WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Representative Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) met with USAID Administrator Samantha Power following her travel to Santo Domingo earlier this month to advance the United States’ partnership with the people and government of the Dominican Republic. During the call, Rep. Espaillat and Administrator Power discussed how USAID programs can help address the ongoing efforts to help reduce crime and violence as well as promote human rights and justice in the country. They also discussed Administrator Power’s role in improving conditions in the region as Vice Chair of the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation.
"I appreciate Administrator Power for taking the time to speak with me following her visit to the Dominican Republic and meeting with Dominican President Luis Abinader," said Rep. Espaillat. "Among the topics of our discussion were reiterating our collaborative support to address systemic issues in the region and specifically addressing my legislation, the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI) bill, which aims to improve security cooperation in the Dominican Republic and throughout Caribbean nations by helping to combat illicit drug trafficking, support justice reform, strengthen the rule of law, and address instability caused by natural disasters in the region. I look forward to continuing my work in collaboration with Administrator Power and the Biden administration to help further strengthen U.S. relations in the Dominican Republic and throughout the Caribbean region."
### Representative Espaillat is the first Dominican American to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives and his congressional district includes Harlem, East Harlem, West Harlem, Hamilton Heights, Washington Heights, Inwood, Marble Hill and the north-west Bronx. First elected to Congress in 2016, Representative Espaillat is serving his third term in Congress. Representative Espaillat currently serves as a member of the influential U.S. House Committee on Appropriations responsible for funding the federal government’s vital activities. He is also a member of the House Committee on Education and Labor and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), where he serves in a leadership role as the Second Vice Chair and is a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, where he serves as Deputy Whip. Representative Espaillat also currently serves as a Senior Whip of the Democratic Caucus. To find out more about Rep. Espaillat, visit online at https://espaillat.house.gov/. |
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