IV 

111TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 749 

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding the November 

29, 2009, elections in Honduras. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

SEPTEMBER 17, 2009 

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN (for herself, Mr. PENCE, Mr. MCCOTTER, Mr. BURTON

of Indiana, Mr. MACK, Mr. MCCAUL, Mr. LAMBORN, Mr. BILBRAY, Mr. 

SMITH of New Jersey, Mr. GINGREY of Georgia, Mr. MARIO DIAZBALART of Florida, Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida, Mr. BILIRAKIS, Mr. BARTLETT, Mr. ROYCE, Mr. POE of Texas, Mr. TIAHRT, and 

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

the Committee on Foreign Affairs 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives 

regarding the November 29, 2009, elections in Honduras. 

Whereas general elections to fill nearly 3,000 posts nationwide, including the presidency and all 128 seats in the 

National Congress in Honduras are scheduled for November 29, 2009; 

Whereas primary elections were held on November 30, 2008, 

to select candidates for all parties and for all offices, including the office of the President of Honduras; 

Whereas this signifies that the candidates for the Honduran 

presidency had been selected more than six months prior 


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•HRES 749 IH 

to the removal from office of Manuel Zelaya on June 28, 

2009; 

Whereas article 239 of the Honduran Constitution states that 

‘‘The citizen who has already held Executive Power may 

not be President or Designee. Anyone who violates this 

provision or proposes its reform, and supports those who 

do directly or indirectly, must immediately cease the discharge of their duties, and shall be disqualified for ten 

years from the exercise of any public function.’’; 

Whereas, on March 24, 2009, Manuel Zelaya issued a decree 

calling for a referendum that would consult Hondurans 

about whether the country should convoke a national constituent assembly to amend the constitution; 

Whereas Zelaya later determined that the referendum would 

take place on June 28, 2009; 

Whereas, on May 11, 2009, the Honduran Office of the Public Prosecutor publicly stated that the proposed referendum violates the Constitution of Honduras; 

Whereas, on May 27, 2009, the Honduran Administrate Law 

Tribunal ruled the proposed referendum to be illegal and 

ordered suspension of all acts in its support; 

Whereas, on May 29, 2009, Zelaya ordered the Honduran 

military and police to provide logistical support for the 

proposed referendum; 

Whereas, on June 9, 2009, the Honduran Appellate Court of 

the Administrative Law Tribunal unanimously ruled that 

Zelaya’s actions violated the Constitution of Honduras; 

Whereas, on June 16, 2009, a Honduran Appeals Court 

upheld the lower court ruling that declared the proposed 

referendum illegal; 


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•HRES 749 IH 

Whereas, on June 19, 2009, the Honduran Supreme Court 

ordered the Honduran security forces not to provide any 

support for the proposed referendum; 

Whereas, on June 23, 2009, the Honduran Congress passed 

a plebiscite and referendum law that prevents referendums from occurring within 180 days of a general election; 

Whereas, on June 24, 2009, Zelaya fired the Chairman of 

the Joint Chiefs of Staff and accepted the resignation of 

the Minister of Defense after they refused to provide 

logistical support for the proposed referendum; 

Whereas, on June 25, 2009, the Honduran Supreme Court 

unanimously ruled that Zelaya’s dismissal of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff violated the Constitution 

of Honduras; 

Whereas, on June 25, 2009, the Honduran Supreme Electoral Tribunal declared that referendum violated the 

Honduran Constitution and ordered the Armed Forces to 

confiscate the referendum materials; 

Whereas, on June 25, 2009, the Honduran Office of the Public Prosecutor filed a criminal complaint against Zelaya 

for Treason, Abuse of Authority, and Usurpation of 

Power; 

Whereas, on June 26, 2009, the Honduran Supreme Court 

issued an arrest warrant for the Armed Forces to arrest 

Manuel Zelaya; 

Whereas, on June 27, 2009, Zelaya led a violent mob of supporters to forcefully enter a Honduran Air Force Base 

and seize the referendum materials; 


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•HRES 749 IH 

Whereas, on June 28, 2009, the Honduran military arrested 

Zelaya pursuant to a Honduran Supreme Court order, 

and later exiled him from the country; 

Whereas, on June 28, 2009, President Barack Obama, in response to the situation in Honduras, stated that ‘‘Any existing tensions and disputes must be resolved peacefully 

through dialogue free from any outside interference.’’; 

Whereas, on August 4, 2009, in a response to Congressional 

concerns, the U.S. Department of State expressed that 

the United States ‘‘policy and strategy for engagement is 

not based on supporting any particular position or individual. Rather, it is based on finding a resolution that 

best serves the Honduran people and their democratic aspirations.’’; 

Whereas, on September 3, 2009, in addition to other measures, the U.S. Department of State announced that the 

United States ‘‘would not be able to support the outcome 

of the scheduled elections’’ until Manuel Zelaya is restored to power; 

Whereas the date of the elections, presidential candidates, 

and presidential term have not been changed or modified 

since Zelaya’s removal; and 

Whereas United States policy has historically recognized the 

right of citizens to choose their leaders in elections that 

are free, fair, and transparent as a fundamental component of democracy: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) calls on the Secretary of State to support 

3 the efforts of the appropriate authorities in HonVerDate Nov 24 2008 00:24 Sep 18, 2009 Jkt 079200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HR749.IH HR749

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•HRES 749 IH 

1 duras working to ensure that the November 29, 

2 2009, elections are free, fair, and transparent; and 

3 (2) calls on the President of the United States 

4 to recognize the November 29, 2009, elections as an 

5 important step in the consolidation of democracy 

6 and rule of law in Honduras. 

Æ 


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