Representative Adriano Espaillat delivered remarks during the full House Appropriations Committee markup of Fiscal Year 2022 government funding bills.
Where he highlighted a number of his priorities that were included in the bill.
The following are remarks by Rep. Espaillat, as prepared for delivery:
“Thank you, Chairwoman Lee, for your work on this bill and I rise in strong support of this manager’s amendment. I want to particularly highlight the strong, newfound focus on the Caribbean – our nation’s third border. Unfortunately, the strategic importance of the Caribbean is far too often overlooked, and this bill invests over $100 million directly into the region to strengthen our cooperation.
“I particularly want to highlight the inclusion in this amendment encouraging the key partnership with the Dominican Republic on issues of counter-narcotics, trade, anti-corruption, public safety, and much more. I thank the Chair and her staff, Craig Higgins and Erin Kolodjeski, for their help with these crucial improvements. I yield back.”
“I appreciate Representative Espaillat’s leadership on critical foreign policy issues, particularly those affecting the Caribbean. I look forward to continuing to work with him to pass funding bills that make our nation stronger at home and respected again in the world,” said House Appropriations Committee Chair Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03).
“As Chairwoman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations, I was proud to work alongside Congressman Espaillat to secure critical funding for the Caribbean in the FY22 State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill. This funding will support projects to promote economic growth in the region and strengthening natural disaster resiliency. I look forward to continuing our efforts to build stronger partnerships with our close neighbors in the Caribbean,” said Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13).
Rep. Espaillat spearheaded efforts to increase funding to and cooperation with the Caribbean. Thanks to his efforts, in collaboration with Chairwoman Barbara Lee (CA-13), the Caribbean received over $100 million in this year’s bill through multiple programs including the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI).
Funding to the Caribbean focuses on building long-term disaster resilience, inclusive economic growth focused on women, youth, and disadvantaged populations, energy security, good governance, counter-narcotics, public safety and security, basic education, climate adaptation, trade, private investment, and economic growth.
The appropriations bill, for the first time, highlights the Dominican Republic as a key U.S. ally and encourages deepening cooperation on efforts including promoting democracy and good governance, combatting corruption, preventing crime and violence, supporting at-risk youth programs, and increasing public safety.
Rep. Espaillat played an instrumental role in ensuring this bill emphasizes investment in one of the most pressing issues of our time: the climate crisis.
This bill invests over $3 billion in climate and environmental programs, including $1.6 billion for the Green Climate Fund, an institution promoting environmental justice through international climate finance.
Representative Espaillat is the first Dominican American to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives and his congressional district includes Harlem, East Harlem, West Harlem, Hamilton Heights, Washington Heights, Inwood, Marble Hill, and the northwest Bronx.
First elected to Congress in 2016, Representative Espaillat is serving his third term in Congress. Representative Espaillat currently serves as a member of the influential U.S. House Committee on Appropriations responsible for funding the federal government’s vital activities.
He is also a member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), where he serves as the Second Vice-Chair and is a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, where he serves as Deputy Whip.
Representative Espaillat also currently serves as a Senior Whip of the Democratic Caucus. To find out more about Rep. Espaillat, visit online at https://espaillat.house.gov/.
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