119-hres717

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 717 Introduced in House

    (IH) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
H. RES. 717

 Honoring Juan Lopez, a Honduran Catholic leader and human rights 
advocate murdered in the Tocoa municipality of the Bajo Aguan region of 
 Honduras and commemorating one year since his assassination.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 September 15, 2025

Mrs. Ramirez (for herself, Mr. McGovern, Ms. Schakowsky, Mr. Garcia of 
Illinois, Mr. Casar, and Ms. Omar) submitted the following resolution; 
 which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

 RESOLUTION

 Honoring Juan Lopez, a Honduran Catholic leader and human rights 
advocate murdered in the Tocoa municipality of the Bajo Aguan region of 
 Honduras and commemorating one year since his assassination.

Whereas Juan Lopez was a courageous defender of human rights, a community leader 
 in the department of Colon and Honduras, and an environmental activist;
Whereas Lopez was a spiritual leader to many, a well respected individual within 
 the Catholic Church, and an aide to the bishop of the local Catholic 
 diocese;
Whereas, in 2019, Lopez won the Letelier-Moffitt Human Rights Award;
Whereas Lopez was recognized as ``a well-known and respected environmental 
 defender'' in the Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2024 
 published by the State Department;
Whereas, as a leader of the Comite Municipal de Defensa de los Bienes Comunes y 
 Publicos, Lopez opposed corruption and impunity and defended the land, 
 and the land rights, of the people of the Bajo Aguan region;
Whereas Lopez was a victim of wrongful imprisonment and false prosecution, 
 having spoken out against corrupt government officials of the Tocoa 
 municipality of such region;
Whereas, on September 14, 2024, Lopez was brutally assassinated by two men on a 
 motorcycle, who shot Lopez multiple times as he was leaving a chapel 
 immediately after leading a prayer service;
Whereas Juan Lopez was assassinated days after publicly calling for the 
 resignation of Adan Funez, the mayor of Tocoa, following the publication 
 of a video in which Funez and the brother-in-law of the President of 
 Honduras discussed bribes with Honduran drug traffickers, some of whom 
 have since been extradited and tried in the United States;
Whereas, although three individuals have been charged in connection with the 
 killing of Lopez, no charges have been levied against the masterminds 
 behind the crime;
Whereas preliminary hearings relating to the assassination of Juan Lopez have 
 been postponed multiple times, and the investigation of additional 
 conspirators continues;
Whereas land defenders and environmental activists within the communities of the 
 Guapinol, Tocoa, and other municipalities in the Bajo Aguan region of 
 Honduras, the majority of whom are women, endure recurring threats, 
 attacks, arbitrary arrests, and assassinations;
Whereas, among such defenders and activists, the defenders of the Botaderos 
 Mountain, Carlos Escaleras Mejia National Park in Honduras have been 
 subjected to persistent harassment, criminalization, and assassination;
Whereas 6 other members of the Guapinol water defenders have been assassinated;
Whereas such assassinations and other crimes are intended to intimidate and 
 silence those who oppose the operation of an open-pit iron oxide mine in 
 the Botaderos Mountain and the project commonly referred to as the 
 ``Ecotek Thermoelectric Project'', which threaten the livelihoods of 
 local communities and the environment of such region;
Whereas, despite Honduran prosecutors formally accusing company leaders and 
 local government officials connected to such open-pit iron oxide mine of 
 illegally exploiting resources, abusing authority, and committing 
 ``environmental crimes'' by mining in the national reserve, individuals 
 residing in the area allege the mining has continued;
Whereas, in October 2023, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights issued 
 precautionary measures for Juan Lopez and others, to insist that the 
 Government of Honduras protect individuals who are at severe and urgent 
 risk of irreparable harm to their rights to life and safety;
Whereas the Government of Honduras made insufficient progress in implementing 
 effective protective measures to save the life of Juan Lopez and to 
 protect communities and advocates in the Bajo Aguan region of Honduras; 
 and
Whereas the people of such region should not have to live in fear of powerful 
 companies and corrupt government officials stealing their land, 
 polluting their rivers, and murdering courageous leaders, such as Juan 
 Lopez and Berta Caceres, for peacefully defending the natural resources 
 that are rightfully theirs: Now, therefore, be it
 Resolved, That the House of Representatives--

    (1) honors the life and legacy of Juan Lopez;

    (2) grieves with his family and all those who loved him;

    (3) affirms its support for the establishment of--
        (A) a new commission against corruption and 
 impunity within the Government of Honduras; and
        (B) an international commission to provide 
 technical assistance (including scientific assistance) 
 for the investigation into the criminal masterminds 
 behind the murder of Juan Lopez and related judicial 
 proceedings;

    (4) commends the efforts of the Guapinol water defenders 
 and all those who struggle to protect the land, environment, 
 and communities in the Bajo Aguan region threatened by corrupt 
 interests;

    (5) affirms its commitment to remembering the enduring 
 legacy of Juan Lopez and ensuring the Honduran people can live 
 without fear of powerful companies and corrupt government 
 officials stealing their land, polluting their rivers, and 
 murdering courageous leaders for peacefully defending natural 
 resources; and

    (6) calls on the United States Government to--
        (A) work in solidarity with the people of Honduras 
 to build a more secure, democratic, and prosperous 
 country and expand opportunities for all Hondurans to 
 live safe and fulfilling lives; and
        (B) increase engagement with, and support for, 
 communities in Honduras on the front lines of defending 
 human rights and democracy for all, to ensure their 
 voices and recommendations inform any United States 
 decision or action related to Honduras.
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