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Pelosi Remarks Ahead of Meeting with Presidents of Guatemala and Honduras

July 24, 2014

Contact: Drew Hammill, 202-226-7616

Washington, D.C. – Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi delivered remarks ahead of a meeting with President of Guatemala Otto Pérez Molina and President of Honduras Juan Orlando Hernández. Below is a transcript of the Leader's remarks:

"Good morning everyone. Today, we are welcoming the presidents of two important countries in our hemisphere: President Peréz Molina of Guatemala and President Hernández of Honduras. House Democrats view the meeting that we will have with these two presidents as very important. Central America is very important to the United States. We are neighbors; we are friends; we have issues to address.

"And that's why it's important for us to hear from the presidents – their perspective, especially on the migration issue which has such an impact now as we address the concerns that the American people have about the children at the border. We are committed to addressing their humanitarian needs; we are committed to due process for them. In order for that to happen, we must pass the President's request – a supplemental bill that contains the priorities in the President's request.

"Central America has long been a focus for me as a Californian. I've visited there many times, mostly on the issue of human rights in our hemisphere. We are very proud in terms of the fact that Latin America and the United States – the entire hemisphere – in some respects, we are all Americans. And again, the cooperation that we can have among our countries is important to all our countries. With that, I'm pleased to welcome, as I said, both of the presidents, but I yield the podium to President Pérez Molina of Guatemala."

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