Bill Summary
This resolution expresses the belief of the House of Representatives that the President should change the way foreign aid is given to El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. The aim is to address the main reasons why people from those countries are illegally immigrating to the United States. These reasons include gang violence, poverty, and corruption. The resolution highlights statistics on the high number of migrants from these countries at the US border and the high levels of poverty and hunger in the region. It also mentions the role of criminal organizations in trafficking drugs and contributing to violence. The resolution argues that foreign assistance should be directed towards local and regional government entities, private sector organizations, and civil society groups that are working to address these issues. It also expresses concern that the aid given to the central governments of these countries may be misused and that corruption is a major obstacle in addressing the root causes of illegal immigration.
Possible Impacts
1. This legislation could potentially lead to a decrease in illegal immigration from El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras to the United States as it aims to address the main drivers of such immigration, such as gang violence, poverty, and corruption. This could affect people living in those countries who would potentially have fewer reasons to leave their home countries.
2. The redirection of foreign assistance away from the central governments of these countries could impact the power dynamics within those governments and potentially lead to changes in policies and initiatives aimed at addressing the causes of illegal immigration. This could affect people working in or relying on government assistance and services in these countries.
3. The legislation also recognizes the potential for misuse of foreign assistance by central government officials and calls for support of local and regional entities, non-profit organizations, and educational institutions. This could potentially provide opportunities and resources for these organizations to address the driving causes of illegal immigration and improve conditions for people living in these countries.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 18 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. RES. 18
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the President
should redirect and target foreign assistance provided to El Salvador,
Guatemala, and Honduras in a manner that addresses the driving causes
of illegal immigration into the United States from such countries, and
for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 3, 2019
Mr. Burgess submitted the following resolution; which was referred to
the Committee on Foreign Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the President
should redirect and target foreign assistance provided to El Salvador,
Guatemala, and Honduras in a manner that addresses the driving causes
of illegal immigration into the United States from such countries, and
for other purposes.
Whereas gang violence, poverty, and corruption are the main drivers of illegal
immigration from El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras to the United
States;
Whereas in fiscal year 2018, 34 percent of all southwest border apprehensions
were migrants from El Salvador, Guatemala, or Honduras, of which 90
percent are unaccompanied alien children or family units;
Whereas roughly half of Central America's population lives in poverty, including
33 percent of Salvadorans, 59 percent of Guatemalans, and 66 percent of
Hondurans;
Whereas millions of Salvadorans, Guatemalans, and Hondurans face hunger at some
point each year;
Whereas in particular, the indigenous people of Mayan descent in Guatemala are
the most malnourished population in the world with children averaging 6
inches shorter than the global average height for their ages, as
reported by the World Health Organization;
Whereas transnational criminal organizations use Central American countries to
traffic approximately 90 percent of the cocaine bound for the United
States;
Whereas gang-related violence in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras
contributes to the highest homicide rates in the world;
Whereas Salvadorans, Guatemalans, and Hondurans are forced to pay hundreds of
millions of dollars in ``protection taxes'' by gangs and transnational
criminal organizations;
Whereas the United States provided more than $2,600,000,000 in foreign
assistance to Central American countries between fiscal years 2015 and
2018, and Congress has proposed to provide $595,000,000 in such
assistance during fiscal year 2019;
Whereas there exists the potential for foreign assistance from the United States
to be misused by central government officials in El Salvador, Guatemala,
and Honduras in order to reduce the success of anti-corruption efforts;
and
Whereas systemic corruption in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras undermines
efforts to address the driving causes of illegal immigration into the
United States from such countries: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives that
the President should redirect foreign assistance provided to El
Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras away from the central governments of
such countries and instead target such assistance in a manner that
addresses the driving causes of illegal immigration into the United
States from such countries, by supporting local and regional
governmental entities as well as entities in the private sector and
civil society, especially non-profit, faith-based, or non-governmental
organizations and educational institutions, that are addressing such
causes.
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