I come to the floor today to celebrate the 175th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Guatemala and the United States. As we mark this milestone, I want to highlight the strength of the U.S.-Guatemala bilateral relationship today. Earlier this year, I led a congressional delegation to Guatemala, and we met with President Bernardo Arevalo. He is a leader who was elected last year by voters who were sick of widespread corruption. He ran by focusing on corruption and insecurity, as well as generating employment and promoting climate change policies. And I was impressed. Prior to serving in elected office, Arevalo worked in Guatemala's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He served as First Secretary and Minister Counselor in Israel in the 1980s and as Ambassador to Spain and Deputy Foreign Minister in the 1990s. For several years, Arevalo was active as a leader in civil society, promoting anticorruption initiatives. The Guatemalan President clearly cares--as do I--about upholding the rule of law, promoting democratic values, and combatting corruption. I believe that Guatemala stands at one of the most pivotal and potentially transformative moments since the end of the 1996 civil war. But the path it takes going forward will largely depend on the extent that President Arevalo is able to govern.…
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