We applaud the bipartisan congressional action passing legislation that calls for a comprehensive strategy for the Northern Triangle, recognizing the need to address the root causes of migration.

Key this legislation is its recognition that America’s foreign assistance programs in Central America are not charity, but an investment in our own national interest by effectively working to combat violence and poverty. The bill reaffirms the congressional power of the purse, rejecting any proposed budget cuts to the region, stating that funding cannot be “reprogrammed, transferred, or used for any [other] purpose.”

A special shout-out to House Foreign Affairs leaders Eliot Engel (D-NY) and Mike McCaul (R-TX) who shepherded the bill through the House. We urge the Senate to consider this legislation as soon as possible.