Removal of the Use of United States Forces for Hostilities Within or Against Venezuela

Floor Speech

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Mr. DELUZIO. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New York for the time.

Mr. Speaker, to respond to the notion of hypocrisy, that we should rely on the Secretary of State's notification when required, we were not notified--the Congress did not receive notification--or asked for authorization before Americans were sent to fight and to bleed in Venezuela.

Seven Americans were wounded in that military operation. There is a functional blockade of Venezuelan oil. As others have pointed out here, Mr. Speaker, an aircraft carrier strike group sits nearby, poised to again send Americans into Venezuela should the President order it.

Let's talk about hypocrisy. In the 118th Congress, this body voted on two War Powers Resolutions to remove Americans from hostilities that had not been authorized by the Congress. In those two votes, 52 Republicans and 47 Republicans, respectively, thought that Congress ought to have a say about our war powers. What has changed? The party of the occupant of the White House. Be consistent, Mr. Speaker.

I support this resolution.

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