WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) today reintroduced the Western Hemisphere Security Strategy Act to increase bilateral and multilateral security cooperation in the Western Hemisphere. The bill would help disrupt and counter illicit narcotics trafficking into the United States.
“Trade-based money laundering, drug and human trafficking, counterfeit products, and terrorism pushed by our adversaries threaten our national security,” said Dr. Cassidy. “Our bill builds stronger relationships with regional democratic allies to counter illicit activities and strengthen the Western Hemisphere.”
“Adversaries like Beijing and Moscow continue to expand their influence and presence in our region, all while undermining our national security interests. As anti-American leaders and tyrants continue to pose tremendous challenges for our hemisphere, we must work with fellow democratic leaders in the region to prevent further destabilization,” said Senator Rubio.
Background
Authoritarian regimes, transnational criminal organizations, and harmful influence campaigns led by Beijing, Moscow, and Tehran are destabilizing the Western Hemisphere and posing direct threats to regional national security interests.
Earlier this year, Cassidy and U.S. Representative Maria Salazar (R-FL-27) released a discussion draft of their Americas Act. The Americas Act would create an ever-expanding and permanent trade partnership of Western Hemisphere countries and counter China’s growing control over global manufacturing and geopolitics by uniting democracies in our hemisphere. Cassidy announced U.S. Senator Michael Bennet will join the bill as the Senate co-lead earlier this month.
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