Iowa House adopts resolution urging Congress to recognize U.S. troops who served in Honduras

The Iowa House adopted House Resolution 103 on April 1, urging the U.S. Congress to recognize service by U.S. troops who served in Honduras between 1981 and 1992.

The resolution, read on the House floor, recounts that U.S. military personnel trained with Honduran forces throughout the 1980s and "reported experiencing hostile fire and imminent danger," and it says at least one service member received a Purple Heart in 1990. "Now, therefore, the House of Representatives calls upon the United States Congress to support efforts to issue an armed forces expeditionary award or similar recognition," the resolution states as read to the chamber.

Representative Collins moved adoption of the resolution. The Speaker called for the ayes and noes, and, by voice vote, the chamber's presiding officer declared the resolution approved.

Why it matters: The resolution does not itself create federal recognition but signals the Iowa House's support for federal action and seeks to inform the state's congressional delegation. The resolution directs the chief clerk to forward copies to the president, the U.S. Senate and House leadership, and each member of Iowa's congressional delegation.

What was said on the floor: The resolution text details the timeline and conditions of U.S. presence in Honduras in the 1980s and early 1990s and frames those deployments as warranting federal recognition. The text notes combat support activities, allegations of hostile fire, and the awarding of at least one Purple Heart in 1990.

Next steps: The resolution asks state officials to send copies to federal leaders but does not change federal awards policy. There was no debate recorded on the House floor before the voice vote, and no amendments were offered during the session.

The House continued with announcements and recessed for party caucuses after the vote.