[House Document 119-124]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



119th Congress, 2d Session - - - - - - - - - - - - House Document 119-124



 
    LETTER INFORMING CONGRESS OF ACTION TAKEN CONSISTENT WITH THE WAR 
                  POWERS RESOLUTION, PUBLIC LAW 93-148

                               __________


                             COMMUNICATION

                                  from

                   THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES 

                              transmitting

NOTIFICATION OF AN INTRODUCTION OF UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES, PURSUANT 
 TO 50 U.S.C. 1543(a)(3); PUBLIC LAW 93-148, SEC. 4(a); (87 STAT. 555)






               [GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]






  January 6, 2026.--Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and 
                         ordered to be printed 
                           
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                  U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE

69-011                    WASHINGTON : 2026                          
                         
                         
                         
                         
                         
                         
                         
                         
                         
                         
                         
                         
                         
                         
                         
                         



                         
                         
                         
                         
                         
                         
                         
                         
                         
                         
                         
                         
                         


                         
                         
                         
                         
                                           The White House,
                                       Washington, January 5, 2026.
Hon. Mike Johnson,
Speaker of the House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Speaker: On January 3, 2026, at my direction, and 
pursuant to a request from the Attorney General of the United 
States, the Armed Forces of the United States conducted 
targeted and limited military strikes within the territory of 
the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. These strikes were in 
furtherance of the successful apprehension, arrest, and 
transfer to the United States of Nicolas Maduro Moros 
(``Maduro''), and Cilia Adela Flores de Maduro (``Flores''), 
who claimed--notwithstanding the clear contrary mandate of the 
Venezuelan people--to be the President and First Lady of that 
country.
    The United States District Court for the Southern District 
of New York had issued arrest warrants for both of these 
individuals based on grand jury indictments for their 
involvement in a wide-ranging conspiracy to conduct 
narcoterrorism and cocaine trafficking. Maduro led the regime-
sponsored enterprise Cartel de los Soles, a designated Foreign 
Terrorist Organization, which coordinates with and relies on 
Tren de Aragua, also a designated Foreign Terrorist 
Organization that commits brutal crimes, including murders, 
kidnappings, extortions, and human, drug, and weapons 
trafficking, and other organizations, all to carry out its 
objective of using illegal narcotics as a weapon to ``flood'' 
the United States. Under his leadership, Venezuela is an ally 
of and haven for Cuba, Iran, Hezbollah, and other malign anti-
U.S. state and non-state actors. Maduro ran a hybrid criminal 
state that has perpetrated an invasion of and predatory 
incursion into the United States, destabilized the Western 
Hemisphere, caused massive death and human suffering, and which 
poses a substantial danger to the United States.
    Maduro unlawfully refused to peacefully cede power after 
Venezuelans voted him out of office in the most recent 
election. Instead, he and Flores employed the full weight of 
the Venezuelan military to protect themselves and the narco-
terrorists with whom they are aligned. And for months, they 
have resided at a heavily fortified and closely guarded 
location beyond the ordinary reach of United States law 
enforcement, protected by combat-equipped armed associates. The 
United States Department of Justice anticipated that Maduro and 
Flores would resist capture by all available means, including 
by resorting to extreme violence. United States military forces 
were therefore necessary to help effectuate their apprehension, 
arrest, and transportation to the United States for criminal 
prosecution.
    The actions of our Armed Forces have been directed by me 
consistent with my responsibility to protect United States 
citizens both at home and abroad; to take care that the laws 
are faithfully executed; to conduct the foreign relations of 
the United States; and in furtherance of United States national 
security and foreign policy interests, pursuant to my 
constitutional authority and as Commander in Chief and Chief 
Executive.
    I am providing this report as part of my efforts to keep 
the Congress fully informed, and consistent with the War Powers 
Resolution (Public Law 93-148). I appreciate the support of the 
Congress in this action.
            Sincerely,
                                                   Donald J. Trump.

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