H.Res. 717

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

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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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