(Washington, DC) – Today, Congressman Albio Sires (D-NJ), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, Civilian Security, and Trade, introduced the House companion to Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and Senator Marco Rubio’s (R-FL) Advancing Competitiveness, Transparency, and Security in the Americas Act (ACTSA). The legislation seeks to support the United States’ partners in Latin America and the Caribbean through expanding U.S. economic engagement, bilateral and multilateral diplomacy, and support for human rights.

“Smart competition with China means leveraging our strengths by supporting our allies throughout Latin America and the Caribbean,” said Congressman Sires. “As Chairman of the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, I have closely monitored China’s growing role in the region and consistently expressed my deep concern that the United States does not spend enough time engaging with our own hemisphere. China’s economic investments, political and military activities, and ‘sharp power’ tactics carry significant national security implications for the United States. This legislation takes an important step toward reasserting a U.S. commitment to prioritize Latin America and the Caribbean and to work  with our allies and partners in the region to advance economic opportunity, regional security, and the realization of universal human rights throughout this hemisphere.”

The legislation requires a strategy for the executive branch to deepen its engagement with the Western Hemisphere; enhances U.S. economic tools and diplomatic presence in the region; counters malign economic practices from China; secures physical and digital infrastructure through technical assistance; and supports civil society and investigative journalism to defend human rights and democratic institutions.

The full text of the bill can be found here.