's
absorptive capacity;
(4) encourage United States public and private sector
investment in critical mineral mining and refining of such
countries; and
(5) help facilitate the export of United States energy
technology and expertise to global markets.
SEC. 3. EFFORTS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE AND RELATED AGENCIES.
The Secretary of State, in coordination with the heads of United
States agencies that operate under the foreign policy guidance of the
Secretary of State, shall, as appropriate, prioritize and expedite the
efforts of the Department of State and such agencies--
(1) to support efforts of Latin American and Caribbean
countries to secure their critical mineral and energy supply
chains from control and influence by the People's Republic of
China; and
(2) to otherwise carry out the policy described in section
2(b).
SEC. 4. ASSISTANCE FROM THE UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
FINANCE CORPORATION.
(a) In General.--The United States International Development
Finance Corporation, in coordination with the Federal agencies and
officials described in subsection (b), shall provide assistance under
section 1421 of the Better Utilization of Investments Leading to
Development Act of 2018 (22 U.S.C. 9621) for each fiscal year beginning
after the date of the enactment of this Act--
(1) to support efforts of Latin American and Caribbean
countries to secure their critical mineral and energy supply
chains from control and influence by the People's Republic of
China; and
(2) to otherwise carry out the policy described in section
2(b).
(b) Federal Agencies and Officials Described.--The Federal agencies
and officials described in this subsection include--
(1) the United States Trade and Development Agency, the
Export-Import Bank of the United States, the Millenium
Challenge Corporation, the United States Army Corps of
Engineers, and the United States Agency for International
Development; and
(2) the United States Executive Directors of relevant
international financial institutions, including the World Bank
Group, the Inter-American Development Bank, and the
International Monetary Fund.
(c) Exceptions.--In providing assistance described in subsection
(a)--
(1) the United States International Development Finance
Corporation may provide support for projects in Latin American
and Caribbean countries with upper-middle-income economies or
high-income economies (as those terms are defined by the
International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the
International Development Association (collectively referred to
as the ``World Bank'')); and
(2) the restriction under section 1412(c)(2) of the Better
Utilization of Investments Leading to Development Act of 2018
(22 U.S.C. 9612(c)(2)) shall not apply.
(d) Plan.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment
of this Act, the United States International Development Finance
Corporation shall develop and submit to the Committee on Foreign
Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign
Relations of the Senate a plan to streamline the provision of
assistance described in subsection (a), including to expedite the
approval process for the provision of such assistance.
SEC. 5. AGREEMENTS FOR COOPERATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 123 OF THE
ATOMIC ENERGY ACT OF 1954.
(a) In General.--The President is authorized to take action to
initiate negotiations with any Latin American or Caribbean country to
obtain an agreement for cooperation pursuant to section 123 of the
Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2153) to approve the sale of
nuclear reactors to such country but only if--
(1) the President determines that such sale will not
threaten the national security of the United States; and
(2) the country meets the conditions described in
paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of subsection (c).
(b) Technical Assistance and Expertise.--The Administrator of the
United States Agency for International Development, in consultation
with the Secretary of Energy and the United States International
Development Finance Corporation, may provide technical assistance and
expertise in electrical grid and energy efficiency improvements related
to sales under subsection (a), as appropriate.
(c) Conditions Described.--The conditions described in this
subsection are the following:
(1) The country is taking steps to reduce migration in
violation of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
(2) The country is taking steps to reduce economic
dependence on the People's Republic of China.
(3) The country allows Taiwan to establish and maintain a
commercial office in the country.
SEC. 6. LATIN AMERICAN OR CARIBBEAN COUNTRY DEFINED.
(a) In General.--In this Act, the term ``Latin American or
Caribbean country''--
(1) means--
(A) a country in the Caribbean Sea, South America,
or Central America; and
(B) Mexico; and
(2) except as provided in subsection (b), does not include
Cuba or Venezuela.
(b) Exception.--The term ``Latin American or Caribbean country''
shall include Cuba or Venezuela if the Secretary of State determines
and certifies to Congress that--
(1) the government of such country--
(A) has held free and fair presidential and
legislative elections, as determined by independent
international observers, and subsequent elections are
scheduled;
(B) respects and upholds human rights;
(C) is taking significant steps to privatize its
economy and institute a free market;
(D) permits the international community to provide
humanitarian, governance, and economic development
assistance;
(E) has freed all unlawfully detained United States
citizens, legal permanent residents, and political
prisoners; and
(F) has expelled all security services from foreign
adversaries from the country; and
(2) the prior authorities of such country have renounced
their illegitimate claim to power.
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