Sec. 7045.
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Subject to the requirements of this subsection, of the funds appropriated under titles III and IV of this Act, up to $595,000,000 may be made available for assistance for countries in Central America to implement the United States Strategy for Engagement in Central America: Provided , That such funds shall be made available on a cost-matching basis. Prior to the obligation of funds made available pursuant to paragraph (1), the Secretary of State shall submit to the Committees on Appropriations an updated multi-year spend plan as described under this subsection in fiscal year 2018. Of the funds made available pursuant to paragraph
(1)that are available for assistance for each of the central governments of El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras, except for funds made available for the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala or the Mission to Support the Fight against Corruption and Impunity in Honduras, 50 percent may only be obligated after the Secretary of State certifies and reports to the appropriate congressional committees that such government is— informing its citizens of the dangers of the journey to the southwest border of the United States; combating human smuggling and trafficking; improving border security, including preventing illegal migration, human smuggling and trafficking, and trafficking of illicit drugs and other contraband; cooperating with United States Government agencies and other governments in the region to facilitate the return, repatriation, and reintegration of illegal migrants arriving at the southwest border of the United States who do not qualify for asylum, consistent with international law; working cooperatively with an autonomous, publicly accountable entity to provide oversight of the Plan of the Alliance for Prosperity in the Northern Triangle in Central America (the Plan); combating corruption, including investigating and prosecuting current and former government officials credibly alleged to be corrupt; implementing reforms, policies, and programs to increase transparency and strengthen public institutions and the rule of law; working with local communities, civil society organizations (including indigenous and other marginalized groups), and local governments in the implementation and evaluation of activities of the Plan; countering the activities of criminal gangs, drug traffickers, and transnational criminal organizations; investigating and prosecuting in the civilian justice system government personnel, who are credibly alleged to have violated human rights; cooperating with commissions against corruption and impunity and with regional human rights entities; supporting programs to reduce poverty, expand education and vocational training for at-risk youth, create jobs, and promote equitable economic growth, particularly in areas contributing to large numbers of migrants; creating a professional, accountable civilian police force and ending the role of the military in internal policing; protecting the right of political opposition parties and other members of civil society to operate without interference; implementing tax reforms; and resolving commercial disputes. The Secretary of State shall periodically review the progress of each of the central governments of El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras in meeting the requirements of paragraph (3): Provided , That if the Secretary determines and reports to the appropriate congressional committees that sufficient progress has not been made by such government in meeting such requirements, the Secretary shall suspend, in whole or in part, assistance for such government for programs supporting such requirement, and shall notify the appropriate congressional committees in writing of such action: Provided further , That the Secretary may resume such assistance if the Secretary determines and reports to such committees that corrective measures have been taken by such government. Not later than 90 days following a change of national government in El Salvador, Guatemala, or Honduras, the Secretary of State shall determine whether or not such government is meeting the requirements of paragraph
(3)and submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees detailing the reasons for such determination: Provided , That if the Secretary determines that such government is not meeting such requirements, then the Secretary shall suspend, in whole or in part, assistance for such country until such time as such determination and report can be made. Assistance suspended pursuant to subparagraphs
(A)or
(B)may be reprogrammed if the Secretary of State determines that corrective measures have not been taken: Provided , That any such reprogramming shall only be made available for assistance for other countries in Latin America and the Caribbean and shall be subject to the regular notification procedures of the Committees on Appropriations. The Secretary of State shall consult with the Committees on Appropriations not less than 14 days prior to submitting any certification made pursuant to subsection (a)(3) and any suspension or reprogramming made pursuant to subsection (a)(4). None of the funds made available by this subsection for assistance for countries in Central America may be made available for direct government-to-government assistance or for major infrastructure projects. Of the funds appropriated by this Act under titles III and IV, not less than $391,250,000 should be made available for assistance for Colombia, including to support the efforts of the Government of Colombia to— conduct a unified campaign against narcotics trafficking, organizations designated as foreign terrorist organizations pursuant to section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1189 ), and other criminal or illegal armed groups: Provided , That aircraft supported by funds made available by this Act and prior Acts making appropriations for the Department of State, foreign operations, and related programs may be used to transport personnel and supplies involved in drug eradication and interdiction, including security for such activities, and to provide transport in support of alternative development programs and investigations by civilian judicial authorities; enhance security and stability in Colombia and the region; strengthen and expand governance, the rule of law, and access to justice throughout Colombia; promote economic and social development, including by improving access to areas impacted by conflict through demining programs; assist communities impacted by significant refugee or migrant populations; and implement a peace agreement between the Government of Colombia and illegal armed groups, in accordance with constitutional and legal requirements in Colombia. None of the funds appropriated by this Act or prior Acts making appropriations for the Department of State, foreign operations, and related programs that are made available for assistance for Colombia may be made available for payment of reparations to conflict victims or compensation to demobilized combatants associated with a peace agreement between the Government of Colombia and illegal armed groups. Prior to the initial obligation of funds made available pursuant to paragraph (1), the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, shall submit to the Committees on Appropriations an updated multi-year spend plan as described under this subsection in fiscal year 2018. Of the funds made available by this Act under the headings Economic Support Fund and International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement for counternarcotics assistance for Colombia, 25 percent may be obligated only after the Secretary of State certifies and reports to the Committees on Appropriations that the Government of Colombia has reduced overall illicit drug cultivation, production, and trafficking. The limitation of paragraph
(4)shall not apply to funds made available for humanitarian assistance, aviation instruction and maintenance, and maritime and riverine security programs. Of the funds appropriated by this Act under the heading Economic Support Fund , $30,000,000 shall be made available to promote democracy and strengthen civil society in Cuba: Provided , That no funds shall be obligated for business promotion, economic reform, entrepreneurship, or any other assistance that is not democracy-building as expressly authorized in the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity (LIBERTAD) Act of 1996 and the Cuban Democracy Act of 1992. Funds appropriated by this Act under the headings Development Assistance and Economic Support Fund that are made available for assistance for Haiti may not be made available for assistance for the central Government of Haiti unless the Secretary of State certifies and reports to the Committees on Appropriations that such government is taking effective steps, which are in addition to steps taken since the certification and report submitted during the prior year, if applicable, to— strengthen the rule of law in Haiti, including by— selecting judges in a transparent manner based on merit; reducing pre-trial detention; respecting the independence of the judiciary; and improving governance by implementing reforms to increase transparency and accountability, including through the penal and criminal codes; combat corruption, including by implementing the anti-corruption law enacted in 2014 and prosecuting corrupt officials; increase government revenues, including by implementing tax reforms, and increasing expenditures on public services; and resolve commercial disputes between United States entities and the Government of Haiti. The Secretary of State, in coordination with the USAID Administrator, shall review the sustainability of programs funded by this Act and prior Acts making appropriations for the Department of State, foreign operations, and related programs for assistance for Haiti and, not later than 120 days after enactment of this Act, submit a report to the Committees on Appropriations that contains the information described under this section in the report accompanying this Act. The Government of Haiti shall be eligible to purchase defense articles and services under the Arms Export Control Act ( 22 U.S.C. 2751 et seq.) for the Coast Guard. Of the funds appropriated by this Act under the heading Economic Support Fund , not less than $15,000,000 shall be made available for programs to promote democracy and the rule of law in Venezuela.