[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 205 (Wednesday, December 13, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1218-E1219]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  CONCERNING DEVELOPMENTS IN HONDURAS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JOYCE BEATTY

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 13, 2023

  Mrs. BEATTY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to call this chamber's attention to 
concerning developments in Honduras that pose a growing economic risk 
for Central America's Northern Triangle region.
  Earlier this year, Honduran President Xiomara Castro announced her 
government's intent to pursue substantial investments from China after 
establishing diplomatic ties with the PRC in March. The Castro 
administration is also seeking to effectively nationalize U.S. public 
and private investment in Honduran special economic zones, where U.S.-
led businesses are operating and focused on the creation of nearshoring 
facilities and bolstering the Honduran tourism industry. The 
elimination of these zones would constitute a violation of 50-year 
legal stability agreements guaranteed under the Dominican Republic-
Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement. This is 
counterproductive to both bilateral economic development and stability 
for Hondurans. We all know that better jobs and economic opportunities 
in country benefit Honduran families while reducing the pressures that 
lead to irregular migration.
  In July, I cosigned a letter urging the State Department and U.S. 
Trade Representative to protect U.S. interests in Honduras. Earlier 
this week, the State Department announced visa restrictions on Honduran 
individuals involved in what the Department described as an anti-
democratic scheme to name an Attorney General and Deputy AG without the 
required votes through violence and intimidation. I commend the State 
Department's efforts and continue to stand with those seeking to 
strengthen democracy and rule of law in Honduras.

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