Bill > HRes717

This resolution honors Juan López, a Honduran Catholic leader and human rights advocate who was brutally assassinated on September 14, 2024, in the Bajo Aguán region. The resolution highlights López's courageous work as an environmental activist and community leader who opposed corruption, defended land rights, and spoke out against local government officials. It acknowledges his recognition through awards like the Letelier-Moffitt Human Rights Award and notes that he was murdered days after publicly calling for the resignation of Tocoa's mayor following a corruption scandal. The resolution condemns the ongoing violence against land defenders in the region, particularly those opposing an open-pit iron oxide mine and the "Ecotek Thermoelectric Project". It calls for the establishment of a new anti-corruption commission and an international investigative commission to pursue the masterminds behind López's murder. Furthermore, the resolution urges the United States government to support Honduras in building a more secure and democratic society, work in solidarity with human rights defenders, and ensure the protection of communities fighting to preserve their land and natural resources.

Military Affairs and Security

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-resolution/717/all-info