110th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 762
To authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2008 for voluntary
contributions on a grant basis to the Organization of American States (OAS)
to establish a Center for Caribbean Basin Trade and to establish a skills-based
training program for Caribbean Basin countries.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 31, 2007
Mr. FORTUN.AE6O (for himself and Mr. BURTON of Indiana) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs
A BILL
To authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2008 for voluntary
contributions on a grant basis to the Organization of American States (OAS)
to establish a Center for Caribbean Basin Trade and to establish a skills-based
training program for Caribbean Basin countries.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title- This Act may be cited as the `Caribbean Basin Trade Enhancement
Act of 2007'.
(b) Table of Contents- The table of contents of this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
TITLE I--CENTER FOR CARIBBEAN BASIN TRADE
Sec. 104. Administrative provisions.
Sec. 105. Sense of Congress.
TITLE II--CARIBBEAN BASIN SKILLS-BASED TRAINING PROGRAM
Sec. 204. Sense of Congress.
TITLE III--GENERAL PROVISIONS
Sec. 303. Authorization of appropriations.
TITLE I--CENTER FOR CARIBBEAN BASIN TRADE
SEC. 101. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) Increased globalization and economic integration are requiring countries
throughout the world to rethink their competitiveness strategies and to
take affirmative steps to improve their trade capacities.
(2) Countries of the Caribbean Basin can benefit from assistance to improve
their trade capacities.
(3) The Organization of American States (OAS) has relevant experience
in developing trade capacity initiatives and programs of countries of
the Western Hemisphere. In particular, the Department of Trade, Tourism
and Competitiveness of the OAS has successfully trained trade negotiators,
particularly within the context of negotiations to conclude a Free Trade
Area of the Americas (FTAA).
SEC. 102. ESTABLISHMENT.
The Secretary of State is authorized to make a voluntary contribution on
a grant basis to the Organization of American States to establish a Center
for Caribbean Basin Trade (hereinafter in this title referred to as the
`Center') in accordance with the provisions of this title.
SEC. 103. ACTIVITIES.
The Center shall carry out the following activities:
(1) Provide government officials of Caribbean Basin countries, including
trade negotiators, with technical assistance in developing and implementing
trade agreements.
(2) Assist government officials and private sector representatives of
Caribbean Basin countries to further assist firms in developing export
readiness, such as developing firms' commitment, identifying primary target
markets, selecting market entry strategies, developing an international
market plan, and developing distribution networks in other countries.
(3) Provide training and consulting services to Caribbean Basin countries
to upgrade port facilities, strengthen security measures, upgrade customs
procedures, and modernize other infrastructure critical to trade.
(4) Provide training and consulting services to government officials and
private sector representatives of Caribbean Basin countries on import
requirements of major trading countries for the Caribbean Basin region,
including the United States, as well as financing mechanisms.
SEC. 104. ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS.
The Secretary of State, acting through the Assistant Secretary of State
for Western Hemisphere Affairs and the United States Permanent Representative
to the Organization of American States, shall work with the Organization
of American States to determine the location, staffing requirements, programs,
and working methodology of the Center.
SEC. 105. SENSE OF CONGRESS.
It is the sense of Congress that a thorough study and analysis should be
undertaken to determine a permanent location of the Center.
TITLE II--CARIBBEAN BASIN SKILLS-BASED TRAINING PROGRAM
SEC. 201. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) Studies demonstrate that greater emphasis needs to be given to secondary
education in countries of the Western Hemisphere, including Caribbean
Basin countries, in order to bridge the widening educational and technology
gap in such countries, which ultimately hinders job growth.
(2) Access to education is fundamental in helping to eradicate the poverty
which limits economic growth in the countries of the Caribbean Basin.
(3) Countries of the Western Hemisphere have consistently lagged behind
the countries of Asia and other regions, suffering a self-perpetuating
cycle of low-growth and increasing poverty.
(4) The community college system in the United States provides skills-based
training for United States workers and is a useful model for a skills-based
training system for Caribbean Basin countries.
(5) A skills-based training program established under the management of
the Organization of American States (OAS) would be an effective means
of addressing the needs of individuals and economic concerns in the Caribbean
Basin region.
(6) Such a program would provide individuals with the skills required
to improve their standard of living and, together with employers, would
further facilitate the economic integration of the countries of the Western
Hemisphere.
SEC. 202. ESTABLISHMENT.
The Secretary of State is authorized to make a voluntary contribution on
a grant basis to the Organization of American States to establish a skills-based
training program for Caribbean Basin countries (hereinafter in this title
referred to as the `program') in accordance with the provisions of this
title.
SEC. 203. ACTIVITIES.
The program shall carry out activities to support a productive workforce
in Caribbean Basin countries.
SEC. 204. SENSE OF CONGRESS.
It is the sense of Congress that the program should focus on mid-level technical
education and training for the workforce in Caribbean Basin countries, utilizing
existing educational facilities, cooperative private sector and government
entities, and Internet-based training.
TITLE III--GENERAL PROVISIONS
SEC. 301. REPORT.
Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the
Secretary of State shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees
a report on the implementation of this Act.
SEC. 302. DEFINITIONS.
(1) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES- The term `appropriate congressional
committees' means--
(A) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations
of the House of Representatives; and
(B) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on Appropriations
of the Senate.
(2) CARIBBEAN BASIN COUNTRIES; COUNTRIES OF THE CARIBBEAN BASIN- The term
`Caribbean Basin countries' or `countries of the Caribbean Basin' means
the countries and territories specified in the matter preceding paragraph
(1) of section 212(b) of the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act (19
U.S.C. 2702(b)).
(3) OAS- The term `OAS' means the Organization of American States.
SEC. 303. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) Authorization of Appropriations- There is authorized to be appropriated
to the Secretary of State to carry out this Act such sums as may be necessary
for fiscal year 2008.
(b) Sense of Congress- Of the amount appropriated pursuant to the authorization
of appropriations under subsection (a), it is the sense of Congress that
up to $10,000,000 should be available to carry out title I of this Act and
up to $10,000,000 should be available to carry out title II of this Act.
END
