# Americas Act Summary
The Americas Act creates a comprehensive regional partnership program to strengthen trade, investment, and people-to-people connections across the Western Hemisphere while reducing dependence on Chinese supply chains.
**Core Components:**
The bill establishes the Americas Institute for Digital Governance to develop interoperable e-governance systems for participating countries, funded with $10 million. It creates the Americas Partnership Secretariat to coordinate diplomatic and economic efforts among member countries. Partner countries must demonstrate commitments to democracy, human rights, and anti-corruption standards based on the Inter-American Democratic Charter.
**Trade and Investment:**
The legislation authorizes $60 billion in loans and grants to incentivize U.S. businesses to move operations out of China, either back to the United States or to partner countries in the Western Hemisphere (near-shoring). Companies get one-time duty-free imports and a 50 percent tax credit for re-shoring expenses, 35 percent for near-shoring. The bill provides $105 million annually through 2029 for textile and apparel manufacturing grants and $105 million for medical equipment production. It establishes the BUILD Americas Unit within the development finance corporation and creates a $1 billion Americas Partnership Enterprise Fund for private sector development.
**Strategic Industries:**
The act designates specific supply chains as strategic priorities and authorizes special economic initiatives to support their relocation to the hemisphere. It includes $250 million for textile recycling infrastructure and authorizes the Export-Import Bank and development finance corporation to support energy projects in partner countries, including renewable energy and advanced nuclear technology.
**People-to-People Programs:**
The bill expands cultural exchanges, Peace Corps presence, and scholarship programs. It creates the American University of the Americas in up to three partner countries focusing on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. It establishes a new visa category for caregivers for elderly and disabled Americans, capped at 50,000 annually. It authorizes funding for Radio Free Americas broadcasting democratic values across the region.
**Funding and Implementation:**
The legislation creates a $500 million Re-shoring and Near-shoring Account as the primary funding mechanism, plus authorizes additional appropriations for specific programs. Administrative costs are split across Commerce, State, and USAID departments. The bill includes reporting requirements and annual assessments of program effectiveness through 2029 and beyond.
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