Sec. 1013. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON CENTRAL AMERICA

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## SEC. 1013 SENSE OF CONGRESS ON CENTRAL AMERICA ###

(a)Findings Congress makes the following findings: ####

(1)The stability and security of Central American nations have a direct impact on the stability and security of the United States. ####

(2)Over the past decade, increased stability and security in the Republic of Colombia has displaced illicit trafficking to Central America, bringing with it increased violence and instability. ####

(3)According to the Global Study on Homicide 2013 of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, four of the top five countries with the highest homicide rates in the world were Central American nations, including Honduras, Belize, El Salvador, and Guatemala. ####

(4)In 2014, approximately 65,000 unaccompanied alien children from Central America entered the United States through its southwest border. ####

(5)In November 2014, Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador announced a Plan for the Alliance for Prosperity of the Northern Triangle, which is a comprehensive approach to address the ongoing violence and instability facing these three nations by stimulating economic opportunities, improving public safety and rule of law, and strengthening institutions to increase trust in the state. ####

(6)The United States Government is supportive of the Alliance for Prosperity, and President’s strategy for support includes $1,000,000,000 focused on promoting prosperity and regional economic integration, enhancing security, and promoting improved governance. ####

(7)The Department of Defense continues to build the capacity of our partners in the region to address their security challenges and confront threats of mutual concern. ###

(b)Sense of Congress It is the sense of Congress that— ####

(1)the United States should, to the extent practicable, prioritize efforts to address the threatening levels of violence, instability, illicit trafficking, and transnational organized crime that challenge the sovereignty of Central American nations and the security of the United States; and ####

(2)in order to address such issues, the Department of Defense, to the extent practicable, should— #####

(A)increase its operations, as the lead agency of the United States Government, to detect and monitor aerial and maritime illicit trafficking into the United States; #####

(B)increase its efforts to support aerial and maritime illicit trafficking interdiction operations; #####

(C)increase its operations to build the capacity of partner nations in Central America to confront their own security challenges; #####

(D)support interagency programs and activities in Central America addressing instability, including development, education, economic, political, and security challenges; and #####

(E)promote observance of and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms and respect for civilian control of the military. ## Subtitle C Naval Vessels and Shipyards