[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 209 (Tuesday, December 19, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1249]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    CONCERNING SITUATION IN HONDURAS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. WARREN DAVIDSON

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 19, 2023

  Mr. DAVIDSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise to draw attention to a situation in 
Honduras that threatens American investment in the region.
  President Castro has threatened to expropriate resources from U.S. 
investment in Honduras in contravention of the Dominican Republic-
Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR). Seven of my Republican 
colleagues and I wrote a letter to Secretary of State Anthony Blinken 
and U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai urging the Biden 
Administration to enforce investor protections in U.S. trade 
agreements. We cannot allow U.S. trade agreements to go unenforced or 
leave U.S. investors defenseless.
  While I received a response to our letter, it did not clarify how the 
State Department will defend the rights of U.S. investors if the 
Honduran government follows through on its statements and actions, 
which indicate an intent to take that property. Americans invest money 
in Central and South America with the reasonable expectation that the 
U.S. will protect their investments from theft. These investments help 
extend economic stability to the region.
  In addition, China's efforts to replace the United States as a trade 
partner with Honduras pose a national security threat near our southern 
border. On September 21, 2023, the President of Honduras, Xiomara 
Castro, spoke at the United Nations, where she bragged that her nation 
had ``officially opened relations with the People's Republic of 
China.'' In addition, she condemned sanctions on communist countries 
like Cuba and Venezuela. These are troubling statements from President 
Castro, especially when paired with her government's actions.
  The PRC's influence is rapidly increasing in America's backyard. I 
urge the Biden Administration to reassert the principles of the Monroe 
Doctrine and protect American interests in the Western Hemisphere.

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