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South America

"South America has been ignored as a partner for far too long.  We share central values with most of the actors in the region – democracy, open markets, and free speech.  We must enhance our relationship with our neighbors, and continue to work towards ending the illicit drug trade, eliminating human rights violations, and promoting increased cooperation in the region.”

Crowley on the Western Hemisphere

• Led an effort to pass the Social Investment and Economic Development Act for the Americas, which aims to reduce poverty, expand the middle class, and invest in key development areas such as education, healthcare, and housing in Latin America and the Caribbean.
• Asked the Chairman of the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States (OAS) to send a high-level diplomatic mission to the Andean region to help resolve the crisis along the Ecuador-Colombia and Colombia-Venezuela borders during the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) crisis.
• Sponsored legislation commemorating June as National Caribbean-American Heritage Month.

Crowley on Argentina

• Sponsored legislation marking the 14th anniversary of the Argentine Jewish Mutual Association bombing in Buenos Aires that killed 85 people and injured hundreds more, and condemned the horrific attack, expressing sympathy towards its countless victims.

Crowley on Brazil

• Sponsored legislation supporting the U.S-Brazil Joint Action Plan to eliminate racial and ethnic discrimination and promote equality.

Crowley on Colombia

• Congratulated President Uribe on the successful release of 15 hostages from FARC captivity in Colombia, 3 of which were American citizens.

Crowley on Cuba

• Sponsored the Humanitarian Relief to Cuba Act, which would lift restrictions on family travel, money remittances, and gift/relief packages for six months, and allow Americans to decide for themselves whether to help Cuba recover from Hurricanes Gustav and Ike.  It would also allow the Cuban government to make cash purchases of any agricultural commodity, farm machinery or equipment, medicine, medical device, or relief supplies.

Crowley on Guatemala

• Sent a letter to Attorney General Michael Mukasey expressing his strong support for the United Nations International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG) and urged the Department of Justice to provide operational and technical assistance to the CICIG.

Crowley on Haiti

• A champion on Haitian issues, Congressman Crowley was a lead sponsor of a measure to expedite the cancellation of Haiti’s debts to the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, and other multi-lateral institutions, and to urge an immediate suspension of all further debt service payments from Haiti to these institutions.
• Championed the Next Steps for Haiti Act of 2008, which would place U.S. professionals, particularly Haitian-Americans, in the fields of education, health, infrastructure, and engineering to ensure long-term development.  The professional exchange program in the Next Steps bill will empower the Haitian people and help Haiti improve areas critical to growth and prosperity by bringing technical expertise to assist Haitian Government officials and civil society organizations.
• Urged the Speaker of the House to provide additional funds for disaster assistance in Haiti following the devastating hurricanes that swept through the impoverished country in August and September of 2008.
• Sponsored the Haitian Protection Act of 2007, granting Haitian nationals Temporary Protected Status (TPS), in response to the ongoing humanitarian crisis facing Haiti.

Crowley on Venezuela

• Sent a letter to President Chavez condemning Venezuela for expelling Human Rights Watch staff.

Crowley is Fighting Drug Trafficking

• Sponsor of legislation to encourage continued efforts to work with countries in the Andean region to fight drug trafficking, and to call on Bolivia and Venezuela to reaffirm a strong cooperative relationship on counternarcotics after President Bush’s drug certification reported those nations had failed to do their part in combating the spread of this illicit activity.