Senator Curtis, Chair of the Foreign Relations Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, joined Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member Shaheen and Committee members Scott, Kaine, and Coons in introducing the bipartisan Haiti Criminal Collusion Transparency Act, which would prioritize U.S. leadership in addressing the ongoing violence in Haiti. This bill will mandate sanctions against Haitian gangs, armed criminal actors, and their political and economic enablers. It will also require extensive interagency cooperation, identification, and reporting of criminal collusion and threats to U.S. national interests, including through an annual report submitted to Congress by the Secretary of State.

During a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing today, Senator Curtis and Secretary Rubio engaged in a productive exchange on America’s global energy strategy, climate diplomacy, and the future of foreign aid. Senator Curtis emphasized the importance of a Republican voice at the Conference of the Parties, praised the State Department’s efforts at realigning foreign aid with strategic initiatives, and called for greater coordination with faith-based humanitarian groups. Secretary Rubio echoed Curtis’ call for energy leadership and warned of China’s expanding influence through economic proxies like Hong Kong-based firms.

Senators Curtis, Sullivan, and Merkley this week introduced the Hong Kong Judicial Sanctions Act, which would hold officials of Hong Kong’s judiciary accountable for human rights violations and support Hong Kongers facing persecution from the Chinese Communist Party and its accomplices in Hong Kong.