Wasserman Schultz and Ros-Lehtinen Statement on Introducing Bipartisan Resolution on Venezuelan Crisis

Statement

U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23) and Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (FL-27) issued the following statement today after they introduced H. Res. 851 to address the humanitarian and economic crises in Venezuela.

"As a U.S. Representative with one of the largest communities of Venezuelans and Venezuelan-Americans in the United States, I am appalled by the continued abuses of the Maduro government against its citizens. Maduro has defied the Venezuelan constitution by first attempting to reject the more than 1.8 million signatures on recall referendum petitions and then seeking to directly undermine the National Assembly by removing Democratic Unity Roundtable legislators. He has taken these actions while holding 85 political prisoners, including Leopoldo Lopez and Daniel Ceballos.

"But the effects of Maduro's catastrophic rule don't stop there. Under his watch, Venezuelans have seen an utter lack of basic medical supplies and pharmaceutical drugs; empty food shelves and sky-rocketing prices for essential items; a climate of violence in Caracas that has led to the highest per capita homicide rate in the world; and public officials' involvement in corruption and illegal narcotics trafficking.

"I stand in solidarity with the Venezuelan people as they suffer through this heartbreaking crisis, and am proud to introduce this bipartisan resolution with my South Florida colleague Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen to send a clear message to President Maduro and hiis cronies that oppression, human rights abuse and thwarting democracy is unacceptable and has consequences," said Rep. Wasserman Schultz.

"I am honored to join my Florida congressional colleague Debbie Wasserman Schultz in introducing an important resolution to express our concern over the deteriorating crisis in Venezuela. Under Maduro's Venezuela we are experiencing unjust detainments of Venezuelan political prisoners and U.S. citizens, the lack of food and basic medical needs in the country, violations of human rights, and stalling of the recall referendum for this year. This bipartisan resolution sends a strong message to the people of Venezuela that we stand with them in solidarity as they struggle for their democracy under Maduro's oppressive policies," said Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen.

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