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Floor Speech

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Mrs. TORRES of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my amendment to have transparency and accountability over American taxpayer money sent abroad.

I am proud to be supported by Chairman Castro and Chairman Sires of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, as well as Representatives Escobar, Vargas, Jacobs, Malinowski, and Levin.

Support from members on both the Armed Services and the Foreign Affairs Committees is a reminder that our national security relies on both the State and Defense Departments.

This amendment provides additional oversight over Section 333 funding in the Northern Triangle region of Central America. Section 333 gives the Department of Defense authority to conduct or support programs providing training and equipment to the national security forces of foreign countries.

Unfortunately, we have seen numerous instances of abuse and misuse of defense equipment provided to foreign governments, particularly in Central America.

This includes using U.S.-provided equipment to repress local people and perpetuate human rights violations. In some instances, U.S. materials have been used against our own U.S. personnel in the area.

Let me be clear, U.S.-funded equipment in the Northern Triangle region of Central America has been used by foreign government units against our U.S. personnel working in the region.

Sadly, we can't brush off these disturbing instances as being far in the past. These problems continue to happen.

This year, we have seen civil society actors, journalists, and independent prosecutors and judges under attack in both El Salvador and Guatemala. In just the last few months, the President of El Salvador declared a state of exception that bypasses citizens' rights and exempts security funding from regular oversight.

In Guatemala, we have seen a concerted effort to stamp out the independent judiciary, with those who dare to speak truth to power threatened, put in jail, or forced to flee in fear of their lives.

The Northern Triangle region is at a pivotal moment, and the United States must support efforts to build stable and prosperous communities to contribute to a more stable hemisphere and address the real causes of migration.

To that end, this amendment would require public disclosure of our section 333 aid to the Northern Triangle region to create greater transparency of how and when we support these governments.

This amendment, Mr. Speaker, would also require the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary of Defense, to certify to Congress that the governments of Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras are credibly investigating and prosecuting their members of the military implicated in human rights violations before sending additional section 333 funding to those organizations.

To my Republican colleagues, I want to clarify that this amendment does not end section 333 assistance. It does not tell the Department who it can partner with. It simply says the governments need to be taking steps to investigate members of their military who have been credibly accused of human rights violations, and Congress needs insight into these efforts.

The American taxpayer and the communities of the Northern Triangle deserve dignity and accountability. Many here know my strategy for Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras: to hold the corrupt, undemocratic actors who are working against our interests accountable; to help those fighting for accountability, fairness, and democracy in the region; and to ensure that our assistance reaches the people it is intended to help.

This amendment will help us do just that, and I urge a ``yes'' vote on this amendment.

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Mrs. TORRES of California. Mr. Speaker, this certification process does not end section 333 funding to the Northern Triangle. It simply brings accountability and transparency on how U.S. equipment is being used in the region.

Mr. Speaker, I request a ``yes'' vote, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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