Skip to main content

U.S. House Passes Bill to Impose Sanctions on Venezuelan Dictatorship

May 28, 2014

WASHINGTON, DC— Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) released the following statement after the passage of H.R. 4587, the Venezuelan Human Rights and Democracy Protection Act.

"For the past 15 years, the people of Venezuela have experienced the corruption and brutality of the Chavez-Maduro dictatorship, and within the last 3 months, that has culminated in serious acts of violence and aggression towards students and others. These students and their supporters were peacefully protesting the corruption, food shortages, soaring crime rates, and alarming repression that have worsened during Maduro's rule. In return, they have seen more than 3,000 people arrested, hundreds injured, and more than 40 people killed. It is time to put an end to the oppression, violence, and political intimidation and hold these human rights abusers accountable. Those complicit with egregious acts of human rights violations must be named and shamed, and should face the consequences of their actions.

"With the passage of this bill, the United States House of Representatives is standing in solidarity with the Venezuelan people as they struggle to regain democracy and freedom from the Maduro regime. I urge the Senate to move this bill quickly to the President's desk."