[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 203 (Monday, December 11, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S5884]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                Honduras

  Mr. President, in 2021, neighboring Honduras elected its first female 
President, Xiomara Castro, who many hoped would bring much needed 
change after decades of misrule and instability. Though she claims 
repeatedly to be an ally of the United States and closely aligned with 
our values, there have been some actions by her government in 
transition that raise serious concerns about commitment to democratic 
norms and, unfortunately, of closer ties to China, Cuba, Venezuela, and 
even Russia. President Castro still has an opportunity to show that we 
can work together for the common values that we share. I hope she takes 
that path.
  Early in Senator Kaine's adult life, he spent a year in a Jesuit 
mission in Honduras, teaching Hondurans how to be carpenters and 
welders. It was in a Jesuit school for impoverished children where he 
gave a year of his life. I want to commend Tim Kaine for that effort, 
what he calls his ``North Star'' in his life, which helped to make him 
a thoughtful leader and one of the most admired Senators on the floor. 
His commitment to the region is a reminder that we still have important 
allies and responsibilities in our own neighborhood.