Legislation led by U.S. Rep. María Elvira Salazar (R-FL) became law recently as part of a larger appropriations bill and authorizes the U.S. Treasury Secretary to purchase $75 million in new shares of the Inter-American Investment Corp. to advance America’s economic interests throughout the Western Hemisphere.
“America benefits from a strong and economically secure Western Hemisphere,” Rep. Salazar said on Feb. 18. “This investment expands opportunities for U.S. businesses while supporting development and prosperity across Latin America and the Caribbean. When our neighbors grow stronger, so do we.”
The IDB Capital Increase Act, H.R. 6892, which Rep. Salazar sponsored on Dec. 18, 2025, was enacted as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026, H.R. 7148, which the president signed into law on Feb. 3.
The Treasury Secretary is now authorized to purchase 25,000 new shares of IDB Invest, the private-sector arm of the Inter-American Development Bank, expanding its capacity to finance development projects across Latin America and the Caribbean.
The investment will create new opportunities for American companies, increase U.S. influence within the region’s leading development institution, and support economic growth and stability throughout the hemisphere, according to the congresswoman.
Currently, the United States is the largest shareholder in the Inter-American Development Bank, which finances infrastructure and private-sector projects across the Americas.