Caribbean area

HR 4779: National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2026

National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2026

This bill provides FY2026 appropriations for national security, the Department of State, and related programs.

The bill provides appropriations to the State Department for

  • Administration of Foreign Affairs,
  • International Organizations, and
  • International Commissions.

The bill provides appropriations for related programs, including

  • International Broadcasting Operations and Capital Improvements,
  • the Asia Foundation,
  • the U.S. Institute of Peace,
  • the Center for Middle Eastern-Western Dialogue Trust Fund,
  • the Eisenhower Exchange Fellowship Program,
  • the Israeli Arab Scholarship Program,
  • the East-West Center, and
  • the National Endowment for Democracy.

The bill provides appropriations for other commissions, including

  • the Commission for the Preservation of America’s Heritage Abroad,
  • the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom,
  • the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe,
  • the Congressional-Executive Commission on the People’s Republic of China, and 
  • the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission.

The bill provides appropriations to

  • the House Democracy Partnership,
  • the President for Administration of Assistance,
  • the State Department and the President for International Security Assistance, and
  • International Financial Institutions for Multilateral Assistance.

The bill provides appropriations for bilateral economic assistance, including programs and activities conducted by

  • the President;
  • Independent Agencies, including the Peace Corps, the Millennium Challenge Corporation, the Inter-American Foundation, and the U.S. African Development Foundation; and
  • the Department of the Treasury.

The bill provides appropriations for export and investment assistance to

  • the Export-Import Bank of the United States,
  • the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, and
  • the U.S. Trade and Development Agency.

The bill sets forth requirements and restrictions for using funds provided by this and other appropriations acts.

HR 4490: PARTNER Act

Providing Appropriate Recognition and Treatment Needed to Enhance Relations Act or the PARTNER Act

This bill authorizes the President to extend diplomatic immunities and privileges provided by the International Organizations Immunities Act, including immunity from certain lawsuits and exemption from property taxes, to specified international regional and research organizations. 

Specifically, the bill authorizes the President to extend these immunities and privileges to

  • the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), a regional organization with 10 members including Brunei, Indonesia, Singapore, and Vietnam;
  • the Pacific Islands Forum, a regional organization with 18 members including Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea;
  • the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), a regional organization with 15 members and 6 associate members including Barbados, Grenada, Jamaica, and Saint Lucia; and
  • the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), an international research organization focused on particle physics.

The bill also authorizes the President to extend to the permanent observer mission of the African Union to the United Nations the privileges and immunities provided to permanent missions to the United Nations of member states.

HR 3944: Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, and Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2026

Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, and Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2026

This bill provides FY2026 appropriations to several federal departments and agencies for activities and programs related to military construction, veterans, agriculture, and the legislative branch.

Specifically, the bill includes 3 of the 12 regular FY2026 appropriations bills:

  • the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026;
  • the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026; and
  • the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2026.

The departments, agencies, and activities funded in the bill include

  • Department of Defense military construction and family housing activities,
  • the Department of Veterans Affairs,
  • the Department of Agriculture,
  • the Food and Drug Administration,
  • the Senate,
  • various agencies that support Congress, and
  • several related and independent agencies.

(Pursuant to the longstanding practice of each chamber of Congress determining its own requirements, funds for the House of Representatives are not included in the Senate bill.)

The bill also sets forth requirements and restrictions for using funds provided by this and other appropriations acts.

S 2067: Rescissions Act of 2025

Rescissions Act of 2025

This bill rescinds specified unobligated funds that were provided to the Department of State, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), various independent and related agencies, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. 

The rescissions were proposed by the President under procedures included in the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974. Under current law, the President may propose rescissions to Congress using specified procedures, and the rescissions must be enacted into law to take effect. 

Specifically, the bill rescinds funds that were provided to the State Department or the President for

  • Contributions to International Organizations;
  • Contributions for International Peacekeeping Activities;
  • Global Health Programs;
  • Migration and Refugee Assistance;
  • the Complex Crises Fund;
  • the Democracy Fund;
  • the Economic Support Fund;
  • Contributions to the Clean Technology Fund;
  • International Organization and Programs;
  • Development Assistance;
  • Assistance for Europe, Eurasia, and Central Asia;
  • International Disaster Assistance; and
  • Transition Initiatives.

The bill also rescinds funds that were provided for 

  • USAID Operating Expenses,
  • the Inter-American Foundation,
  • the U.S. African Development Foundation,
  • the U.S. Institute of Peace, and
  • the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

HR 4: Rescissions Act of 2025

Rescissions Act of 2025

This bill rescinds $9.4 billion in unobligated funds that were provided to the Department of State, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), various independent and related agencies, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. 

The rescissions were proposed by the President under procedures included in the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974. Under current law, the President may propose rescissions to Congress using specified procedures, and the rescissions must be enacted into law to take effect. 

Specifically, the bill rescinds funds that were provided to the State Department or the President for

  • Contributions to International Organizations;
  • Contributions for International Peacekeeping Activities;
  • Global Health Programs;
  • Migration and Refugee Assistance;
  • the Complex Crises Fund;
  • the Democracy Fund;
  • the Economic Support Fund;
  • Contributions to the Clean Technology Fund;
  • International Organization and Programs;
  • Development Assistance;
  • Assistance for Europe, Eurasia, and Central Asia;
  • International Disaster Assistance; and
  • Transition Initiatives.

The bill also rescinds funds that were provided for 

  • USAID Operating Expenses,
  • the Inter-American Foundation,
  • the U.S. African Development Foundation,
  • the U.S. Institute of Peace, and
  • the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

HR 2643: Haiti Criminal Collusion Transparency Act of 2025

Haiti Criminal Collusion Transparency Act of 2025

This bill requires the President to impose visa- and property-blocking sanctions on foreign individuals and entities that are involved in or have direct ties to prominent criminal gangs in Haiti.

Specifically, the Department of State must periodically report to Congress on the ties between criminal gangs and political and economic elites in Haiti. The report must list (1) prominent criminal gangs in Haiti and the leaders thereof, and (2) Haitian political and economic elites who have direct links to criminal gangs and any organizations or entities controlled by these individuals. The President must impose sanctions on listed individuals and entities.

Under the bill, the term economic elites means board members, officers, and executives of groups, corporations, or other entities that exert substantial influence or control over Haiti’s economy, infrastructure, or particular industries. Political elites means current and former government officials and their high-level staff and political party or committee leaders.

The bill also applies civil and criminal penalties to persons that violate, attempt to violate, conspire to violate, or cause a violation of the regulations promulgated to carry out such sanctions.

HR 1625: Haiti Economic Lift Program Extension Act of 2025

Haiti Economic Lift Program Extension Act of 2025

This bill extends through FY2035 the special duty-free rules for various apparel products imported from Haiti, including the duty-free treatment provided for a limited amount (referred to as tariff preference levels) of certain apparel products assembled in and imported from Haiti.

The bill directs the President to proclaim such modifications to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTS) that may be necessary to restore preferential treatment to articles that became ineligible for such treatment due to prior revisions to the HTS.

S 742: Haiti Economic Lift Program Extension Act of 2025

Haiti Economic Lift Program Extension Act of 2025

This bill extends through FY2035 the special duty-free rules for various apparel products imported from Haiti, including the duty-free treatment provided for a limited amount (referred to as tariff preference levels) of certain apparel products assembled in and imported from Haiti.

The bill directs the President to proclaim such modifications to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTS) that may be necessary to restore preferential treatment to articles that became ineligible for such treatment due to prior revisions to the HTS.

Introduced on
Wednesday, February 26th, 2025

Subjects
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HR 906: Foreign Adversary Communications Transparency Act

Foreign Adversary Communications Transparency Act

This bill requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to annually publish a list of entities that hold a license or other authorization granted by the FCC and have ties to specified foreign countries.

With respect to entities holding cable landing licenses (for the placement and operation of submarine communications cables) or other licenses granted via competitive auction, the FCC must publish a list of all such entities (1) in which a covered entity holds a specified voting or equity interest, or (2) that have been determined by a national security agency to be subject to the control of a covered entity. 

With respect to entities holding all other categories of FCC licenses or other authorizations, the FCC must first issue rules facilitating the collection of information on such licensees’ ownership structure. After that information is obtained, the FCC must add to the published list any such entity in which a covered entity holds a specified voting or equity interest. 

Under the bill, a covered entity is defined as an entity organized in China, Iran, North Korea, or Russia; a subsidiary of such an entity; or the government of China, Iran, North Korea, or Russia.

S 259: Foreign Adversary Communications Transparency Act

Foreign Adversary Communications Transparency Act

This bill requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to annually publish a list of entities that hold a license or other authorization granted by the FCC and have ties to specified foreign countries.

With respect to entities holding cable landing licenses (for the placement and operation of submarine communications cables) or other licenses granted via competitive auction, the FCC must publish a list of all such entities (1) in which a covered entity holds a specified voting or equity interest, or (2) that have been determined by a national security agency to be subject to the control of a covered entity. 

With respect to entities holding all other categories of FCC licenses or other authorizations, the FCC must first issue rules facilitating the collection of information on such licensees’ ownership structure. After that information is obtained, the FCC must add to the published list any such entity in which a covered entity holds a specified voting or equity interest. 

Under the bill, a covered entity is defined as an entity organized in China, Iran, North Korea, or Russia; a subsidiary of such an entity; or the government of China, Iran, North Korea, or Russia.