[House Hearing, 117 Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


                     THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATIONS POLICY 
                      PRIORITIES FOR LATIN AMERICA 
                      AND THE CARIBBEAN

=======================================================================

                                HEARING

                               BEFORE THE

                            SUBCOMMITTEE ON
                 WESTERN HEMISPHERE, CIVILIAN SECURITY,
              MIGRATION AND INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC POLICY

                                 OF THE

                      COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                    ONE HUNDRED SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS

                             FIRST SESSION

                               __________

                           November 16, 2021

                               __________

                           Serial No. 117-90

                               __________

        Printed for the use of the Committee on Foreign Affairs
        
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                    U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE                    
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                      COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS

                  GREGORY W. MEEKS, New York, Chairman

BRAD SHERMAN, California              MICHAEL T. McCAUL, Texas, Ranking 
ALBIO SIRES, New Jersey                  Member
GERALD E. CONNOLLY, Virginia	      CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH, New Jersey
THEODORE E. DEUTCH, Florida	      STEVE CHABOT, Ohio
KAREN BASS, California		      SCOTT PERRY, Pennsylvania
WILLIAM KEATING, Massachusetts	      DARRELL ISSA, California
DAVID CICILLINE, Rhode Island	      ADAM KINZINGER, Illinois
AMI BERA, California		      LEE ZELDIN, New York
JOAQUIN CASTRO, Texas	              ANN WAGNER, Missouri
DINA TITUS, Nevada		      BRIAN MAST, Florida
TED LIEU, California		      BRIAN FITZPATRICK, Pennsylvania
SUSAN WILD, Pennsylvania	      KEN BUCK, Colorado
DEAN PHILLIPS, Minnesota	      TIM BURCHETT, Tennessee
ILHAN OMAR, Minnesota		      MARK GREEN, Tennessee
COLIN ALLRED, Texas		      ANDY BARR, Kentucky
ANDY LEVIN, Michigan		      GREG STEUBE, Florida
ABIGAIL SPANBERGER, Virginia	      DAN MEUSER, Pennsylvania
CHRISSY HOULAHAN, Pennsylvania	      AUGUST PFLUGER, Texas
TOM MALINOWSKI, New Jersey	      PETER MEIJER, Michigan
ANDY KIM, New Jersey	              NICOLE MALLIOTAKIS, New York
SARA JACOBS, California		      RONNY JACKSON, Texas
KATHY MANNING, North Carolina	      YOUNG KIM, California
JIM COSTA, California		      MARIA ELVIRA SALAZAR, Florida
JUAN VARGAS, California		      JOE WILSON, South Carolina
VICENTE GONZALEZ, Texas		      
BRAD SCHNEIDER, Illinois              
                                   

                      Sophia Lafargue, Staff Director
               Brendan Shields, Republican Staff Director

 Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Civilian Security, Migration and 
                      International Economic Policy
 
                    ALBIO SIRES, New Jersey, Chairman
 
 JOAQUIN CASTRO, Texas                MARK GREEN, Tennessee, Ranking 
 ANDY LEVIN, Michigan                     Member
 VICENTE GONZALEZ, Texas		     AUGUST PFLUGER, Texas     
 JUAN VARGAS, California		     MARIA ELVIRA SALAZAR, Florida
                                              
                            
                            C O N T E N T S

                              ----------                              
                                                                   Page

                                WITNESS

Nichols, The Honorable Brian, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of 
  Western Hemisphere Affairs, U.S. Department of State...........     8

                                APPENDIX

Hearing Notice...................................................    25
Hearing Minutes..................................................    26
Hearing Attendance...............................................    27

                           OPENING STATEMENT

Opening statement submitted for the record from Chairman Sires...    28

            RESEPONSES TO QUESTIONS SUBMITTED FOR THE RECORD

Responses to questions submitted for the record..................    31

 
                    THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATIONS POLICY
             PRIORITIES FOR LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN

                       Tuesday, November 16, 2021

                          House of Representatives,
  Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, Civilian 
                                          Security,
      Migration, and International Economic Policy,
                      Committee on Foreign Affairs,
                                                    Washington, DC.

    The subcommittee met, pursuant to notice, at 2:03 p.m., in 
room 2172, Rayburn House Office Building, Hon. Albio Sires 
(chairman of the subcommittee) presiding.
    Mr. Sires. Good afternoon, everyone.
    Thank you to our witness for being here today.
    This hearing, entitled ``the Biden Administration's Policy 
Priorities for Latin America and the Caribbean,'' will come to 
order.
    Without objection, the chair is authorized to declare a 
recess of the committee at any point, and all members will have 
5 days to submit statements, extraneous materials, and 
questions for the record, subject to the length limitation in 
the rules. To insert something in the record, please have your 
staff email the previously mentioned address and contact 
subcommittee staff.
    As a reminder to members joining remotely, please keep your 
video function on at all times, even when you are not 
recognized by the chair.
    Members are responsible for muting and unmuting themselves, 
and please remember to mute yourself after you finish speaking. 
Consistent with H. Res. 8 and accompanying regulations, staff 
will only mute members and witnesses as appropriate when they 
are not under recognition to eliminate background noise.
    I see that we have a quorum, and I now recognize myself for 
opening remarks.
    I want to begin by congratulating you, Assistant Secretary 
Nichols, on your confirmation. I know you come to this role 
with a great deal of experience in the region and an impressive 
depth of knowledge about the challenges we face. I am confident 
that our policy toward Latin America and the Caribbean is in 
good hands.
    As we all know, it is a turbulent time for the Western 
Hemisphere. This region has been hit harder by the COVID-19 
pandemic than anywhere else in the world. With Daniel Ortega's 
coronation ceremony last week, there is no doubt that we are 
dealing with three fully consolidated dictatorships in Latin 
America and the Caribbean. While these regimes in Cuba, 
Venezuela, and Nicaragua tighten their grip on power, in other 
countries, like Guatemala and El Salvador, we are seeing major 
setbacks to judicial independence, the fight against 
corruption, and the rule of law.
    In my view, the Biden Administration came into office with 
the right approach, to elevate Central America as a strategic 
priority and renew our focus on addressing the root causes of 
migrations. Unfortunately, we have seen in the last 10 months 
that there are limitations to what we can achieve when we lack 
reliable government partners. For this reason, the newly 
announced effort of the Administration to focus on assistance 
and supporting local organizations in Central America is a 
positive and important step.
    Despite the serious challenges confronting the region, I 
also see many opportunities for greater engagement. In this 
sense, I applaud the Biden Administration's budget request, 
which would increase our funding for Latin America and the 
Caribbean by over 15 percent to the highest level in more than 
a decade.
    I also commend this Administration for donating over 50 
million vaccine doses to the region. While I was frustrated 
that we could not take action sooner to deliver the vaccine, 
this is still a major accomplishment that demonstrates our 
collective commitment to our friends in Latin America and the 
Caribbean.
    The next step will be supporting the region's economic 
recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. I traveled to the 
Dominican Republic with my ranking member, Member Green, in 
September. The government there is making progress in reforming 
the police and fighting corruption. Like most countries in the 
region, they want our support for their economic recovery. I 
hope we can discuss today how we can spur greater investment 
and strengthen supply chains in the Western Hemisphere.
    As we think about how to compete effectively with China, we 
need to use our competitive advantage. This means tapping into 
our innovative private sector and deepening our network of 
alliances. Simply criticizing countries for doing business with 
China will not get us very far. We need to be at the table, 
offering credible solutions and providing serious alternatives.
    We should also use our convening power to bring governments 
together to address challenges that transcend borders, such as 
the impact of climate change and increased migration from South 
America through the Darien Gap.
    Ultimately, our commitment to democracy and human rights 
should be the backbone of everything we do. We must be 
consistent in standing up for these values across the region.
    In Honduras' upcoming elections, we should work closely 
with our partners to ensure the international community speaks 
with one voice that is informed by the assessment of the OAS 
and the EU election observers. I am deeply concerned by the 
pre-election violence we are seeing there.
    In Haiti, we are witnessing the complete deterioration of 
the State. The U.S. must engage Haitian civil society and 
support Haitian-led efforts to restore peace, security, and 
human dignity.
    In Cuba, the Biden Administration and bipartisan Members of 
Congress have taken a firm stand in defense of universal human 
rights, but, as we saw again yesterday, the regime is doubling 
down on its repression. We need to do more to expand internet 
access, end the exploitation of Cuban medical workers, and 
unite international allies behind Cubans' demand for freedom 
and self-determination.
    As for Nicaragua, I look forward to seeing how we can work 
with the Administration to implement the recently passed 
RENACER Act and coordinate our action with allies in Latin 
America and the European Union to further restrict 
international financing to the Ortega regime.
    We must never lose sight of the continued political and 
humanitarian crisis in Venezuela and the impact it is having on 
Colombia and other allies throughout the region. Maduro's 
crimes against humanity should never be normalized.
    The landscape across the region is challenging, but if we 
want to advance a more prosperous, sustainable, and democratic 
future for this hemisphere, we must begin by establishing Latin 
America and the Caribbean as a priority for U.S. foreign 
policy.
    Thank you.
    And I now turn to the ranking member, Mark Green, for his 
opening statement.
    Mr. Green. Thank you, Chairman Sires, for holding the 
hearing, and it is great to see you again.
    Thank you, Assistant Secretary Nichols, for testifying 
today, and it is great to meet you as well.
    For too long, Congress has overlooked the Western 
Hemisphere, a region critical to the economic growth and 
national security of the United States. As ranking member, and 
I think I can say on behalf of the chairman as well, of this 
subcommittee, it is our top priority to refocus U.S. public 
policy on this important region.
    America faces many challenges in the Western Hemisphere 
that have to be addressed. Illegal migration is one particular 
problem. Recently released data shows that the U.S. Customs and 
Border Protection detained more than 1.7 million migrants along 
our southern border in Fiscal Year 2021, a record high.
    There is no easy fix to this challenge. On the one hand, we 
have to reduce the pull factors--for example, President Biden's 
egregious proposal to pay certain illegal immigrants $450,000 
each, which will only further encourage migrants to make the 
dangerous journey north. But we also need to address the root 
causes of migration, such as a lack of economic opportunity, 
rampant corruption, and significant levels of crime.
    Mexico is a key ally with whom we must work to address 
these issues. And I would like to hear more from the 
Administration about the status of our security cooperation 
between the United States and Mexico, considering the recent 
record levels of illegal migration as well as a record level of 
fentanyl coming into the United States.
    I understand the Administration is trying to find new ways 
to stop the criminal cartels that are trafficking in fentanyl, 
cocaine, and other drugs. The status quo, though, is not 
acceptable to the committee and likely not to you either. I 
believe one of the solutions is not more handouts or foreign 
aid but trade.
    Assistant Secretary, I look forward to working with you on 
improving the business environment and finding near-shoring 
opportunities to reduce the flow of illegal migrants into the 
United States. I have spoken with many businessmen who are 
dying to invest in Latin America but are hesitant due to crime 
and corruption as well as a patchwork of confusing trade 
regulations.
    Another challenge the United States faces in the region is 
despotic regimes that trample on the rights of their own 
people. Cuba, Venezuela, and now Nicaragua are particularly 
egregious offenders.
    For over 60 years, Cubans have been held hostage by a 
tyrannical dictatorship. The Communists have bankrupted a 
beautiful country, condemning three generations to misery and 
separating countless families. I have been encouraged to see 
Cubans rise up in protest against the regime in recent months, 
and I was proud to support a bipartisan resolution 2 weeks ago 
in support of the Cuban people.
    I am also deeply concerned about the nine Americans 
unlawfully detained by the Maduro regime, one of them being 
from Tennessee, Matthew Heath. I recently met with the 
relatives of Tomeu Vadell, one of the CITGO Six oil executives 
also unlawfully detained by the Maduro regime. My heart breaks 
for his wife and daughters, who later this month will mark 4 
years separated from their husband and their father. We need to 
know more about what the Administration is doing to bring home 
Mr. Vadell and the other Americans unlawfully incarcerated.
    Additionally, Nicaragua is now Latin America's third 
Socialist dictatorship. The recent so-called elections were a 
farce. Make no mistake, Daniel Ortega is a dictator and an 
illegitimate President. My colleagues and I were proud to 
support the bipartisan RENACER Act to hold the Ortega regime 
accountable and increase pressure on corrupt regime officials 
who dismantled their country's democracy.
    The U.S. also faces the growing challenge of malign Chinese 
influence in the region. The Chinese Communist Party has been 
working furiously to buy off our neighbors in Latin America 
through its Belt and Road Initiative. However, partnering with 
Beijing always comes with strings attached.
    Over the past decade, countries in the Western Hemisphere 
have outsourced much of their manufacturing to China. While 
Latin American currencies increased in value because of the 
China commodities boom, many of these same countries chose to 
purchase relatively cheaper Chinese goods, leading to less 
demand for and a drying up of their own manufacturing base. 
This has led to an increase in unemployment and an over-
reliance on Chinese-manufactured goods.
    I am working on a bill that will prioritize moving critical 
parts of our supply chain out of China and back to the Western 
Hemisphere, among our allies and partners. Not only will this 
bill help confront the rise of China in the region, but it will 
also increase economic opportunities and reduce some of the 
push factors leading to illegal migration. It is a win for the 
United States, and it is a win for Latin America.
    Thank you again, Chairman Sires, for holding this hearing, 
and I look forward to hearing from our witness.
    I yield back.
    Mr. Sires. Thank you very much, Ranking Member Green.
    I will now introduce the Honorable Brian A. Nichols, 
Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs. 
Mr. Nichols is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, 
with over 30 years of experience in the State Department.
    Assistant Secretary Nichols has served as the U.S. 
Ambassador to the Republic of Zimbabwe from 2018 to 2021 and as 
U.S. Ambassador to Peru from 2014 to 2017. He has also held 
high-level positions in the Bureau of International Narcotics 
and Law Enforcement Affairs, the Office of Caribbean Affairs, 
and the U.S. Embassy in Colombia.
    Assistant Secretary Nichols has earned 24 awards during his 
diplomatic career, including 2 Presidential Meritorious Service 
Awards and the 2016 Charles E. Cobb, Jr. Award for Initiative 
and Success in Trade Development.
    Mr. Nichols, we thank you for your distinguished service, 
and we welcome you to the hearing.
    I ask the witness to please limit your testimony to 5 
minutes, and, without objection, your prepared written 
statement will be made part of the record.
    Mr. Nichols, you are recognized for your testimony.

STATEMENT OF THE HONORABLE BRIAN NICHOLS, ASSISTANT SECRETARY, 
 BUREAU OF WESTERN HEMISPHERE AFFAIRS, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE

    Mr. Nichols. Chairman Sires, Ranking Member Green, thank 
you for the opportunity to testify regarding our efforts to 
advance the President's and the Secretary's agenda in the 
Western Hemisphere.
    The President and the Secretary deeply value the Western 
Hemisphere's central role in the welfare of the United States 
and understand that we cannot separate our country's fortunes 
from that of our closest neighbors. This Administration seeks 
to promote a more inclusive, green, secure, prosperous, and 
democratic hemisphere, aligned with U.S. values and interests.
    In my first week in this job, I joined the Secretary, 
Deputy Secretary, and Under Secretary for Political Affairs, 
along with other principals, at the United Nations General 
Assembly for over 20 engagements with Western Hemisphere 
leaders.
    During my first two months as Assistant Secretary, I 
visited Haiti, Mexico, Ecuador, Colombia, and Canada and met 
with diaspora communities in Miami and New York to advance 
these priorities.
    Today, I want to share with you our efforts to help the 
Haitian people with the ongoing crisis in their country; 
address irregular migration and its root causes; bolster the 
hemisphere's commitment to inclusive democracy; promote public 
health and economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, 
including through the Administration's Build Back Better World 
initiative; and work with partners to promote democracy in 
Nicaragua, Cuba, and Venezuela.
    Haiti struggles with political, humanitarian, and 
stabilization turmoil, compounded by the July 7th assassination 
of President Jovenel Moise and the August 14th earthquake.
    NSC Senior Director Juan Gonzalez and I traveled to Miami 
and Haiti September 30th to October 1st, Under Secretary for 
Civilian Security Uzra Zeya visited Haiti on October 12th and 
13th, and Assistant Secretary for International Narcotics and 
Law Enforcement Todd Robinson traveled to Haiti November 8th to 
10th to underscore the Administration's commitment to the 
Haitian people.
    In our meetings with the Haitian diaspora, civil society, 
political actors, and Prime Minister Ariel Henry, we encouraged 
the Haitian people to find their own solutions and chart a 
broad and inclusive resolution to the current political 
impasse. We expressed our concerns about Haiti's security 
situation, noting stakeholders' view that insecurity would not 
allow for democratic elections this year.
    The Haitian people will determine a timeline for their 
elections, but we work now to support conditions for free and 
fair elections, including responding to the Haitian 
Government's requests to help restore security and address gang 
violence. In addition to our previously planned assistance, we 
will provide an additional $15 million to help build Haitian 
National Police capacity to combat gangs, expand community 
policing efforts, upgrade corrections facilities, and provide 
necessary security equipment.
    The kidnapping by a Haitian gang of 16 Americans and 1 
Canadian serving with Christian Aid Ministries tragically 
illustrated Haiti's problematic security situation. The 
Department has no greater priority than the safety and welfare 
of U.S. citizens abroad. We sent additional personnel and 
resources to Haiti to support efforts to return these U.S. 
citizens to safety.
    Haiti's crises contributed to the complex dynamic of 
migratory flows in the Americas. We have broadened our efforts 
to address irregular migration throughout the hemisphere.
    The President's February 2nd executive order directed a new 
and comprehensive approach to address regional migration. As 
part of that approach, the State Department implements aspects 
of the Administration's Root Causes Strategy and the 
Collaborative Migration Management Strategy. We impress upon 
countries the region's shared responsibility to address the 
issue collaboratively.
    The Secretary and Administrator Power met on September 24th 
with Mexican and Central American Foreign Ministers in New York 
to discuss regional migration.
    The Secretary and I, on October 20th, joined Ministers and 
counterparts from more than a dozen hemispheric partners in 
Bogota. We explored coordinated regional approaches to address 
irregular migration challenges and specific steps countries can 
take to address its root causes. Our partners concurred we need 
a regional response and stressed their contributions would 
differ depending on their circumstances as a source, transit, 
or destination country.
    We appreciate the efforts of countries such as Colombia, 
Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, and Chile in accepting large numbers of 
migrants. We continue to work with Brazil and Chile to accept 
the return of Haitians with prior status in those countries.
    We will work together to expand legal pathways for workers 
within the region to create inclusive economic opportunities in 
their countries of origin or long-term residence. We will 
strengthen law enforcement to dismantle trafficking networks 
and build on efforts to make it easier for migrants to return 
to their countries of prior residence and encourage removals 
for those ineligible for protection.
    Each partner will concentrate on immediate efforts, with 
the long-term objective of crafting a stable, prosperous, and 
democratic future for their citizens and residents.
    As the Secretary said in his October 20th remarks in 
Ecuador, we find ourselves in a moment of democratic reckoning 
in the hemisphere and around the world. All of us who believe 
our shared future depends on the survival of democracy must 
ask, as the Secretary put it: What can we do to make 
democracies deliver on the issues that matter most to our 
people?
    In a region where 70 percent of citizens express 
dissatisfaction about how democracy works, we must combat 
corruption, enhance civilian security, and address the economic 
and social challenges facing the region's citizens to close the 
gap between democracy's promise and the reality.
    We work with partners to hold corrupt individuals and 
groups accountable, including through the new tool Congress 
created to fight corruption in northern Central America_the 
Section 353 Corrupt and Undemocratic Actors List. We named over 
50 corrupt actors in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras to 
the list in a public display of accountability.
    As host of the Ninth Summit of the Americas, we will uphold 
and expand upon our commitment to fight corruption; focus 
government, civil society, and the private sector on working 
together to increase inclusion, transparency, and 
accountability in government; and bolster and defend our 
democratic institutions.
    To enhance civilian security, the United States invests 
billions of dollars globally to reduce violence and combat 
transnational criminal organizations. However, as the Secretary 
noted in his October 20th remarks in Quito, we need to pay more 
attention to addressing root causes of insecurity in our 
hemisphere.
    I joined Secretary Blinken, DHS Secretary Mayorkas, and 
Attorney General Garland at the October 8th High-Level Security 
Dialogue with Mexico, where our two governments adopted a new 
Bicentennial Framework based on partnership and shared 
responsibility for the safety and security of our two 
countries.
    The Secretary took a similar comprehensive and integrated 
approach at the October 21st U.S.-Colombia High-Level Dialogue.
    In the interest of time, I will conclude my remarks there 
but submit the rest for the record, and I look forward to 
answering you and your colleagues' questions.
    [The prepared statement of Mr. Nichols follows:]

    
[GRAPHICS NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
    
    Mr. Sires. Thank you.
    We will now turn to questions.
    Secretary Nichols, let's talk a little bit about human 
rights in Cuba. Yesterday, we saw the Cuban regime once again 
stifle free expression and association by prohibiting peaceful 
protests and blocking activists and journalists from leaving 
their homes.
    How will the U.S. respond to the latest repressive action 
taken by the Cuban regime? And what more do you need and what 
more can we do to defend human rights for the Cuban people?
    And the second part of that question is, what progress has 
the Administration made since July in expanding internet access 
on the island and supporting efforts to circumvent the 
restrictions imposed by the regime?
    Mr. Nichols. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
    Just to review events around what happened yesterday, it is 
a clear sign of the Cuban regime's fear of its own people's 
voice and its attempts to repress their legitimate desires for 
democracy and to set their own future. Cuban authorities 
arrested, blockaded, hospitalized, and detained activists from 
around the island, and they attempted to block internet access 
for certain individuals as well as networks in specific areas.
    Since the events in July, we have had four rounds of 
sanctions on those Cuban authorities who were responsible for 
the repression and abuse of their citizens, and we continue to 
look for opportunities to send concrete demonstrations of 
support for the Cuban people.
    I think, as we look to the future, we need to continue to 
engage and support the Cuban people in their efforts to achieve 
democracy and freedom.
    Mr. Sires. Thank you.
    You know, I was very upset last month when I saw that 
Nicaragua received $340 million. I just wonder--the 
International Monetary Fund gave them this money. Do we have 
any way of tracking what they do and just having a little say 
on some of this money?
    I mean, obviously, they said that the money was going to 
vaccinate the people of Nicaragua. Well, the vaccination rate 
in Nicaragua is only 12 percent.
    So how do we influence the Monetary Fund to open their eyes 
and say, listen, $340 million is a lot of money and these 
people are not using it for the right thing? So how do we do 
that?
    Mr. Nichols. So, Mr. Chairman, the special drawing rights 
have to be converted into a usable currency. I have not seen 
any indication that the Nicaraguan authorities have yet 
converted the special drawing rights that they received from 
the IMF into an actual currency they can use to spend on 
something.
    I think, as part of the RENACER Act, we should be looking 
for opportunities to prevent Nicaragua from obtaining resources 
from international financial institutions, when those funds 
would inevitably go to their corrupt government.
    So I think we need to be very vigilant in that area, and I 
look forward to working with my colleagues in the Treasury 
Department who oversee our relations with the international 
financial institutions to achieve that goal.
    Mr. Sires. And my last question is, how can we help 
Colombia deal with the 2 million Venezuelan migrants and 
refugees that are in Colombia now?
    Mr. Nichols. So, through our Bureau of Population, 
Refugees, and Migration, as well as the U.S. Agency for 
International Development, we have provided over $740 million 
in assistance since 2017 to support Colombia's integration of 
the Venezuelan migrants.
    We were in Colombia in October, and President Duque talked 
about his extension of temporary protected status to Venezuelan 
migrants there.
    We continue to work through organizations like the 
International Organization for Migration and UNHCR to ensure 
that the international community responds in support of 
Venezuelan migrants in Colombia as well as other parts of South 
America where there are also large communities of Venezuelan 
migrants, like Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Brazil, are also receiving 
the assistance they need. We coordinate throughout our 
hemisphere to support the necessary structures to help 
migration flow in a better and more regulated way.
    Mr. Sires. Thank you.
    Now I will turn over the questions to Ranking Member Green.
    Mr. Green. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
    Mr. Secretary, on the kidnapped missionaries in Haiti, 
State has not given us an update in over 3 weeks. And that 
includes the offices who represent those individuals.
    Could you get us an update on the missionaries, the status, 
what is going on, delivered either to HFAC or, at a minimum, to 
the offices that represent those people?
    Mr. Nichols. Yes, Ranking Member Green. We have held 
several briefings in the past, and we are happy to brief again.
    Mr. Green. Well, just a status update is what we need. You 
know, if we know where they are being held, et cetera, things 
like that, that would be very--we have to go back and reassure 
these people that we are doing something, you know, the 
families in these areas. So, if you could do that, that would 
be great.
    My next question: You know, Fiscal Year 2021 ended with an 
all-time high, 1.7 million apprehensions at the U.S. southern 
border. Our regional partners are also seeing massive levels of 
migration.
    Can you provide a concrete example, just one, a single 
concrete example, where the Biden Administration's strategy to 
address the root causes of migration has actually decreased 
migrant flows?
    Mr. Nichols. I believe we have been successful in 
decreasing migrant flows----
    Mr. Green. Can you give me one example?
    Mr. Nichols. So, for example, in Guatemala, the centers 
that we have that address concerns of people thinking to 
migrate, I think that has diverted people out of----
    Mr. Green. So it would be worse than it is had you not done 
that? Is that what you are saying?
    Mr. Nichols. Yes.
    Mr. Green. Because it has not decreased, right? So I was 
just looking for maybe an example of where it had decreased, 
the number, you had seen a decrease in migration. You do not 
have--do you have one?
    Mr. Nichols. So there are programs throughout the 
hemisphere. Mexico, for example, has been very cooperative and 
responsive in trying to manage the migration----
    Mr. Green. But I guess I am looking--and I hate to keep 
interrupting you, but I do not need--I am just looking for an 
example where--can you cite a difference that has been made of 
where there has been a decrease? Has there anywhere in the 
region been a decrease in migration since you guys have taken 
control?
    Mr. Nichols. Migration levels are at elevated levels 
throughout the hemisphere----
    Mr. Green. So the answer would be no, I guess.
    Let me move on to another question, if I could.
    I was recently in Brazil with President Bolsonaro and 
continue to be impressed by how the Brazilian Government wants 
to align agendas with the United States. We have not seen this 
sense of like-mindedness in a Brazilian Administration for some 
time. Congress and the Administration need to support U.S. 
investors' ability to invest in Brazil and do more to support 
Brazil's entrance into the OECD.
    Also while I was there, we got a briefing on their Navy. 
The opportunities for cooperation between our two countries in 
that regard, particularly as it relates to the South Atlantic, 
are great opportunities.
    How are you capitalizing on our joint priorities to advance 
strategic and U.S. interests with Brazil?
    Mr. Nichols. We have a close and broad relationship with 
Brazil. While I was at the U.N. General Assembly, I accompanied 
Secretary Blinken for a meeting with Foreign Secretary Franca. 
Also, Jake Sullivan, the National Security Advisor, met with 
his counterpart, Admiral Rocha.
    Actually, on Friday, I will be having lunch with the 
Brazilian ambassador, and we are going to talk about these 
issues. We look forward to continued high-level exchanges with 
Brazil on a----
    Mr. Green. Do you think----
    Mr. Nichols [continuing]. Full range of issues.
    Mr. Green. Again, I hate to interrupt you, but we have such 
little time. Will we support their entrance into OECD?
    Mr. Nichols. Well, we are certainly working on that. There 
are a number of factors in play. But we believe that Brazil 
plays an important role, both regionally and globally, and we 
want to encourage them to continue to play a positive role--for 
example, what they did at COP26.
    Mr. Green. Would you do me a favor and just, in writing, 
send those factors that are in play so that we can better 
understand it?
    Mr. Green. I have just a little bit of time left, so one 
more question.
    The ongoing pandemic has obviously exposed fault lines in 
our supply chain for essential equipment, life-saving drugs, et 
cetera. I am working on the bill that you and I spoke about on 
the phone and would love to provide you a copy of the 
legislation as it is, you know, being worked on.
    The special appointee to the Northern Triangle, Mr. Zuniga 
at the time--I think he has since been promoted; 
congratulations to him, but--looked at it and reviewed it. I 
would like to get your eyes on it and get the promise of some 
assistance.
    I really want this to be a bipartisan effort. I know many 
of the Democrats have reached out to me to be a part of this, 
so I would just like to get your assurance that we can work 
together on that.
    Mr. Nichols. Absolutely.
    Mr. Green. Thank you.
    Mr. Sires. Thank you, Congressman Green.
    We now turn to Congressman Castro for questions.
    Mr. Castro. Thank you, Chairman.
    And thank you, Assistant Secretary, for being here and for 
your testimony. Congratulations on your confirmation. We are 
glad that you got through despite the holdup on many 
confirmations in the Senate.
    the Biden Administration has prioritized addressing the 
root causes of migration, particularly in Central American 
countries.
    And there have been multiple reports of groups of migrants, 
largely composed of young women and children, being threatened, 
beaten, dragged, and chased by Mexican security forces. And I 
fear that the Mexican Government is undertaking these actions 
because our government has put pressure on Mexico to stop 
migration and stop migrants, whatever the cost, and they may 
resort to these heavy-handed actions because of that.
    And so I wanted to see if you can assure us that the United 
States has not and will not ask the Mexican Government to use 
force, violence, or intimidation against migrants.
    Mr. Nichols. Absolutely not. We work with the Mexican 
Government to promote respect for the human rights and dignity 
of migrants. And the Mexican Government has actually been 
reinforcing their structures building better shelters, 
providing better training, and working with the International 
Organization for Migration, to that end.
    Mr. Castro. And what will we do, the U.S. Government, to 
hold Mexican security units that commit such abuses 
accountable? And will we cut security assistance to those 
units, as required by law?
    Mr. Nichols. We will absolutely follow the law. And human 
rights are a crucial aspect of our foreign assistance 
engagement with all countries, and that is certainly the case 
with Mexico. But I would note that President Lopez Obrador and 
Mexican authorities broadly also stress the importance of 
respect for human rights in their public and private remarks.
    Mr. Castro. A key threat to democracy, stability, and human 
rights in Mexico is gang-and drug-related violence, as you 
know. And a recent GAO report found that 70 to 90 percent of 
guns recovered in Mexico are from the United States, almost all 
illegally smuggled into the country.
    Will the State Department prioritize combating firearms 
trafficking from the United States to Mexico in our security 
cooperation with Mexico, especially under the new Bicentennial 
Framework?
    Mr. Nichols. Yes. That was something that was discussed 
during our meetings in Mexico City in October.
    Mexican authorities already have access to eTrace to help 
them trace the guns that they find. U.S. law enforcement 
agencies coordinate closely with their Mexican counterparts, 
and we continue to promote those engagements and interactions.
    I hope that--not to preview too much, but I hope that we 
will have an announcement along those lines in connection with 
the North American Leaders Summit later this week.
    Mr. Castro. Great.
    I have one more question, and then I want to make a 
statement about the confirmations being held up in the Senate.
    But a question about Honduras: With Honduras' elections 
only weeks away and given the United States' premature 
declaration of Juan Orlando Hernandez's win in 2017, what will 
the State Department do to monitor the November 28th elections?
    Mr. Nichols. Thank you, Congressman.
    Well, I will be traveling to Honduras on Sunday. I will be 
meeting with candidates as well as the elections council and 
government officials to discuss the importance of a free, fair, 
transparent, and peaceful electoral process.
    There is also an OAS electoral observation mission in 
Honduras, and we will be following events closely. And we want 
to make sure that we analyze the vote and any outcomes 
carefully, and we will be judicious in our remarks.
    Mr. Castro. Thank you.
    And, in closing, I want to draw attention to a number of 
senior positions at the State Department and USAID that are 
still vacant yet are critical for our leadership in the Western 
Hemisphere.
    These positions include the Assistant Secretaries for 
International Organization Affairs, for Conflict and 
Stabilization Operations, for International Security and 
Proliferation, and for Population, Refugees, and Migration; and 
Ambassadors to NATO, Costa Rica, and Paraguay.
    Each of these individuals has had their hearing at the 
Senate Foreign Relations Committee and received a vote in the 
committee. They are unable to start their jobs because Senator 
Ted Cruz and Senator Josh Hawley are jeopardizing our national 
security by refusing to allow a vote on the Senate floor for 
their nominations.
    I hope these Senators drop their unreasonable demands soon 
and you have a fully staffed State Department to advance our 
priorities in the Western Hemisphere and around the world.
    Thank you for your testimony today.
    Mr. Sires. Thank you, Congressman Castro.
    Now we will turn it over to Representative Salazar.
    Ms. Salazar. Thank you.
    And wonderful to be able to talk to you, Mr. Nichols, and 
congratulations on your new position.
    I believe, sir, that Latin America is not a priority for 
this Administration, and, unfortunately, the empirical evidence 
proves it. As a result, we are losing our influence in the 
Americas, and China and Russia are pillaging Latin America 
while we are asleep.
    Let me just talk to you about three different countries 
that I am interested in, so please make your answers not too 
long.
    Cuba. For 4 months, sir, I have been asking your 
Administration, the Biden Administration, the State Department, 
for one thing: internet connectivity to the island. Your deputy 
promised to brief me personally on the progress the State 
Department has been making on bringing connectivity to Cuba, 
and that meeting has not occurred.
    So my question to you is, sir, have you done the due 
diligence with the companies that can provide that technology 
to Cuba? There are two companies that we can talk to. Have you 
done that due diligence?
    Mr. Nichols. Our technical experts have been in touch with 
the private sector as well as U.S. Government experts to 
discuss ways to improve internet access on the island----
    Ms. Salazar. I am talking about two specific companies that 
have the technology ready to go so you can do the due diligence 
and the White House can give the final approval and we can put 
those balloons up in the air.
    Are you aware who those two companies are?
    Mr. Nichols. So there is no magic bullet to solve the 
internet----
    Ms. Salazar. Sure there is. The technology is out there, 
and we can at least try it.
    And that is my frustration. This Administration does not 
even want to do the due diligence. There is no willingness to 
bring connectivity to the island of Cuba.
    Are you aware of that, sir?
    Mr. Nichols. We are working to increase access to the 
internet. I would note that during yesterday's protest there 
was not a broad switch-off of internet access. There was----
    Ms. Salazar. Yes, there is. And I am so sorry. You keep on 
telling me the same thing that everyone tells me, and that is 
not true. But, if you want, I can have a private conversation 
with you and tell you where that technology is.
    Now let's go to Mexico. On Thursday, sir, President AMLO, 
Lopez Obrador, is going to be welcomed to Washington. And I am 
sure you remember that Lopez Obrador received Diaz-Canel as a 
king. Not even Fidel Castro was received like that on Mexican 
soil.
    And there is a report from your State Department that says 
that Mexico is profiting from the human trafficking and forced 
labor of Cuban doctors on Mexican soil. That violates USMCA, 
the free-trade agreement between Mexico and the United States.
    Are you going to confront, are you going to ask the Biden 
Administration to ask AMLO about these two atrocities?
    Mr. Nichols. We discuss human rights around the hemisphere 
with our counterparts in Mexico, and we continue to advocate 
for the key values of----
    Ms. Salazar. But, specifically, is it on the agenda now 
when Lopez Obrador is coming to Washington to address 
specifically these two things that I just pointed out?
    Mr. Nichols. We are going to have a robust dialog about a 
range of issues, including the human rights situation in the 
hemisphere.
    Ms. Salazar. And specifically in Cuba. Thank you.
    Now let's go to Colombia. President Biden's top advisor--
his name is Juan Gonzalez--said that Mr. Biden has ``no tiene 
de quien es Gustavo Petro,'' he has no idea who Gustavo Petro 
is.
    I am going to tell you who he is. He is a thief, he is a 
Socialist, he is a Marxist, he is a terrorist, and he is 
leading the poll for President of Colombia.
    Do you share my opinion about Petro?
    Mr. Nichols. I served as Deputy Chief of Mission in our 
Embassy in Bogota. I have met him. And I will just note that 
the election is a decision for the people of Colombia----
    Ms. Salazar. I am asking you what the State Department 
thinks about Mr. Petro.
    Mr. Nichols. I do not want----
    Ms. Salazar. What is your opinion of him?
    Mr. Nichols. I am not going to characterize the candidates 
in Colombia. I note that it is a decision for the Colombian 
people, and we hope for a free, fair, and transparent process.
    Ms. Salazar. Well, you want the best for the people of 
Colombia, and you do not want a Marxist in power, do you, 
someone that is undermining the Colombian democracy?
    I am asking you.
    Mr. Nichols. We look forward to a free, fair, and 
transparent process in Colombia that reflects the will of the 
Colombian people. We have a longstanding alliance----
    Ms. Salazar. Thank you.
    Mr. Nichols [continuing]. And relationship----
    Ms. Salazar. Let's go to Venezuela. the Biden 
Administration, sir, has eliminated the role of a special 
envoy. It has not nominated a single political appointee for 
Venezuela and has not met with Juan Guaido.
    And my question to you, sir, is: Are you planning, the 
Biden Administration, the State Department, planning to throw 
the legitimate President of Venezuela under the bus?
    Mr. Nichols. We recognize Interim President Guaido and his 
government. We continue to work with them closely. And I do not 
expect any change in that regard.
    Ms. Salazar. So you are telling me that you are not 
planning to recognize the Maduro regime?
    Mr. Sires. Congresswoman, we are going to do a second round 
of questioning.
    Ms. Salazar. I want to see if he can get that on the 
record.
    You are not planning to recognize the Maduro regime?
    Mr. Nichols. I do not see any change in our position.
    Ms. Salazar. Good for you.
    Mr. Sires. Mr. Pfluger.
    Ms. Salazar. Thank you.
    Mr. Pfluger. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
    Mr. Secretary, thank you for being here.
    I have a couple of questions on Venezuela. When it comes to 
the influence of China, Russia, Iran, I think there is a very 
disturbing trend of influence, not just in Venezuela but all 
throughout the Western Hemisphere, specifically in South 
America.
    Can you characterize to me your thoughts on this influence 
as it relates to energy inside Venezuela?
    Mr. Nichols. So the nations that you mention provide a 
lifeline to the Maduro regime. They facilitate the evasion of 
sanctions imposed by not just the United States but countries 
around the world against the Maduro regime. It is a very 
problematic relationship.
    In addition to direct sanctions evasion, they also provide 
a financial lifeline to the Maduro regime that is deeply 
worrisome. And it is reflective of their lack of respect for 
the Venezuelan people that they would support this regime.
    Mr. Pfluger. So, if there are ways to counter this with, 
like you just said, free, fair, transparency, whether it is in 
elections or business dealings or all of the above, I mean, is 
that something that the Administration would be willing to look 
at, you know, in Venezuela?
    I mean, there are American companies that have been there 
that provide that stability that actually do quite a bit of 
good inside the country. Unfortunately, they are going through 
a very tough time right now.
    And I think that the question for you is, would the 
Administration support looking at ways to counter the 
influence, malign influence, of those three countries, to the 
benefit of the people of Venezuela?
    Mr. Nichols. Well, that certainly, absolutely is something 
that we look at and we talk about regularly.
    I will just note that we support the negotiation process 
between the Unitary Platform and the Maduro regime, and we 
believe that it is, you know, the interim government that 
should be determining who gets to invest in Venezuela and what 
the roles are there. And that is something that we look to them 
to help orient us.
    Mr. Pfluger. Can you talk to me about any concerns with 
regards to energy and the people of Venezuela either suffering 
or not having access to affordable, reliable energy?
    Mr. Nichols. Well, certainly, the suffering of the people 
of Venezuela is the responsibility of the Maduro regime, which 
has imposed--and Chavez before it--has imposed decades of poor 
economic policies, massive corruption and graft. So that is 
what causes the suffering of their people.
    But I would note that we hope that on the negotiating table 
in Mexico City, if the Maduro regime returns, they will address 
humanitarian issues, including access to healthcare, education, 
food, and secure, reliable energy.
    Mr. Pfluger. Moving on to the second topic--and I 
appreciate that. You know, I think that it is important for us 
to work very closely. You know, these are complex issues. But, 
at the end of the day, we want the people to be able to have 
access to food, to energy, to all the basic human needs. And 
there are American companies who I think are positioned very 
well to counter the influence, the malign influence, of 
countries like Iran, Russia, and China.
    I would like to ask you some questions about what Panama is 
doing with regards to their use of biometrics and the 
identification of people who may end up on the Known or 
Suspected Terrorist List or be criminal actors that are 
migrants that are traveling from South America through Central 
America and how the Administration is working with countries 
like Panama to then expand that throughout the region. And are 
you looking to make some sort of effort to standardize this?
    Because, you know, the Panamanian Government has recently 
told us that they have identified 52 people that have qualified 
for the Known or Suspected Terrorist List that have been 
migrants. So what efforts is the Administration making to this 
end?
    Mr. Nichols. So this is a big priority for us, to 
coordinate with countries throughout the migrant routes. And 
Panama is a crucial one because there is a big migrant movement 
that goes from the Darien on the Colombian side to the Darien 
on the Panamanian side.
    I think I have met with Foreign Minister Mouynes of Panama 
more than any other Foreign Minister. I think I have had 
fivemeetings with her. We talk about migration issues 
regularly. The meeting in Bogota, chaired by Secretary Blinken, 
coordinated on those issues. Under Secretary Zeya visited 
Panama and reviewed these issues on the ground with them. So it 
is a very close relationship, and we want to keep doing more.
    Mr. Pfluger. Well, thank you. I will wait for the second 
round to followup.
    I yield back.
    Mr. Sires. Thank you, Congressman. It looks like we are not 
going to make the second round since the votes have been 
called, but I want to make sure that I ask for unanimous 
consent that my friend Chris Smith participate in today's 
hearing.
    Mr. Smith of New Jersey. Thank you so very much, Mr. 
Chairman. And I thank you for that courtesy, and to the ranking 
member as well. I will be very brief.
    You know, I first met Daniel Ortega in my second term in 
1984, and he was then a serial abuser of human rights. It was a 
very contentious meeting. We met with Tomas Borge and all the 
others that were a part of that dictatorship. And nothing has 
changed. If not, it has gotten worse.
    In July, I chaired a hearing of the Tom Lantos Human Rights 
Commission. We heard from Victoria Cardenas and also with Berta 
Valle. As you know, both their husbands are in prison and would 
have stood for election, probably would have won, at least one 
of them, or one of the others who have been put into prison.
    I know and you said in your testimony, Secretary Nichols, 
that, you know, a number of sanctions have gone out against 
individuals. We deeply appreciate that.
    But I am asking if you would consider--I remember working 
with Armando Valladares when he got the first group to visit 
the Cuban prisons under Ronald Reagan. It was an amazing 7 
weeks at the Human Rights Commission then, not the Council, and 
he got that resolution passed.
    And I know you point out that there is a Human Rights 
Council resolution, as well as OAS as well. If there could be 
added or a new one that would say a visit to those individuals, 
because we are not sure--you know, one of those men has lost 30 
pounds, is in dire straits. He could pass away.
    And, again, I want to thank the chairman and the ranking 
member for their leadership on the RENACER legislation, which 
is a tremendous boost, I think, to try to promote democracy and 
freedom there.
    But, again, to get a visit. The ICRC would be another group 
that could be encouraged to go and visit them, hopefully with 
the thought of getting them out. They are unjustly imprisoned, 
as you know, as we all know. But it might work to do it at the 
Human Rights Council, because it has been done before. There is 
precedent for it.
    Mr. Nichols. Representative Smith, I agree wholeheartedly. 
I also met with Vicki Cardenas and Berta Valle last week.
    And I would just note that the OAS General Assembly 
resolution on Nicaragua calls for the immediate release of 
political prisoners. I talked to Secretary General Almagro 
about the importance of him taking action to implement that 
resolution. But the additional ideas that you put forward are 
absolutely well-taken. I agree 100 percent.
    Mr. Smith of New Jersey. About visits. That is great. Thank 
you.
    I yield back and thank you.
    Mr. Green. Mr. Chairman, could I have Representative 
Pfluger consume the remaining time for Ranking Member Smith?
    Mr. Sires. Sure.
    Mr. Pfluger. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
    Assistant Secretary, in talking about USMCA, I have some 
serious concerns about--and I know it has been discussed 
already, but on the upholding of the trade agreement, there are 
a variety of issues. The reason that we go down these paths of 
either bilateral or preferential trade agreements is because 
the other frameworks do not seem to be doing it.
    So it is very important that the Administration communicate 
our needs. In discussions with the USTR, we have also brought 
this up. Can you please tell me which items are going to be 
discussed tomorrow with regards to USMCA?
    Mr. Nichols. So I do not want to totally preview the 
President's meeting, but I will say that there will be a broad 
discussion of integrating North American supply chains. Labor 
issues and ensuring that we continue to make progress in North 
American energy integration are some examples of the issues in 
USMCA.
    Mr. Pfluger. I would just urge that--the members of the 
Texas delegation, in a bipartisan manner, have sent letters 
concerning our concerns with regards to energy and especially 
U.S. companies doing business in Mexico, and would urge the 
Administration to take a look at this to make sure that what we 
signed up to within the framework of USMCA is actually upheld 
and that the Mexican Government looks at this and takes it 
very, very seriously to continue to have free trade. Because, 
right now, the trend is away from that and not in line with the 
agreement.
    And, with that, Mr. Chairman, thank you for the time. I 
yield back.
    Mr. Sires. Thank you.
    Well, thank you, Assistant Secretary Nichols, for joining 
us today. You have a big job, with all the problems that we 
have in the Western Hemisphere, and we only touched on a few of 
the issues that are important.
    I look forward to working with you and my colleagues in 
Congress on a bipartisan basis to ensure we engage more closely 
with our partners and allies in the Western Hemisphere. As this 
region emerges from the pandemic and contends with serious 
threats to democratic values and fundamental human rights, our 
support has never been more important.
    With that, the hearing is adjourned.
    Mr. Nichols. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
    Mr. Sires. They just called votes. Otherwise, we would have 
had you here a little longer.
    [Whereupon, at 2:57 p.m., the subcommittee was adjourned.]

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