{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://salazar.house.gov/media/press-releases/salazars-western-hemisphere-bill-signed-law-part-final-national-defense", "Salazar\u2019s Western Hemisphere Bill Signed Into Law as Part of Final National Defense Package", "2025-12-19", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "FL", "Maria Elvira Salazar", "S000168", "salazar.house.gov", "salazar", "https://salazar.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Rep. Mar\u00eda Elvira Salazar\u2019s (FL-27) Western Hemisphere and State Department Political Affairs Authorization Act has been signed into law as part of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026.\n\nIncluded in the final National Defense package, one of the largest investments in U.S. defense and security in history, the law marks the first time Congress has codified the authorities of the State Department\u2019s Political Affairs Bureaus.\n\nEarlier this year, Rep. Salazar introduced H.R. 5246, which laid the groundwork for these provisions by establishing clear authorities for the State Department\u2019s Political Affairs Bureaus in the Western Hemisphere and other strategic regions. Additionally, the legislation strengthens U.S. diplomatic engagement and security coordination by:\n\n\u2022 Creating an Office of Haitian Affairs,\n\n\u2022 Appointing new Ambassadors-at-Large for the Arctic and Indian Ocean regions, and\n\n\u2022 Establishing a new unit to counter the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).\n\n\u201cI\u2019m thankful that these critical State Department authorities to strengthen the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, combat Chinese and Russian influence, and appoint new Ambassadors to strategic regions, such as the Arctic, were included in our National Defense Policy,\u201d said Chairwoman Salazar. \u201cWe are finally prioritizing our Hemisphere, and security in other strategic regions across the globe, which will help us fight tyranny across the world.\u201d\n\nIn September 2025, Chairwoman Salazar led the effort to pass an amended version of H.R. 5246 out of the House Foreign Affairs Committee with unanimous support and ensure it was included in the broader State Department Reauthorization bill, H.R. 5300. Recognizing the importance of these provisions, House Leadership and the Armed Services Committee included them directly in Division E (Sections 5141-5162) of S.1071, the National Defense Authorization Act of 2026.\n\nThe National Defense Authorization Act authorizes $900 billion for U.S. national defense, includes a 3.8% pay raise for Miami\u2019s service members, and improves housing, education, and access to childcare for military families.\n\nAdditional information about State Department provisions included in the FY26 NDAA can be found here.\n\nChairwoman Salazar Legislative Accomplishments:\n\nWith the enactment of the Western Hemisphere and State Department Political Affairs Authorization Act, Rep. Mar\u00eda Elvira Salazar becomes one of the most productive lawmakers on foreign policy and national security, having now authored 11 bills signed into law.\n\nOther key legislation authored or sponsored by Rep. Salazar that has been enacted into law includes:\n\n\u2022 The TAKE IT DOWN Act \u2014 Protects children from online digital threats and the non-consensual distribution of intimate images, including AI-generated deepfakes. Signed into law: May 2025.\n\n\u2022 The DISPOSE Act \u2014 Destroys fentanyl precursor chemicals to save American lives. Signed into law: December 2024.\n\n\u2022 The Forgotten Heroes of the Holocaust Congressional Gold Medal Act \u2014 Honors 60 diplomats who risked their lives during World War II to save Jews from Nazi persecution. Signed into law: December 2024.\n\n\u2022 The Migratory Birds of the Americas Conservation Enhancements Act \u2014 Protects migratory birds and critical habitat, including the Everglades. Signed into law: April 2024.\n\n\u2022 The RECLAIM Taxpayer Funds Act \u2014 Recovers billions in fraudulent government loans and restores fiscal responsibility and accountability. Implemented: December 2023.\n\n\u2022 The REEF Act \u2014 Incentivizes retired Navy ships to be repurposed as artificial reefs across U.S. marine ecosystems. Signed into law: December 2023.\n\n\u2022 The Summer Barrow Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Act \u2014 Reauthorizes critical funding for mental health and substance abuse programs. Signed into law: December 2022.\n\n\u2022 The PRICE Act \u2014 Expands access to federal contracting opportunities for small businesses. Signed into law: February 2022.\n\n\u2022 The Reinforcing Nicaragua\u2019s Adherence to Conditions for Electoral Reform (RENACER) Act \u2014 Imposes sanctions on the Ortega regime in Nicaragua. Signed into law: November 2021.\n\n\u2022 The COVID Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Relief Act \u2014 Delivered economic relief for Floridians during the pandemic. Implemented: March 2021.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://salazar.house.gov/media/press-releases/salazars-western-hemisphere-bill-signed-law-part-final-national-defense"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.82666489854455, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}