[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 19]
[House]
[Pages 25184-25185]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                                HONDURAS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I rise tonight to once again express 
my strong support for the elections scheduled to take place in Honduras 
on November 29. Though much of the recent news coming out of Honduras 
has been focused on the current round of talks between the 
representatives of Manuel Zelaya and the current Honduran Government, 
one thing has remained constant through it all: The Honduran elections 
that are scheduled to take place on November 29.
  The most recent talks began with both sides agreeing that the 
elections should proceed ahead as planned. Predictably, however, now 
that Zelaya is realizing that he won't be able to jump back into his 
throne of power as easily as he expected, he and his supporters have 
started to call for boycotts and nonrecognition of the elections. Not 
surprisingly, Zelaya's ALBA fan club, headed by Venezuela's Hugo 
Chavez, got together this weekend in Bolivia. The ALBA league of 
oppressors and dictators-in-waiting issued a statement stating that 
neither the Honduran electoral process nor its outcomes should be 
recognized by the international community unless Zelaya has been 
restored to power.
  The United States must have no part in these efforts. They are 
undermining and delegitimizing the Honduran election. We have got to 
make sure that we recognize the validity of this process, and we should 
say to the world that we must recognize the free will of the Honduran 
people to express their desires in the ballot box.
  The United States cannot play wingman to tyrants who dismiss 
fundamental civil liberties and forsake constitutional commitment. We 
should be proud of our democratic standards and not fear standing 
alone, if necessary,

[[Page 25185]]

against those who work against the freedom agenda.
  Despite tremendous world pressure and punishment, the people of 
Honduras have remained true to their democracy and their constitution. 
And the November 29 elections are just one more testament to their 
unwavering commitment.
  Tomorrow I will be hosting a Members briefing, open to all Members, 
Republicans and Democrats, with the members of the Honduran Supreme 
Electoral Tribunal. This will afford an opportunity for Members from 
both sides of the aisle to discuss the measures being undertaken in 
Honduras to ensure that the November elections proceed as scheduled. I 
invite all of my colleagues again to please join us for this important 
discussion. Although we may have differing views regarding the approach 
that the United States has taken to the situation in Honduras, I'm 
hopeful that free, fair, clean and transparent elections is the way 
that we can all unite.

                              {time}  1945

  This is a concept that all Americans should agree. U.S. policy has 
historically recognized and even encouraged the implementation of 
elections as a necessary step to moving forward from an untenable 
political situation. Just this past August, as a matter of fact, 
Secretary of State Clinton visited Angola, where she emphasized 
repeatedly the importance of holding timely, free, and fair 
presidential elections in Angola.
  Each year, the United States spends millions and millions of our tax 
dollars to support elections through our democratic form of government 
and to make sure that we promote governance programs around the world. 
So why, then, does the U.S. commitment to and support of elections fade 
away when it comes to Honduras? It should not. It must not.
  A stable, secure, democratic Honduras is what is in the best interest 
of the United States. This election that will take place on November 29 
offers us the perfect opportunity for this to happen--free, fair, 
democratic elections. I urge the State Department to encourage 
international observers to participate in these upcoming elections, and 
I encourage my fellow colleagues to go to Honduras for themselves. Go 
now and go for the elections. See for yourselves what we are dealing 
with and the impact that the U.S. policy is having on a democratic 
ally, a friend of the United States.
  Again, I welcome all of my colleagues to join me tomorrow for a 
briefing with members of the Honduran Supreme Electoral Tribunal. Let 
democracy take root once again in Honduras.

                          ____________________