IV 
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 426 
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States 
should continue to engage with and support the people and governments 
of El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras in order to improve security 
and prosperity and address the root causes of migration to the United 
States. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 4, 2019 
Mr. SIRES (for himself and Mr. YOHO) submitted the following resolution; 
which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs 
RESOLUTION 
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that 
the United States should continue to engage with and 
support the people and governments of El Salvador, Gua-
temala, and Honduras in order to improve security and 
prosperity and address the root causes of migration to 
the United States. 
Whereas two-thirds of the population of Honduras and nearly 
60 percent of the population of Guatemala live in pov-
erty, according to the World Bank; 
Whereas El Salvador and Honduras have two of the world’s 
highest murder rates, according to the United Nations 
Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC); 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:27 Jun 05, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HR426.IH
HR426
pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS
•HRES 426 IH 
Whereas the Northern Triangle countries are the primary 
source of irregular migration flows to the United States; 
Whereas in 2014, the conditions in the Northern Triangle 
contributed to a crisis in which the U.S. Border Patrol 
apprehended nearly 52,000 unaccompanied minors at the 
southwest border of the United States, according to the 
Congressional Research Service; 
Whereas, while the United States has been committed to a 
strong foreign assistance program for the Northern Tri-
angle to improve good governance and spur economic de-
velopment, these countries are still experiencing economic 
insecurity, corruption and violence; 
Whereas it remains essential that the United States continues 
to implement development programs in the region; 
Whereas promoting security, the rule of law, and economic 
prosperity in this region is a long-term goal, and to suc-
cessfully allocate aid to these countries, the United States 
should continue to assist, and should work to maintain 
effectiveness of its foreign development assistance pro-
grams, through institutions such as the new United 
States International Development Finance Corporation, 
which was established under the Better Utilization of In-
vestments Leading to Development Act of 2018 or the 
BUILD Act of 2018 (division F of Public Law 115–254); 
Whereas, on March 20, 2019, the Overseas Private Invest-
ment Corporation, which is the predecessor to the United 
States International Development Finance Corporation, 
approved more than $350 million in financing to con-
struct a liquified natural gas power generation facility in 
El Salvador; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:27 Jun 05, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HR426.IH
HR426
pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS
•HRES 426 IH 
Whereas the new power generation facility would become the 
largest thermal power plant in El Salvador and would in-
crease the country’s power generating capacity by 23 per-
cent, helping it meet growing demand and reduce depend-
ence on diesel and heavy fuel oil; 
Whereas the U.S. Strategy for Engagement in Central Amer-
ica constitutes a multi-faceted, bipartisan approach to 
improve governance and security and enhance prosperity 
in the region; 
Whereas United States foreign assistance to governmental 
and non-governmental organizations has enabled the in-
vestigation and prosecution of important corruption 
cases, a reduction in crime in many dangerous neighbor-
hoods of El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras, the sei-
zure of record amounts of illegal drugs, increased employ-
ment opportunities for youth, and the strengthening of 
the agricultural sector in the region; 
Whereas, for example, United States food security and agri-
cultural assistance programs in Guatemala helped create 
more than 78,000 jobs and $160 million in sales from 
2013 to 2017, according to the United States Agency for 
International Development; and 
Whereas targeted United States security assistance in gang- 
controlled neighborhoods contributed to a reduction in 
homicides by more than 50 percent in Rivera Hernandez 
in Honduras, according to the Los Angeles Times, and 
a reduction in homicides by 61 percent in targeted mu-
nicipalities in El Salvador, according to the United States 
Agency for International Development: Now, therefore, 
be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:27 Jun 05, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\HR426.IH
HR426
pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS
•HRES 426 IH 
(1) reaffirms the importance of implementing 
the U.S. Strategy for Engagement in Central Amer-
ica and continuing to support the people and govern-
ments of El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras to 
advance our shared interests; 
(2) believes addressing the root causes of mi-
gration in addition to securing our borders is the 
best way to prevent a migration crisis; and 
(3) urges the Administration to prioritize ad-
dressing root causes of migration, including fighting 
corruption, increasing security, and promoting eco-
nomic growth. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:27 Jun 05, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\HR426.IH
HR426
pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS