Specifically, the legislation would: Authorize funding between Fiscal Years 2025-2029 for CBSI to promote citizen safety, security, and rule of law; prioritize efforts to combat corruption; counter malign influence from the China, Russia, Iran, and other authoritarian regimes; and promote strategic engagement, including consultation with civil society and the private sector.
Authorize funding for the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI) from Fiscal Years 2025-2029 to promote citizen safety, security, and the rule of law; prioritize anticorruption; counter malign influence; and promote strategic engagement in the Caribbean.
Occurrences
Evidence
On March 6, 2025, Senator Tim Kaine, along with Senator John Cornyn, introduced the Caribbean Basin Security Authorization Act. This bipartisan legislation aims to enhance security cooperation, combat drug trafficking, strengthen the rule of law, counter malign influence from China and Russia, and improve natural disaster resilience in the Caribbean region.
On March 3, 2025, Senator Kaine introduced S. 820, the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative Authorization Act, which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
On July 13, 2023, Senator Kaine filed an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act, which included his bipartisan bill to boost support for the Caribbean region through the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative.
On December 17, 2025, Senator Kaine applauded the Senate passage of the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act, which included key provisions he secured to advance U.S. national security and support servicemembers and their families.
On December 18, 2025, Senator Kaine released a statement after the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act was signed into law, highlighting key provisions he secured to improve quality of life for servicemembers and strengthen alliances.
On August 14, 2024, Senators Warner and Kaine announced the inclusion of key Virginia priorities in the Senate’s Fiscal Year 2025 draft funding bills, including $88 million for the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative.
Congress.gov lists S.820, sponsored by Sen. Tim Kaine, as introduced on 2025-03-03 with the latest action 'Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations' and the bill status 'Introduced.'
Assessments
Kaine made a serious legislative effort by sponsoring S.820, the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative Authorization Act, in March 2025, and he had also pushed related CBSI language through prior NDAA amendment efforts and appropriations advocacy. But the specific promised outcome was authorization of CBSI funding for fiscal years 2025-2029 with the stated policy priorities, and the official congressional record shows S.820 never advanced beyond referral to committee and was not enacted. Related draft funding and broader national security provisions show effort and some adjacent progress, but they do not amount to the promised multi-year authorization.
Sen. Kaine actively advanced the policy: he filed an amendment to include CBSI authorization in the FY24 NDAA (July 2023), helped secure draft FY25 funding (announced $88M in Aug 2024), and introduced S.820, the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative Authorization Act, to authorize FY2025–2029 funding (Mar 2025). However, the provided evidence does not show that authorization legislation (S.820 or comparable measure) was enacted or that a multi-year authorization for FY2025–2029 was passed into law. Press statements about provisions in the FY26 NDAA note he secured measures but do not demonstrate statutory authorization of CBSI for FY2025–2029. Because Kaine made serious legislative efforts but there is no evidence the authorization was finalized, the claim is not delivered.
Senator Kaine repeatedly introduced and promoted legislation to authorize funding for the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI) for FY2025-2029 and advocated for annual appropriations for the initiative. Evidence shows he introduced S. 820 and secured CBSI funding in annual appropriations, but there is no evidence that multi-year funding authorization covering 2025-2029, as promised, was fully enacted into law. Actions demonstrate sustained legislative effort with partial funding successes, but the central multi-year authorization pledge remains incomplete.