North Miami-Dade News

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Western Hemisphere Subcommittee Chairwoman María Elvira Salazar (R-FL) joined Reps. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA) and Joaquin Castro (D-TX) to introduce the Summit of the Americas Act.

As the Biden Administration continues to ignore Latin America as part of its core foreign policy efforts, the United States must once again take a leading role in our hemisphere, starting by writing into law our involvement in the Summit of the Americas.

“China, Russia, and Iran are breaking their way into the Western Hemisphere while the United States’ leadership fails to confront it,” said Rep. Salazar. “I am proud to support this initiative to inspire cooperation and build mutual prosperity in the Americas with the United States leading the charge.”

The Summit of the Americas is the primary summit for leaders of Western Hemisphere countries to gather and discuss common concerns, craft solutions, and deepen areas of collaboration. The meeting has convened every three years in cities across the Western Hemisphere since its inception in 1994 and was last held in Los Angeles in 2022.

The United States’ support for the Summit of the Americas should not be contingent on political administration. This legislation would direct the Secretary of State to support the organization of the Summit of the Americas and codify the existing implementation unit at the State Department to ensure continued implementation of Summit commitments.

To further deepen collaboration with North American, Latin American, and Caribbean partners, this bill also advances subnational diplomacy across the hemisphere by directing the Secretary to work with partners to organize Cities Summit of the Americas as part of this process. The Cities Summit of the Americas, pioneered for first time in 2023, is a convening of city and community leaders across hemisphere. Through this summit representatives from government, civil society, business, academia, youth culture arts indigenous underrepresented groups can share best practices exchange lessons learned extending regional cooperation grassroots level.

“At a time when future American global leadership is question I proud introduce legislation reaffirms commitment engaging Western Hemisphere partners,” said Rep Kamlager-Dove Tackling global regional issues such climate crisis migration inequality requires collaboration regional partners The last held my district Los Angeles critical opportunity leaders address these more This bill pushes back against isolationism ensuring that United States will continue play important role remain reliable partner region

“Over several days I’ve been honored join House Senate colleagues Congressional delegation visit counterparts Latin America More than any other part world future intimately linked neighbors sends powerful message active engaged steadfast commitment multilateral progress advances democracy protects freedom builds opportunity across” said Rep Castro

To read full text bill click here

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