I 

117TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 2725 

To establish a commission to address the fundamental repercussions of a 

misguided intervention, by the United States on the Dominican Republic 

between 1916–1924 and 1965–1966, including to study and consider 

an apology and proposals for the repair of relations and reconciliation 

with the people of the Dominican Republic, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

APRIL 21, 2021 

Mr. ESPAILLAT introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 

Committee on Foreign Affairs 

A BILL 

To establish a commission to address the fundamental repercussions of a misguided intervention, by the United 

States on the Dominican Republic between 1916–1924 

and 1965–1966, including to study and consider an apology and proposals for the repair of relations and reconciliation with the people of the Dominican Republic, 

and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 


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1 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

2 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Commission on United 

3 States Occupations Act’’ or the ‘‘La Comisio ́n de las 

4 ocupaciones norteamericanas Act’’. 

5 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

6 Congress finds the following: 

7 (1) The United States established diplomatic 

8 relations with the Dominican Republic in 1884 fol9 lowing its independence. Ever since, the country has 

10 witnessed periods of dictatorship, austerity, interven11 tions, and political insurrection, along with an in12 creasing national debt that led to two occupations by 

13 the United States in the Dominican Republic. 

14 (2) After the Civil War, much of America’s at15 tention turned to rebuilding itself during the Recon16 struction Era. For various years, the United States 

17 Navy had wanted a naval base in the Caribbean to 

18 conduct its naval operations. The Dominican Repub19 lic had a suitable bay (the Samana ́ Bay). In 1869, 

20 President Ulysses S. Grant attempted the annex21 ation of Santo Domingo with the promise of even22 tual statehood. The annexation treaty failed to reach 

23 the two-thirds vote needed (the vote was a tie) in the 

24 Senate, falling one vote short and thus preventing 

25 the Dominican Republic from becoming a United 

26 States Territory. 


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1 (3) By 1916, the national debt had swollen to 

2 well over $30 million, and the United States Govern3 ment stepped in to control the various custom 

4 houses in the major ports. 

5 (4) On May 13, 1916, a contingent of the 

6 United States Marine Corps landed and within two 

7 months took control of the nation, imposing a mili8 tary government under the command of Rear Admi9 ral Harry Shepard Knapp, which resulted in eight 

10 years of strong United States military presence and 

11 of great resentment from Dominican nationals who 

12 lost their sovereignty at the hands of United States 

13 forces. 

14 (5) Upon withdrawal in 1924, by orders of 

15 President Warren Harding, the United States came 

16 to an agreement with the Dominican Republic which 

17 guaranteed customs duties to continue paying off its 

18 national long-standing debts. In the same year, when 

19 United States forces withdrew, 144 marines were 

20 dead and 50 were injured. The Dominicans suffered 

21 950 casualties between dead and injured. 

22 (6) The occupation sequel had its effect in the 

23 years to come, through the rise in power of Rafael 

24 Leonidas Trujillo. Trujillo, a member of the Na25 tional Guard created in the early 1919 by the 


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1 United States, and despite being a person of ques2 tionable moral character, received support from the 

3 United States Government. During his 31 years of 

4 dictatorship, Trujillo ruled the Dominican Republic 

5 with an iron fist and diverted funds for his army 

6 and to suppress internal dissent. 

7 (7) The second intervention and occupation of 

8 the Dominican Republic by the United States Armed 

9 Forces, called ‘‘Operation Power Pack’’, took place 

10 between 1965–1966, after a period of political insta11 bility and military coup following the assassination 

12 of dictator Rafael Leonidas Trujillo in 1961. 

13 (8) In 1962, Juan Bosch became the first elect14 ed president of the Dominican Republic, after 31 

15 years of tyranny. Bosch tried to establish a demo16 cratic, secular constitution, but on September 25, 

17 1963, a military coup overthrew Bosch and replaced 

18 him with a junta led by Donald Reid Cabral. 

19 (9) President Lyndon Johnson sent a total of 

20 42,000 American troops, supplemented by an Inter21 American Peace Force (2,000 troops) to the island 

22 to support ‘‘La Junta’’ led by Donald Reid Cabral. 

23 Shortly after the 1965 Civil War or ‘‘La Revolucio ́n 

24 del 65’’, questionable elections were held, and these 


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1 resulted in the election of Joaquin Balaguer to the 

2 Presidency of the Dominican Republic. 

3 (10) Balaguer, a previous member of the Tru4 jillo-led government, ruled the Dominican Republic 

5 for the following 12 years. This period was charac6 terized by turmoil, alleged disappearances, and 

7 deaths of hundreds of young political men and social 

8 activists. 

9 (11) The injustice that flourished in the Domin10 ican Republic during this era constituted an immoral 

11 and tyrannic regime, depriving its citizens from a 

12 free and sovereign government for 12 more years. 

13 (12) Upon withdrawal in 1966 when United 

14 States forces withdrew, the United States suffered 

15 239 casualties, with 27 killed in action, 189 wound16 ed in action, and 21 noncombat deaths. The Domini17 can Republic suffered over 7,000 (civilians and 

18 Armed Forces) casualties, with 4,275 killed in action 

19 and 3,000 wounded 

20 (13) Approximately 5,225 Dominicans and 192 

21 Americans lost their lives during the United States 

22 occupations of the Dominican Republic. During 

23 these occupations and interventions 239 Americans 

24 and over 3,000 Dominicans were injured. 


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1 SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT AND DUTIES. 

2 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established the Com3 mission to Study and Develop Reconciliation Proposals for 

4 Dominican Republic (in this Act referred to as the ‘‘Com5 mission’’). 

6 (b) DUTIES.—The Commission shall perform the fol7 lowing duties: 

8 (1) Identifying, documenting, examining, com9 piling, and synthesizing the relevant corpus of evi10 dentiary documentation relating to the United 

11 States interest to incorporate the Dominican Repub12 lic as United States territory in 1869 in the ‘‘Annex13 ation for Santo Domingo Treaty’’. 

14 (2) Identifying, documenting, examining, com15 piling, and synthesizing the relevant corpus of evi16 dentiary documentation relating to the United 

17 States military occupations in the Dominican Repub18 lic between 1916–1924, including facts related to 

19 the following: 

20 (A) United States involvement in the Do21 minican Republic’s affairs, and its financial and 

22 military support to the Trujillo dictatorship. 

23 (B) The treatment of the Dominican peo24 ple under the Trujillo dictatorship, including 

25 violent repression of basic rights and freedoms, 

26 with the tacit support of the United States. 


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1 (C) The lingering negative effects of dicta2 torship and the matters described in subpara3 graphs (A) and (B) on current Dominican Re4 public citizens and society. 

5 (3) Identifying, documenting, examining, com6 piling, and synthesizing the relevant corpus of evi7 dentiary documentation relating to the United 

8 States military occupations in the Dominican Repub9 lic between 1965–1966, including facts related to 

10 the lingering negative effects of Balaguer’s 12 years 

11 in power on current Dominican Republic citizens 

12 and society. 

13 (4) Identifying, documenting, examining, and 

14 compiling an accurate number of casualties, includ15 ing deaths and injuries during all United States oc16 cupations and interventions in the Dominican Re17 public. 

18 (5) Identifying, documenting, examining, and 

19 compiling accurate cost of damage or destruction of 

20 private property during all United States occupa21 tions and interventions in the Dominican Republic. 

22 (6) Recommending appropriate ways to educate 

23 the United States public of the Commission’s find24 ings. 


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1 (7) Recommending appropriate remedies in con2 sideration of the Commission’s findings on the mat3 ters described in subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) of 

4 paragraph (2). In making such recommendations, 

5 the Commission shall address among other issues, 

6 the following questions: 

7 (A) How such recommendations comport 

8 with international standards of remedy for 

9 wrongs and injuries caused by the United 

10 States Government, including repair and rec11 onciliation efforts, as understood by various rel12 evant international protocols, laws, and find13 ings. 

14 (B) How the United States Government 

15 may offer a formal apology on behalf of the 

16 people of the United States for the invasions 

17 and occupations of the Dominican Republic. 

18 (C) How the repercussions resulting from 

19 matters described in subparagraphs (A), (B), 

20 and (C) of paragraph (2) may be reversed and 

21 provide appropriate policies, programs, projects, 

22 and recommendations for the purpose of revers23 ing the effects of the invasions and occupations. 

24 (D) How the role played by the Organiza25 tion of American States (OAS) during the 


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1 1965–66 United States Occupation in the Do2 minican Republic to legitimize the North Amer3 ican Intervention of April 28, 1965, may have 

4 had tremendous repercussions on current Do5 minican Republic citizens and society. 

6 (E) How the OAS settled a ‘‘historic griev7 ance’’ with the Dominican Republic when its 

8 member nations voted to publicly apologize for 

9 approving the military occupation of the coun10 try during the Revolution of April 1965. 

11 (c) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 24 

12 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 

13 Commission shall submit to Congress a written report of 

14 its findings and recommendations under this section. 

15 (d) MEMBERSHIP.— 

16 (1) IN GENERAL.— 

17 (A) STATED MEMBERS.—The following 

18 shall be members of the Commission: 

19 (i) The Under Secretary for Western 

20 Hemisphere Affairs of the Department of 

21 State. 

22 (ii) The United States Ambassador to 

23 the Dominican Republic. 

24 (B) APPOINTED MEMBERS.— 


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1 (i) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 

2 days after the date of the enactment of 

3 this Act, the following shall be members of 

4 the Commission, appointed as follows: 

5 (I) One member shall be ap6 pointed by the President of the 

7 United States. 

8 (II) Two members shall be ap9 pointed by the Speaker of the House 

10 of Representatives, in consultation 

11 with the minority leader. 

12 (III) Two members shall be ap13 pointed by the majority leader of the 

14 Senate, in consultation with the mi15 nority leader. 

16 (ii) UNDER INTERNATIONAL CO17 OPERATION.—The President shall seek to 

18 negotiate with the Dominican Republic to 

19 seek, to the extent practicable, the fol20 lowing as members of the Commission: 

21 (I) The Dominican Republic Am22 bassador to the United States. 

23 (II) The Ambassador permanent 

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1 public to the Organization of Amer2 ican States (OAS). 

3 (2) QUALIFICATIONS.—All members of the 

4 Commission shall be persons who are especially 

5 qualified to serve on the Commission by virtue of 

6 their education, training, activism, or experience, 

7 particularly in the fields of Dominican Republic rela8 tions or reparatory justice. 

9 (3) TERMS.—The term of office for members 

10 shall be for the life of the Commission. A vacancy 

11 in the Commission shall not affect the powers of the 

12 Commission and shall be filled in the same manner 

13 in which the original appointment was made. 

14 (4) MEETINGS.—The Commission shall conduct 

15 its initial meeting not later than 120 days after the 

16 date of the enactment of this Act. The Commission 

17 shall establish rules of procedure at such meeting. 

18 All meetings of the Commission shall be public. The 

19 Commission should meet not less often than once a 

20 month, including virtual meetings by either the en21 tire Commission or any member thereof. 

22 (5) QUORUM.—Seven members of the Commis23 sion shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser number 

24 may hold hearings. 


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1 (6) CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR.—The Commission 

2 shall elect a Chair and Vice Chair from among its 

3 members. The term of office of each shall be for the 

4 life of the Commission. 

5 (7) COMPENSATION.—Each member of the 

6 Commission who is not an officer or employee of the 

7 Federal Government shall be compensated at a rate 

8 equal to the daily equivalent of the annual rate of 

9 basic pay prescribed for level IV of the Executive 

10 Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United 

11 States Code, for each day (including travel time) 

12 during which such member is engaged in the per13 formance of the duties of the Commission. All mem14 bers of the Commission who are officers or employ15 ees of the United States shall serve without com16 pensation in addition to that received for their serv17 ices as officers or employees of the United States. 

18 (8) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—The members of the 

19 Commission shall be allowed travel expenses, includ20 ing per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates author21 ized for employees of agencies under subchapter I of 

22 chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, while 

23 away from their homes or regular places of business 

24 in the performance of the duties of the Commission. 

25 (e) POWERS OF THE COMMISSION.— 


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1 (1) HEARINGS AND SESSIONS.—The Commis2 sion may, for the purpose of carrying out the provi3 sions of this section, hold such hearings and sit and 

4 act at such times and at such places in the United 

5 States, and request the attendance and testimony of 

6 such witnesses and the production of such books, 

7 records, correspondence, memoranda, papers, and 

8 documents, as the Commission considers appro9 priate. The Commission may invoke the aid of an 

10 appropriate United States district court to require, 

11 by subpoena or otherwise, such attendance, testi12 mony, or production. 

13 (2) POWERS OF MEMBERS.—Any member of 

14 the Commission may, if authorized by the Commis15 sion, take any action which the Commission is au16 thorized to take by this subsection. 

17 (3) OBTAINING OFFICIAL DATA.—The Commis18 sion may acquire directly from the head of any de19 partment, agency, or instrumentality of the executive 

20 branch of the United States Government, available 

21 information which the Commission considers useful 

22 in the discharge of its duties. All departments, agen23 cies, and instrumentalities of the executive branch of 

24 the United States Government shall cooperate with 

25 the Commission with respect to such information 


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1 and shall furnish all information requested by the 

2 Commission to the extent permitted by law. 

3 (f) TERMINATION.—The Commission shall terminate 

4 90 days after the date on which the Commission submits 

5 its report to the Congress under subsection (c). 

6 (g) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 

7 (1) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be 

8 appropriated $10,000,000 to carry out this section. 

9 (2) AVAILABILITY.—Amounts appropriated pur10 suant to the authorization under paragraph (1) are 

11 authorized to remain available until the termination 

12 of the Commission in accordance with subsection (f). 

Æ 


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