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 demo-
cratic 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 profes-
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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 bilat-
eral 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 inte-
gral part of the cultural tapestry of the United States; 
Whereas the United States and Guatemala, which have his-
torically 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 Guate-
mala’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 Gua-
temala; 
(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 pri-
vate sector, was inaugurated as president in 2024; 
Whereas, during his first 100 days in office, President 
Are´valo has demonstrated a commitment to further deep-
en Guatemala’s bilateral partnership with the United 
States by— 
(1) reaffirming Guatemala’s commitment to main-
tain shared global policy priorities, including through 
support to mutual democratic partners of Taiwan, 
Ukraine, and Israel; 
(2) demonstrating the political will to address the re-
gional 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 inequi-
ties 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 empow-
ering Guatemala’s National Commission Against Corrup-
tion; 
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 result-
ing 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 Presi-
dent Lai Ching-te: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) commemorates the 175th anniversary of the 
establishment of official diplomatic relations between 
the United States and the Republic of Guatemala; 
(2) celebrates the contributions that Guate-
malans and Guatemalan-Americans have made in 
the United States; 
(3) recognizes the significant contributions 
made by Ambassador Francisco Villagra´n de Leo´n 
to strengthening bilateral relations between the 
United States and Guatemala and preserving Guate-
malan democracy; 
(4) reaffirms the long history of collaboration 
across multiple presidential administrations in Gua-
temala and the United States to collaborate to ad-
dress mutual challenges in our national interests; 
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•HRES 1406 IH 
(5) urges the Government of Guatemala— 
(A) to continue to work to find achievable 
solutions to bring inclusive economic growth, 
address ongoing security challenges, and build 
more accountable and transparent institutions; 
(B) to follow through on its commitments 
to address the legitimate grievances of indige-
nous communities so these communities feel in-
cluded and empowered, and to see tangible 
progress for the indigenous population in Gua-
temala; and 
(C) to ensure fair judicial proceedings for 
all wrongfully targeted journalists and activists, 
including 
Jose 
Ramon 
Zamora, 
Virginia 
Laparra, and Sofia Tot Ac; and 
(6) calls on the United States Government— 
(A) to enhance its efforts to counter eco-
nomic coercion of Guatemala from the People’s 
Republic of China due to Guatemala’s contin-
ued recognition of Taiwan, including through 
enhanced economic partnerships, private sector 
engagement, and foreign assistance; 
(B) to strengthen foreign assistance aimed 
at helping the Government of Guatemala ensure 
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