[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 749 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 749

  Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding the 
               November 29, 2009, elections in Honduras.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 17, 2009

 Ms. Ros-Lehtinen (for herself, Mr. Pence, Mr. McCotter, Mr. Burton of 
 Indiana, Mr. Mack, Mr. McCaul, Mr. Lamborn, Mr. Bilbray, Mr. Smith of 
 New Jersey, Mr. Gingrey of Georgia, Mr. Mario Diaz-Balart of Florida, 
 Mr. Lincoln Diaz-Balart of Florida, Mr. Bilirakis, Mr. Bartlett, Mr. 
  Royce, Mr. Poe of Texas, Mr. Tiahrt, and Mr. Schock) submitted the 
 following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign 
                                Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding the 
               November 29, 2009, elections in Honduras.

Whereas general elections to fill nearly 3,000 posts nation-wide, including the 
        presidency and all 128 seats in the National Congress in Honduras are 
        scheduled for November 29, 2009;
Whereas primary elections were held on November 30, 2008, to select candidates 
        for all parties and for all offices, including the office of the 
        President of Honduras;
Whereas this signifies that the candidates for the Honduran presidency had been 
        selected more than six months prior to the removal from office of Manuel 
        Zelaya on June 28, 2009;
Whereas article 239 of the Honduran Constitution states that ``The citizen who 
        has already held Executive Power may not be President or Designee. 
        Anyone who violates this provision or proposes its reform, and supports 
        those who do directly or indirectly, must immediately cease the 
        discharge of their duties, and shall be disqualified for ten years from 
        the exercise of any public function.'';
Whereas, on March 24, 2009, Manuel Zelaya issued a decree calling for a 
        referendum that would consult Hondurans about whether the country should 
        convoke a national constituent assembly to amend the constitution;
Whereas Zelaya later determined that the referendum would take place on June 28, 
        2009;
Whereas, on May 11, 2009, the Honduran Office of the Public Prosecutor publicly 
        stated that the proposed referendum violates the Constitution of 
        Honduras;
Whereas, on May 27, 2009, the Honduran Administrate Law Tribunal ruled the 
        proposed referendum to be illegal and ordered suspension of all acts in 
        its support;
Whereas, on May 29, 2009, Zelaya ordered the Honduran military and police to 
        provide logistical support for the proposed referendum;
Whereas, on June 9, 2009, the Honduran Appellate Court of the Administrative Law 
        Tribunal unanimously ruled that Zelaya's actions violated the 
        Constitution of Honduras;
Whereas, on June 16, 2009, a Honduran Appeals Court upheld the lower court 
        ruling that declared the proposed referendum illegal;
Whereas, on June 19, 2009, the Honduran Supreme Court ordered the Honduran 
        security forces not to provide any support for the proposed referendum;
Whereas, on June 23, 2009, the Honduran Congress passed a plebiscite and 
        referendum law that prevents referendums from occurring within 180 days 
        of a general election;
Whereas, on June 24, 2009, Zelaya fired the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of 
        Staff and accepted the resignation of the Minister of Defense after they 
        refused to provide logistical support for the proposed referendum;
Whereas, on June 25, 2009, the Honduran Supreme Court unanimously ruled that 
        Zelaya's dismissal of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff violated 
        the Constitution of Honduras;
Whereas, on June 25, 2009, the Honduran Supreme Electoral Tribunal declared that 
        referendum violated the Honduran Constitution and ordered the Armed 
        Forces to confiscate the referendum materials;
Whereas, on June 25, 2009, the Honduran Office of the Public Prosecutor filed a 
        criminal complaint against Zelaya for Treason, Abuse of Authority, and 
        Usurpation of Power;
Whereas, on June 26, 2009, the Honduran Supreme Court issued an arrest warrant 
        for the Armed Forces to arrest Manuel Zelaya;
Whereas, on June 27, 2009, Zelaya led a violent mob of supporters to forcefully 
        enter a Honduran Air Force Base and seize the referendum materials;
Whereas, on June 28, 2009, the Honduran military arrested Zelaya pursuant to a 
        Honduran Supreme Court order, and later exiled him from the country;
Whereas, on June 28, 2009, President Barack Obama, in response to the situation 
        in Honduras, stated that ``Any existing tensions and disputes must be 
        resolved peacefully through dialogue free from any outside 
        interference.'';
Whereas, on August 4, 2009, in a response to Congressional concerns, the U.S. 
        Department of State expressed that the United States ``policy and 
        strategy for engagement is not based on supporting any particular 
        position or individual. Rather, it is based on finding a resolution that 
        best serves the Honduran people and their democratic aspirations.'';
Whereas, on September 3, 2009, in addition to other measures, the U.S. 
        Department of State announced that the United States ``would not be able 
        to support the outcome of the scheduled elections'' until Manuel Zelaya 
        is restored to power;
Whereas the date of the elections, presidential candidates, and presidential 
        term have not been changed or modified since Zelaya's removal; and
Whereas United States policy has historically recognized the right of citizens 
        to choose their leaders in elections that are free, fair, and 
        transparent as a fundamental component of democracy: Now, therefore, be 
        it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) calls on the Secretary of State to support the efforts 
        of the appropriate authorities in Honduras working to ensure 
        that the November 29, 2009, elections are free, fair, and 
        transparent; and
            (2) calls on the President of the United States to 
        recognize the November 29, 2009, elections as an important step 
        in the consolidation of democracy and rule of law in Honduras.
                                 <all>