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 DIAZ- 
BALART of Florida, Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida, Mr. BILI-
RAKIS, 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 nation- 
wide, including the presidency and all 128 seats in the 
National Congress in Honduras are scheduled for Novem-
ber 29, 2009; 
Whereas primary elections were held on November 30, 2008, 
to select candidates for all parties and for all offices, in-
cluding 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 dis-
charge 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 con-
stituent 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 Pub-
lic Prosecutor publicly stated that the proposed ref-
erendum 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 referen-
dums from occurring within 180 days of a general elec-
tion; 
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 Chair-
man of the Joint Chiefs of Staff violated the Constitution 
of Honduras; 
Whereas, on June 25, 2009, the Honduran Supreme Elec-
toral 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 Pub-
lic 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 sup-
porters 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 re-
sponse to the situation in Honduras, stated that ‘‘Any ex-
isting 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 indi-
vidual. Rather, it is based on finding a resolution that 
best serves the Honduran people and their democratic as-
pirations.’’; 
Whereas, on September 3, 2009, in addition to other meas-
ures, 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 re-
stored 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 compo-
nent of democracy: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) calls on the Secretary of State to support 
the efforts of the appropriate authorities in Hon-
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