As U.S. assistance to Latin America dwindles, Rep. Eliot Engel has created an innovative plan to keep providing aid to our developing southern neighbors. His 10-year, $2.5 billion plan focuses on a non-traditional approach by encouraging financial commitments from the private sector and recipient nations.

“I have put social justice for Latin Americans at the top of my agenda”

he said.

Currently, almost 40 percent of the Latin American population lives below the poverty line. Engel’s proposal focuses on reducing poverty, expanding the middle class and investing in education, healthcare and other key development areas.

On Tuesday, the House unanimously passed Engel’s resolution responding to a spike in Central American violence. The resolution will provide $4 million to fight criminal gang activity. In a press release, Engel said there are an estimated 70,000 gang members in Central America, many with ties to the United States. The release says 90 percent of the cocaine shipped from the Andean region (which includes Colombia, Venezuela, Peru and Bolivia) flows through Central America into the United States.

“I am very concerned by increasing reports of gang and drug violence in Central America,” said Engel, chairman of the House Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere. “The United States should work more actively with our neighbors to the south to fight the growing violence.”