Skip to main content

Diaz-Balart: Congress Reaffirms Solidarity with People of Venezuela

December 10, 2014

WASHINGTON— Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) released the following statement after the House unanimously passed S. 2142, the Venezuela Defense of Human Rights and Civil Society Act of 2014. The bill passed in the Senate earlier this week, is on its way to the President's desk.

"The Venezuelan people continue to suffer through the escalating repression and rampant corruption of the Chavez-Maduro regime. As students and other activists peacefully protest against oppressive acts, food shortages, soaring crime rates, more than 4,000 people have been arrested, 1,000 injured, and dozens killed. The Maduro regime has attempted to silence courageous democracy leaders like the imprisoned opposition leader Leopoldo López and María Corina Machado, who was stripped of her elected position and intimidated with bogus charges.

"The House voted in favor of supporting the Venezuelan people earlier this year with passage of H.R. 4587. Tonight, it continues to show solidarity by again voting in favor of strong sanctions and support of the Venezuelan people. Passage of S. 2142 reveals strong bicameral and bipartisan support for the democratic aspirations of the Venezuelan people, and is a powerful condemnation of the Maduro regime's oppression. I thank Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen and Senators Rubio and Menendez for their leadership and unwavering dedication to human rights and democracy in our hemisphere. I urge President Obama to join in solidarity with the people of Venezuela by signing this critically important legislation."

On May 28, 2014, the House unanimously passed H.R. 4587, the Venezuelan Human Rights and Democracy Protection Act, authored by Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen and sponsored by Congressman Diaz-Balart.