Concerning Situation in Honduras

Floor Speech

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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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