Report to Congress Pursuant to the United States-Northern Triangle Enhanced Engagement Act, 1621-1622 [2024-00346]
Download as PDF
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 7 / Wednesday, January 10, 2024 / Notices
C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement on Comments on the
Proposed Rule Change Received From
Members, Participants, or Others
The Exchange neither solicited nor
received comments on the proposed
rule change.
III. Date of Effectiveness of the
Proposed Rule Change and Timing for
Commission Action
The foregoing rule change has become
effective pursuant to Section
19(b)(3)(A)(ii) of the Act 15 and Rule
19b–4(f)(2) 16 thereunder.
At any time within 60 days of the
filing of the proposed rule change, the
Commission summarily may
temporarily suspend such rule change if
it appears to the Commission that such
action is necessary or appropriate in the
public interest, for the protection of
investors, or otherwise in furtherance of
the purposes of the Act. If the
Commission takes such action, the
Commission shall institute proceedings
to determine whether the proposed rule
change should be approved or
disapproved.
IV. Solicitation of Comments
Interested persons are invited to
submit written data, views and
arguments concerning the foregoing,
including whether the proposed rule
change is consistent with the Act.
Comments may be submitted by any of
the following methods:
submission, all subsequent
amendments, all written statements
with respect to the proposed rule
change that are filed with the
Commission, and all written
communications relating to the
proposed rule change between the
Commission and any person, other than
those that may be withheld from the
public in accordance with the
provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be
available for website viewing and
printing in the Commission’s Public
Reference Room, 100 F Street NE,
Washington, DC 20549, on official
business days between the hours of 10
a.m. and 3 p.m. Copies of the filing also
will be available for inspection and
copying at the principal office of the
Exchange. Do not include personal
identifiable information in submissions;
you should submit only information
that you wish to make available
publicly. We may redact in part or
withhold entirely from publication
submitted material that is obscene or
subject to copyright protection. All
submissions should refer to file number
SR–CboeEDGX–2023–082 and should be
submitted on or before January 31, 2024.
For the Commission, by the Division of
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
authority.17
Sherry R. Haywood,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2024–00284 Filed 1–9–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
Electronic Comments
• Use the Commission’s internet
comment form (https://www.sec.gov/
rules/sro.shtml); or
• Send an email to rule-comments@
sec.gov. Please include File Number SR–
CboeEDGX–2023–082 on the subject
line.
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1
Paper Comments
• Send paper comments in triplicate
to Secretary, Securities and Exchange
Commission, 100 F Street NE,
Washington, DC 20549–1090.
All submissions should refer to File
Number SR–CboeEDGX–2023–082. This
file number should be included on the
subject line if email is used. To help the
Commission process and review your
comments more efficiently, please use
only one method. The Commission will
post all comments on the Commission’s
internet website (https://www.sec.gov/
rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the
number of increments away from the national best
bid or offer (‘‘NBBO’’) at the time the order is
received).
15 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(ii).
16 17 CFR 240.19b–4(f)(2).
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:40 Jan 09, 2024
Jkt 262001
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
[Public Notice: 12297]
Report to Congress Pursuant to the
United States—Northern Triangle
Enhanced Engagement Act
ACTION:
Notice of report.
This document provides an
update to the Department of State’s
report to Congress on July 19, 2023,
regarding foreign persons who are
determined to have knowingly engaged
in actions that undermine democratic
processes or institutions, significant
corruption, or obstruction of
investigation into such acts of
corruption in El Salvador, Guatemala,
and Honduras pursuant to the United
States—Northern Triangle Enhanced
Engagement Act, as amended.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Report to
Congress on Foreign Persons who have
Knowingly Engaged in Actions that
Undermine Democratic Processes or
Institutions, or in Significant
SUMMARY:
17 17
PO 00000
CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
Frm 00113
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
1621
Corruption, or in Obstruction of
Investigations into Such Acts of
Corruption, in El Salvador, Guatemala,
Honduras, and Nicaragua Pursuant to
Section 353(b) of the Department of
State, Foreign Operations, and Related
Programs Appropriations Act, 2021
(Div. FF, Pub. L. 116–260, as
amended) (Section 353)
Consistent with section 353(b) of the
United States—Northern Triangle
Enhanced Engagement Act (Div. FF,
Pub. L. 116–260) (the Act), as amended,
this report is being submitted to the
House Foreign Affairs Committee,
Senate Foreign Relations Committee,
House Committee on the Judiciary, and
the Senate Committee on the Judiciary.
This document provides an update to
the Department of State’s report to
Congress on July 19, 2023. Section
353(b) requires the submission of a
report that identifies the following
persons in El Salvador, Guatemala,
Honduras, and Nicaragua: foreign
persons who the President has
determined have knowingly engaged (1)
in actions that undermine democratic
processes or institutions; (2) in
significant corruption; and (3) in
obstruction of investigations into such
acts of corruption, including the
following: corruption related to
government contracts; bribery and
extortion; the facilitation or transfer of
the proceeds of corruption, including
through money laundering; and acts of
violence, harassment, or intimidation
directed at governmental and
nongovernmental corruption
investigators. On November 10, 2021,
the President signed the Reinforcing
Nicaragua’s Adherence to Conditions for
Electoral Reform (RENACER) Act,
adding Nicaragua to the countries
within the scope of Section 353. On
June 21, 2021, the President delegated
his authority under section 353 to the
Secretary of State.
Under section 353, foreign persons
identified in the report submitted to
Congress are generally ineligible for
visas and admission to the United States
and any current visa shall be revoked
and any other valid visa or entry
documentation cancelled. Consistent
with section 353(g), this report will be
published in the Federal Register.
This report includes individuals who
the Secretary has determined have
engaged in the relevant activity based
upon credible information. The
Department will continue to review the
individuals listed in the report and
consider all available tools to deter and
disrupt corrupt and undemocratic
activity in El Salvador, Guatemala,
Honduras, and Nicaragua. The
Department also continues to actively
E:\FR\FM\10JAN1.SGM
10JAN1
1622
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 7 / Wednesday, January 10, 2024 / Notices
review additional credible information
and allegations concerning corruption
or undemocratic activity and to utilize
all applicable authorities, as
appropriate, to ensure corrupt or
undemocratic officials are denied safe
haven in the United States.
El Salvador
Ricardo Gomez, President
Commissioner of the Institute for Access
to Public Information, undermined
democratic processes or institutions by
purposefully and wrongfully blocking
access to public information through his
position as President Commissioner at
the Institute for Access to Public
Information.
Gerardo Guerrero, commissioner of
the Institute for Access to Public
Information, undermined democratic
processes or institutions by
purposefully and wrongfully blocking
access to public information through his
position as a Commissioner at the
Institute for Access to Public
Information.
Andre´s Gre´gori Rodrı´guez,
commissioner of the Institute for Access
to Public Information, undermined
democratic processes or institutions by
purposefully and wrongfully blocking
access to public information through his
position as a Commissioner at the
Institute for Access to Public
Information.
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1
Honduras
Ricardo Arturo Salgado Bonilla,
Current Minister of Strategic Planning,
undermined democratic processes or
institutions by directing the LIBRE
party’s coordinated efforts through party
loyalist groups (‘‘colectivos’’) to
suppress dissent by violently
intimidating opposition legislators
calling for a legislative session on
October 31, 2023.
Mohammad Yusuf Amdani Bai, a
private businessman, engaged in
significant corruption by bribing
Honduran Supreme Court officials to
rule in favor of his business in a private
lawsuit.
Cristian Adolfo Sa´nchez, engaged in
significant corruption by participating
in a scheme that defrauded the
Honduran government of more than
$300,000, and colluded with Ministry of
Health officials to improperly award
government contracts.
Guatemala
Leonor Eugenia Morales Lazo, current
prosecutor, undermined democratic
processes or institutions by leading a
politically-motivated investigation to
cast doubt on certified election results
to disrupt the presidential transition.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:40 Jan 09, 2024
Jkt 262001
Noe Nehemı´as Rivera Vasquez,
current prosecutor, undermined
democratic processes or institutions by
bringing politically motivated charges
against justice actors fighting corruption
and impunity.
Pedro Otto Hernandez Gonzalez,
current prosecutor, undermined
democratic processes or institutions by
participating in a politically-motivated
investigation to cast doubt on certified
election results to disrupt the
presidential transition.
Silvia Patricia Valdes Quezada, a
former Supreme Court of Justice
magistrate, undermined democratic
processes or institutions by
participating in the ‘‘Parallel
Commissions’’ scheme to stack the
Supreme Court and Appellate Courts
with corrupt judges.
Nicaragua
Gloria Maria Saavedra Corrales, Judge
in the Tenth Criminal District Court of
Hearings of Managua, undermined
democratic processes or institutions by
using her position and authority within
the Nicaraguan judicial system to
knowingly facilitate a coordinated
campaign to suppress dissent by
confiscating property from the Jesuit
Central American University without a
legal basis, in order to install a regimefriendly administration.
Maribel del Socorro Duriez Gonza´lez,
President of Nicaragua’s National
Council for Evaluation and
Accreditation (CNEA), undermined
democratic processes or institutions by
taking part in a coordinated campaign to
suppress dissent by confiscating
property from the government’s political
opponents, including the Central
American University (UCA) and at least
25 other private Nicaraguan
universities, without a legal basis, in
order to install a regime-friendly
administrations.
Ramona Rodriguez Perez, President of
Nicaragua’s National Council of
Universities (CNU), undermined
democratic processes or institutions by
taking part in a coordinated campaign to
suppress dissent by confiscating
property from the government’s political
opponents, including Central American
University (UCA) and at least 25 other
private Nicaraguan universities, without
a legal basis, in order to install a regimefriendly administrations.
Alejandro Enrique Genet Cruz, Rector
of Casimiro Sotelo University (formerly
Central American University),
undermined democratic processes or
institutions by taking part in a
coordinated campaign to retaliate
against critics of the Ortega-Murillo
regime and to suppress dissent by using
PO 00000
Frm 00114
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
his position to create policies that
punish Casimiro Sotelo University
faculty and students who do not take
part in political activities for Ortega’s
Sandinista National Liberation Front
(FSLN) political party.
Dated: December 20, 2023.
Richard Verma,
Deputy Secretary of State for Management
and Resources.
[FR Doc. 2024–00346 Filed 1–9–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710–29–P
SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD
[Docket No. AB 1311 (Sub-No. 1X)]
Metro-North Commuter Railroad
Company—Abandonment Exemption—
in Dutchess and Putnam Counties,
N.Y.
Metro-North Commuter Railroad
Company (MNR) has filed a verified
notice of exemption under 49 CFR part
1152 subpart F—Exempt Abandonments
to abandon an approximately 41.1-mile
rail line that runs between milepost 0.0
and milepost 71.2, in Dutchess and
Putnam Counties, N.Y. (the Line).1 The
Line traverses U.S. Postal Service Zip
Codes 12508, 12524, 12533, 12582,
12570, 12531, 12563, 10509, and 12564.
MNR has certified that: (1) no local
freight or overhead traffic has moved
over the Line during the past two years;
(2) no formal complaint filed by a user
of rail service on the Line (or by a state
or local government on behalf of such
user) regarding cessation of service over
the Line is pending with either the
Surface Transportation Board (Board) or
any U.S. District Court or has been
decided in favor of a complainant
within the two-year period; and (3) the
requirements at 49 CFR 1152.50(d)(1)
(notice to government agencies) have
been met.
As a condition to this exemption, any
employee adversely affected by the
1 When the Interstate Commerce Commission, the
Board’s predecessor, authorized MNR to acquire the
Line in 1995, it exempted MNR from most of the
provisions of Subtitle IV of Title 49 of the U.S. Code
and authorized MNR to abandon the Line subject
to the future discontinuance of trackage rights then
held by Danbury Terminal Railroad Company.
Metro-N. Commuter R.R.—Exemption—from 49
U.S.C. Subtitle IV., FD 32639 (Sub-No. 1), slip op.
at 1 (STB served Nov. 22, 2023). See also Metro-N.
Commuter R.R.—Acquis. Exemption—the
Maybrook Line, FD 32639 et al., slip op. at 3–4 (ICC
served Jan. 13, 1995). MNR filed a petition seeking
partial revocation of the Subtitle IV exemption to
permit MNR to file for abandonment authority and
ultimately pursue interim trail use/railbanking of a
rail line under the National Trails System Act
(Trails Act), 16 U.S.C. 1247(d), and 49 CFR 1152.29.
Metro-N. Commuter R.R., FD 36239 (Sub-No. 1),
slip op. at 1 (STB served Nov. 22, 2023). The Board
granted that petition on November 22, 2023. Id.
E:\FR\FM\10JAN1.SGM
10JAN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 7 (Wednesday, January 10, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1621-1622]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-00346]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
[Public Notice: 12297]
Report to Congress Pursuant to the United States--Northern
Triangle Enhanced Engagement Act
ACTION: Notice of report.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This document provides an update to the Department of State's
report to Congress on July 19, 2023, regarding foreign persons who are
determined to have knowingly engaged in actions that undermine
democratic processes or institutions, significant corruption, or
obstruction of investigation into such acts of corruption in El
Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras pursuant to the United States--
Northern Triangle Enhanced Engagement Act, as amended.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Report to Congress on Foreign Persons who
have Knowingly Engaged in Actions that Undermine Democratic Processes
or Institutions, or in Significant Corruption, or in Obstruction of
Investigations into Such Acts of Corruption, in El Salvador, Guatemala,
Honduras, and Nicaragua Pursuant to Section 353(b) of the Department of
State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act,
2021
(Div. FF, Pub. L. 116-260, as amended) (Section 353)
Consistent with section 353(b) of the United States--Northern
Triangle Enhanced Engagement Act (Div. FF, Pub. L. 116-260) (the Act),
as amended, this report is being submitted to the House Foreign Affairs
Committee, Senate Foreign Relations Committee, House Committee on the
Judiciary, and the Senate Committee on the Judiciary.
This document provides an update to the Department of State's
report to Congress on July 19, 2023. Section 353(b) requires the
submission of a report that identifies the following persons in El
Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua: foreign persons who the
President has determined have knowingly engaged (1) in actions that
undermine democratic processes or institutions; (2) in significant
corruption; and (3) in obstruction of investigations into such acts of
corruption, including the following: corruption related to government
contracts; bribery and extortion; the facilitation or transfer of the
proceeds of corruption, including through money laundering; and acts of
violence, harassment, or intimidation directed at governmental and
nongovernmental corruption investigators. On November 10, 2021, the
President signed the Reinforcing Nicaragua's Adherence to Conditions
for Electoral Reform (RENACER) Act, adding Nicaragua to the countries
within the scope of Section 353. On June 21, 2021, the President
delegated his authority under section 353 to the Secretary of State.
Under section 353, foreign persons identified in the report
submitted to Congress are generally ineligible for visas and admission
to the United States and any current visa shall be revoked and any
other valid visa or entry documentation cancelled. Consistent with
section 353(g), this report will be published in the Federal Register.
This report includes individuals who the Secretary has determined
have engaged in the relevant activity based upon credible information.
The Department will continue to review the individuals listed in the
report and consider all available tools to deter and disrupt corrupt
and undemocratic activity in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and
Nicaragua. The Department also continues to actively
[[Page 1622]]
review additional credible information and allegations concerning
corruption or undemocratic activity and to utilize all applicable
authorities, as appropriate, to ensure corrupt or undemocratic
officials are denied safe haven in the United States.
El Salvador
Ricardo Gomez, President Commissioner of the Institute for Access
to Public Information, undermined democratic processes or institutions
by purposefully and wrongfully blocking access to public information
through his position as President Commissioner at the Institute for
Access to Public Information.
Gerardo Guerrero, commissioner of the Institute for Access to
Public Information, undermined democratic processes or institutions by
purposefully and wrongfully blocking access to public information
through his position as a Commissioner at the Institute for Access to
Public Information.
Andr[eacute]s Gr[eacute]gori Rodr[iacute]guez, commissioner of the
Institute for Access to Public Information, undermined democratic
processes or institutions by purposefully and wrongfully blocking
access to public information through his position as a Commissioner at
the Institute for Access to Public Information.
Honduras
Ricardo Arturo Salgado Bonilla, Current Minister of Strategic
Planning, undermined democratic processes or institutions by directing
the LIBRE party's coordinated efforts through party loyalist groups
(``colectivos'') to suppress dissent by violently intimidating
opposition legislators calling for a legislative session on October 31,
2023.
Mohammad Yusuf Amdani Bai, a private businessman, engaged in
significant corruption by bribing Honduran Supreme Court officials to
rule in favor of his business in a private lawsuit.
Cristian Adolfo S[aacute]nchez, engaged in significant corruption
by participating in a scheme that defrauded the Honduran government of
more than $300,000, and colluded with Ministry of Health officials to
improperly award government contracts.
Guatemala
Leonor Eugenia Morales Lazo, current prosecutor, undermined
democratic processes or institutions by leading a politically-motivated
investigation to cast doubt on certified election results to disrupt
the presidential transition.
Noe Nehem[iacute]as Rivera Vasquez, current prosecutor, undermined
democratic processes or institutions by bringing politically motivated
charges against justice actors fighting corruption and impunity.
Pedro Otto Hernandez Gonzalez, current prosecutor, undermined
democratic processes or institutions by participating in a politically-
motivated investigation to cast doubt on certified election results to
disrupt the presidential transition.
Silvia Patricia Valdes Quezada, a former Supreme Court of Justice
magistrate, undermined democratic processes or institutions by
participating in the ``Parallel Commissions'' scheme to stack the
Supreme Court and Appellate Courts with corrupt judges.
Nicaragua
Gloria Maria Saavedra Corrales, Judge in the Tenth Criminal
District Court of Hearings of Managua, undermined democratic processes
or institutions by using her position and authority within the
Nicaraguan judicial system to knowingly facilitate a coordinated
campaign to suppress dissent by confiscating property from the Jesuit
Central American University without a legal basis, in order to install
a regime-friendly administration.
Maribel del Socorro Duriez Gonz[aacute]lez, President of
Nicaragua's National Council for Evaluation and Accreditation (CNEA),
undermined democratic processes or institutions by taking part in a
coordinated campaign to suppress dissent by confiscating property from
the government's political opponents, including the Central American
University (UCA) and at least 25 other private Nicaraguan universities,
without a legal basis, in order to install a regime-friendly
administrations.
Ramona Rodriguez Perez, President of Nicaragua's National Council
of Universities (CNU), undermined democratic processes or institutions
by taking part in a coordinated campaign to suppress dissent by
confiscating property from the government's political opponents,
including Central American University (UCA) and at least 25 other
private Nicaraguan universities, without a legal basis, in order to
install a regime-friendly administrations.
Alejandro Enrique Genet Cruz, Rector of Casimiro Sotelo University
(formerly Central American University), undermined democratic processes
or institutions by taking part in a coordinated campaign to retaliate
against critics of the Ortega-Murillo regime and to suppress dissent by
using his position to create policies that punish Casimiro Sotelo
University faculty and students who do not take part in political
activities for Ortega's Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN)
political party.
Dated: December 20, 2023.
Richard Verma,
Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources.
[FR Doc. 2024-00346 Filed 1-9-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-29-P