IV 

115TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 843 

Reaffirming the importance of preserving free and fair elections and strengthening democratic institutions in the Western Hemisphere as a policy 

priority for the United States. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

APRIL 24, 2018 

Mrs. TORRES (for herself, Mr. POE of Texas, Mr. ENGEL, and Mr. FRANCIS

ROONEY of Florida) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs 

RESOLUTION 

Reaffirming the importance of preserving free and fair elections and strengthening democratic institutions in the 

Western Hemisphere as a policy priority for the United 

States. 

Whereas free, fair, transparent, and credible elections are the 

cornerstone of every democracy; 

Whereas legitimate elections that respect fundamental freedoms are characterized by transparency, accountability, 

security, and accessibility for all voters; 

Whereas strong democracies worldwide make for better trading partners, provide new market opportunities, improve 

global health outcomes, and promote economic freedom 

and regional security; 


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•HRES 843 IH 

Whereas several countries across Latin America are scheduled to hold presidential elections in 2018, and approximately three-quarters of the region’s citizens will choose 

their new leaders; 

Whereas the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, and 

Latin America are bound together by history, culture, 

and geography; 

Whereas democratic stability, regional security, and economic 

prosperity in the Western Hemisphere are vital to the national security interests of the United States; 

Whereas the transition to democracy has contributed to the 

long-term stability, security, and prosperity of nations 

throughout the Western Hemisphere; 

Whereas the Inter-American Democratic Charter states that 

‘‘representative democracy is indispensable for the stability, peace, and development of the region’’; 

Whereas the current Secretary General of the Organization 

of American States (OAS), Luis Almagro, has advocated 

on behalf of free and fair elections in the Western Hemisphere; 

Whereas in 2017, the OAS sent technical missions to observe 

elections in Nicaragua, Honduras, Haiti, Ecuador, and 

Bolivia; 

Whereas the deterioration of democratic institutions and rule 

of law that commenced under the leadership of President 

Hugo Chavez has contributed to the dictatorship that exists today in Venezuela under the leadership of President 

Nicolas Maduro, which has caused a serious humanitarian, economic, and security crisis that threatens the 

stability of the Western Hemisphere; 


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•HRES 843 IH 

Whereas the Russian Federation has repeatedly attempted to 

interfere in democratic elections, including in the United 

States, France, and Germany, including through carrying 

out disinformation campaigns and seeking to penetrate 

election infrastructure; 

Whereas there are concerns that state and nonstate actors, 

such as narcotraffickers, may attempt to interfere in this 

year’s elections in the Western Hemisphere, including 

through carrying out disinformation campaigns, fraud, 

and seeking to penetrate election infrastructure; 

Whereas any such activities have the potential to contribute 

to the degradation of democratic institutions and the rise 

of instability in the Western Hemisphere; and 

Whereas the former United States National Security Advisor 

has stated that there were ‘‘initial signs’’ that the Russian Federation intends to interfere in the upcoming general elections in Mexico: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) reaffirms the centrality to United States in3 terests of preserving free and fair elections and ad4 vancing democratic institutions in the Western 

5 Hemisphere; 

6 (2) reaffirms its support for the Inter-American 

7 Democratic Charter and the work of domestic elec8 tion observation and international election observa9 tion missions, such as those led by the Organization 

10 of American States and the European Union, to proVerDate Sep 11 2014 01:56 Apr 25, 2018 Jkt 079200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HR843.IH HR843

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•HRES 843 IH 

1 mote free and fair elections in the Western Hemi2 sphere; 

3 (3) rejects actions by the Government of Ven4 ezuela that damage the credibility of elections in 

5 Venezuela this year; 

6 (4) urges political leaders and judicial authori7 ties in the Western Hemisphere to respect the will 

8 of voters and uphold the constitutions of their re9 spective countries; and 

10 (5) rejects efforts by the Russian Federation 

11 and other hostile state or nonstate actors, including 

12 narcotraffickers, to interfere with the outcomes of 

13 elections in the Western Hemisphere and urges 

14 countries in the Western Hemisphere to maintain 

15 vigilance to safeguard their democratic institutions 

16 during this year’s elections. 

Æ 


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