[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 60 (Monday, April 8, 2019)]
[House]
[Page H3121]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





  THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S FAILED POLICIES IN THE NORTHERN TRIANGLE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 3, 2019, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Espaillat) is 
recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the majority leader.
  Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, I am grateful for this opportunity to 
speak. I thank Representative Clyburn for allowing me a few minutes to 
address a pressing issue before he assumes control of this Special 
Order hour.
  Last week, the President of the United States made politically 
motivated announcements that he will seek to cut U.S. aid to Honduras, 
Guatemala, and El Salvador, which together are commonly known and 
referred to as the Northern Triangle countries. In making his decision, 
the President cited asylum seekers--moms, children, seniors, and young 
men--who make up the migration patterns from these nations that reflect 
themselves at the southern border.
  As it turns out, Mr. Speaker, I was in the region with some of my 
colleagues from both sides of the aisle when the President articulated 
his plan to freeze foreign aid for this part of the world. This aid has 
effectively helped curb violence in El Salvador, forge economic hope, 
and furnish essential health and education programs there as well.
  While on this trip with key members of the Foreign Affairs and 
Judiciary Committees, we met with leaders from the region and El 
Salvador and discussed the relationship between the United States and 
their respective countries with great optimism.
  I will admit, Mr. Speaker, the manner in which our President views 
and discusses our regional partners stands in stark contrast to the 
security objectives and economic commonalities we discussed with his 
Central American counterparts.
  When our President rambles on about ``evil people'' pouring into our 
country and the millions and millions of dollars we are just giving 
these governments, comments that are not only racist in scope but 
patently false, he fails to understand that this very aid is our best 
approach and our best tool in addressing the migration patterns to the 
southern border.
  With our assistance, these countries can make tangible progress 
toward building an environment where their citizens feel safe, industry 
prospers, and people receive the essential services they need and 
deserve.

                              {time}  1945

  When my colleagues and I were in Mexico, a country that perhaps has 
received more of the President's verbal attacks than any other country 
in the world, we discussed budding economic zones in the country and 
the sweeping development initiatives its new President Lopez Obrador 
has undertaken.
  We discussed the fact that less than 12 percent of the folks going 
back from the southern border to their countries of birth are from 
Mexico.
  We discussed the curtains of economic development that the Mexican 
President plans to put forward--not a wall, curtains of economic 
development: a rail line in the Mayan coast; reforestation of the 
southern border of Mexico; and infrastructure, very ambitious 
infrastructure projects close to the northern border.
  Perhaps we should look at that as a guide to what we should do here 
in our Nation.
  And having conversations about shutting down our border as we were 
there was not something very positive for our visit.
  In El Salvador, we met with ambitious, 38-year-old President-elect 
Nayib Bukele. He detailed his intentions to work more closely with the 
United States, specifically, to review and reevaluate Chinese influence 
and an agreement with China that he has inherited from the previous 
government.
  He also informed us that, because of our help, Mr. Speaker, homicide 
has gone down 50 percent in El Salvador. At one point, 104 people per 
100,000 people were being killed, the highest homicide rate in the 
world. It is now down 50 percent--still a war zone, but down 50 
percent. Young people are being recruited away from the gangs.
  What they really need now is a shot in the arm for economic 
development and jobs. That is what will help with the migration 
patterns that reflect themselves at the southern border.
  And this young President has captured the enthusiasm of the young 
people. He campaigned against corruption and violence; yet, while we 
were there, the President threatened to cut the aid to El Salvador.
  In fact, we should take what we did there to Guatemala and Honduras, 
because it is working.
  And it is clear, Mr. Speaker, that this is all summed up that the 
President fails to share our optimism that collaboration will lead to a 
solution in this region.
  He fails to register the miserable motivations that would prompt 
somebody to seek refuge for their families in an unknown country 
thousands and thousands of miles away. People just don't get up and 
leave their families and neighborhoods. They do that because they are 
facing violence, because they are facing abject poverty, because they 
are facing natural disasters.
  The President fails to understand that. He fails to understand, Mr. 
Speaker, that Chinese and Russian influence in Central America is 
growing and that every step we take backwards will result in two steps 
forward for them and will leave a vacuum of leadership in the region.
  Right now, the President is simply failing--failing the American 
people and failing our allies.
  I look forward to reviewing this issue this week when the Foreign 
Affairs Committee holds a hearing on the administration's failed 
policies in Central America.
  We must hold him accountable.
  Mr. Speaker, I again want to thank Whip Clyburn for allowing me some 
time to address this issue on behalf of the Congressional Hispanic 
Caucus in lieu of our monthly Special Order hour, and I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Members are reminded to refrain from 
engaging in personalities toward the President.

                          ____________________