Congresswoman Torres Introduces the “Central American Network for Democracy Act” to Support Human Rights in the Region
Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35) today introduced the Central American Network for Democracy Act to fund a State Department fellowship in Central America in support of human rights defenders. The bill would create a regional corps of those whose work has put them most at risk in Central America.
"The United States' relationship with Central America is personal for me. I fled Guatemala as a small child to come to the U.S. and strongly believe we need to support the brave actors in the region that are fighting for a brighter future for their communities and families. The current wave of repression sweeping Central America is deeply disturbing. Anti-corruption, pro-democracy advocates, such as the journalist José Rubén Zamora currently imprisoned in Guatemala, risk their lives and livelihoods for their communities, and they need our support to continue their work. The Central American Network for Democracy Act will support the Central Americans fighting corruption, upholding the rule of law, and defending human rights by building a regional corps to protect those doing this essential work," said Congresswoman Torres.
"As a member of the Appropriations Committee's State and Foreign Operations subcommittee, I have always worked to ensure the U.S. approach to the region is centered around accountability for U.S. funding," continued Rep. Torres. "I thank Western Hemisphere Subcommittee Chair Sires for being an original cosponsor on this bill and hope to see the Central American Network for Democracy Act signed into law swiftly."
In response to democratic backsliding in Central America, Rep. Torres secured five key amendments in the U.S. House of Representatives-passed version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2023. These amendments – if signed into law – will support human rights efforts and democracy across Central America.
Just this week, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report on how equipment provided by the Department of Defense and State Department has been misused in Northern Triangle Countries – El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. The GAO report was the result of an amendment introduced by Congresswoman Torres and included in the NDAA for Fiscal Year 2022.
The full text of the Central American Network for Democracy Act can be found HERE.