U.S. Vice President Joe Biden's engagement with Latin American countries has been well-documented, and he is furthering the region's support by reiterating the Obama administration's request to Congress for $1 billion for aid.

In a New York Times op-ed published Friday, Biden revealed President Barack Obama will request Congress to fund $1 billion for Central American countries to conduct reforms and investments. Biden said the funding will help the countries address "interlocking security, governance and economic challenges."

To further support his claim, Biden acknowledged the influx of undocumented immigrant children who entered the U.S. during the summer of 2014. Biden said the "security and prosperity of Central America are inextricably linked with our own." According to Biden, the $1 billion request is three times higher than the cost that the U.S. has "generally" provided Central America.

"The economies of El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras remain bogged down as the rest of the Americas surge forward. Inadequate education, institutional corruption, rampant crime and a lack of investment are holding these countries back," Biden wrote.

The vice president noted 6 million Central American youths are projected to enter the labor force in the next 10 years. Without the opportunities for the aforementioned youth, Biden continued, the Western Hemisphere "will feel the consequences." Biden does admit there are not enough sufficient federal funds, even from the international community, to meet the needs in Central America. He acknowledged the Central American countries (namely El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras) have made improvements to control corruption and security but the countries have to attract and invest within their land.

"The challenges ahead are formidable. But if the political will exists, there is no reason Central America cannot become the next great success story of the Western Hemisphere," Biden said.

The vice president has been involved with initiatives for Latin America and the Caribbean. Earlier this week, Biden hosted the first Caribbean Energy Security Summit to support the region's improved governance, access to finance and increased donor coordination for the energy sector. During the summit, Biden called for an integrated North America to promote energy security since the U.S. wants Caribbean countries to "succeed as prosperous, secure, energy-independent neighbors -- not a world apart, but an integral part of the hemisphere, where every nation is middle class, democratic and secure."

In a joint statement on Jan. 26, the participating countries and regional and international organization agreeing for the Caribbean to make "necessary and specific reforms" that include efforts for sustainable and clean energy technologies. The participants also stated their commitment to exchange data and energy information.

The Caribbean Energy Security Summit was reportedly a "key component" to Biden's Caribbean Energy Security Initiative, which he announced in June 2014. The summit coincidentally occurred on the same week as the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) conference in Costa Rica, which included heads of state and government officials from 33 countries from the region but notably does not include Canada or the U.S.

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For the latest updates, follow Latin Post's Michael Oleaga on Twitter: @EditorMikeO or contact via email: m.oleaga@latinpost.com.

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