IV 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 1406 

Commemorating 175 years of diplomatic relations between the United States 

and the Republic of Guatemala. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

AUGUST 2, 2024 

Mrs. RAMIREZ (for herself, Ms. TITUS, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, Ms. WASSERMAN

SCHULTZ, Mr. CASTRO of Texas, Ms. VELA ́ZQUEZ, Mr. MCGOVERN, and 

Mr. CORREA) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 

the Committee on Foreign Affairs 

RESOLUTION 

Commemorating 175 years of diplomatic relations between 

the United States and the Republic of Guatemala. 

Whereas, January 31, 2024, marked the 175th anniversary 

of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the 

United States and the Republic of Guatemala; 

Whereas Guatemala and the United States have shared 

strong bilateral relations on issues of mutual interest, 

with a partnership grounded in respect, shared democratic and anti-corruption values, the defense of human 

rights, and the pursuit of economic prosperity and shared 

security interests; 

Whereas Ambassador Francisco Villagra ́n de Leo ́n, who 

passed away on May 18, 2024, after 5 decades of profesVerDate Sep 11 2014 01:25 Aug 03, 2024 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR1406.IH HR1406

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•HRES 1406 IH 

sional service as a career diplomat, scholar, and political 

activist, dedicated a significant portion of his professional 

career to strengthening Guatemalan democracy and bilateral relations between the United States and Guatemala; 

Whereas Guatemalans and Guatemalan Americans residing in 

the United States have enriched the United States social, 

economic, and political development, which has allowed 

Guatemala’s rich identity and heritage to become an integral part of the cultural tapestry of the United States; 

Whereas the United States and Guatemala, which have historically enjoyed strong commercial and investment ties, 

have engaged in free trade since July 1, 2006, through 

the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States 

Free Trade Agreement (commonly known as ‘‘CAFTA– 

DR)’’; 

Whereas the United States, which is Guatemala’s largest 

trading partner, accounts for nearly 35 percent of Guatemala’s foreign trade; 

Whereas the United States and Guatemala have been strong 

partners throughout multiple presidential administrations 

in both countries to address irregular migration in the 

Western Hemisphere, including through— 

(1) safe third country agreements; 

(2) the establishment of the Safe Mobility Initiative 

and the opening of the first Safe Mobility Office in Guatemala; 

(3) being signatories to the Los Angeles Declaration 

on Migration and Protection in June 2022; and 

(4) helping to implement the United States Strategy 

to Address the Root Causes of Migration in Central 

America; 


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•HRES 1406 IH 

Whereas Guatemala and the United States have partnered to 

combat corruption, uphold the rule of law, and build 

strong democratic institutions, including by supporting 

President Bernardo Are ́valo’s National Commission 

Against Corruption; 

Whereas President Are ́valo was democratically elected in 

2023, and through concerted and sustained support by a 

wide swath of Guatemalan citizens, including indigenous 

persons, pro-democracy activists and the Guatemalan private sector, was inaugurated as president in 2024; 

Whereas, during his first 100 days in office, President 

Are ́valo has demonstrated a commitment to further deepen Guatemala’s bilateral partnership with the United 

States by— 

(1) reaffirming Guatemala’s commitment to maintain shared global policy priorities, including through 

support to mutual democratic partners of Taiwan, 

Ukraine, and Israel; 

(2) demonstrating the political will to address the regional migration challenge by hosting the 2024 Third 

Ministerial on the Los Angeles Declaration on Migration 

and Protection; 

(3) sustaining a serious dialogue with a wide range 

of indigenous communities on resolving historical inequities and grievances of the large and diverse indigenous 

communities of Guatemala; and 

(4) following through on his commitment to address 

corruption across Guatemala’s institutions by empowering Guatemala’s National Commission Against Corruption; 

Whereas journalist Jose Ramon Zamora, former prosecutor 

Virginia Laparra, and indigenous activist Sofia Tot Ac 


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•HRES 1406 IH 

have faced unjust harassment for their advocacy against 

corruption and for indigenous rights in Guatemala; 

Whereas Guatemala’s principled support for Taiwan is resulting in economic intimidation by the People’s Republic of 

China, which was most recently demonstrated by— 

(1) the People’s Republic of China’s denial of entry 

of at least 7 shipping containers of macadamia nuts; and 

(2) Guatemalan traders being told that Guatemalan 

macadamia nuts and coffee would be denied entry only 

days after the attendance of Guatemala’s Minister of 

Foreign Affairs at the inauguration of Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) commemorates the 175th anniversary of the 

3 establishment of official diplomatic relations between 

4 the United States and the Republic of Guatemala; 

5 (2) celebrates the contributions that Guate6 malans and Guatemalan-Americans have made in 

7 the United States; 

8 (3) recognizes the significant contributions 

9 made by Ambassador Francisco Villagra ́n de Leo ́n 

10 to strengthening bilateral relations between the 

11 United States and Guatemala and preserving Guate12 malan democracy; 

13 (4) reaffirms the long history of collaboration 

14 across multiple presidential administrations in Gua15 temala and the United States to collaborate to ad16 dress mutual challenges in our national interests; 


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•HRES 1406 IH 

1 (5) urges the Government of Guatemala— 

2 (A) to continue to work to find achievable 

3 solutions to bring inclusive economic growth, 

4 address ongoing security challenges, and build 

5 more accountable and transparent institutions; 

6 (B) to follow through on its commitments 

7 to address the legitimate grievances of indige8 nous communities so these communities feel in9 cluded and empowered, and to see tangible 

10 progress for the indigenous population in Gua11 temala; and 

12 (C) to ensure fair judicial proceedings for 

13 all wrongfully targeted journalists and activists, 

14 including Jose Ramon Zamora, Virginia 

15 Laparra, and Sofia Tot Ac; and 

16 (6) calls on the United States Government— 

17 (A) to enhance its efforts to counter eco18 nomic coercion of Guatemala from the People’s 

19 Republic of China due to Guatemala’s contin20 ued recognition of Taiwan, including through 

21 enhanced economic partnerships, private sector 

22 engagement, and foreign assistance; 

23 (B) to strengthen foreign assistance aimed 

24 at helping the Government of Guatemala ensure 


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•HRES 1406 IH 

1 democracy can deliver tangible improvements 

2 for all Guatemalans; 

3 (C) to use all available tools at its disposal 

4 to support Guatemala’s efforts to combat wide5 spread corruption; and 

6 (D) to ensure that migration management 

7 efforts are focused on safe, legal, and humane 

8 strategies. 

Æ 


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