develop a strategy and implementation plan to enhance security in 13 specified Caribbean countries, including by promoting citizen safety and the rule of law
I will require a strategy and implementation plan to enhance security in 13 specified Caribbean countries by promoting citizen safety and the rule of law.
Occurrences
Evidence
Congress.gov identifies H.R.5300 as sponsored by Rep. Brian J. Mast and introduced on September 11, 2025. The CRS summary says the bill would require a State Department strategy and implementation plan for security in 13 Caribbean countries, including citizen safety and rule of law. The tracker says the bill's status is Introduced, not enacted.
Section 318 would direct the Secretary of State to establish a Caribbean Basin Security Initiative within 180 days after enactment. It includes purposes such as citizen safety, security, rule of law, countering gangs and transnational crime, law-enforcement capacity building, and corruption prevention. It lists 13 beneficiary countries and requires an implementation plan with a multi-year strategy, outcomes, benchmarks, and reporting.
Congress.gov lists five House actions: introduction and referral on September 11, 2025; committee markup sessions on September 17 and 18; and on September 18 the Foreign Affairs Committee ordered the bill reported amended by a 27-24 vote. No House passage, Senate passage, presentment, or public-law action is listed.
Assessments
Mast sponsored H.R.5300 in the 119th Congress, and the bill text matched the promise by requiring a State Department strategy and implementation plan for security, citizen safety, and rule of law in 13 Caribbean countries. However, the bill has not passed the House or Senate and has not become law; Congress.gov's latest action remains committee-ordered reporting on September 18, 2025, with status still Introduced. This is a serious legislative attempt but not delivery of the required policy outcome.