[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 41 (Tuesday, March 11, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H1448-H1449]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                VENEZUELA: A STATE SPONSOR OF TERRORISM

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the order of the House of 
January 4, 2007, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mack) is recognized 
during morning-hour debate for 2 minutes.
  Mr. MACK. Madam Speaker, last week our allies in Colombia struck a 
blow for freedom against the terrorist organization known as the FARC. 
As we all know, the FARC supports its war against our friends in 
Colombia through drug trafficking, kidnappings, and the murder of 
innocent civilians. While Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has been 
vocal in his support of the FARC and his opposition to the United 
States and Colombia, it is now clear that Chavez is increasingly 
intertwined with the FARC and is now giving aid and comfort to 
terrorist organizations.
  During last week's raid in Ecuador, the Colombian authorities 
recovered records that clearly show that Chavez has been giving the 
FARC millions of dollars, weapons, and safe passage in Venezuela. Last 
night, published reports indicate that the Bush administration has 
taken the first steps towards naming Venezuela as a state sponsor of 
terrorism because of its support of terrorist organizations just like 
the FARC.
  I am pleased that the Bush administration has initiated the process 
of including Venezuela on the list with the likes of Iran, Cuba and 
North Korea. Madam Speaker, the time has come to once and for all take 
the steps that will cripple the ability of the Chavez regime to fund 
its terrorist friends and allies. By adding Venezuela to the list of 
official state sponsors of terrorism, we will help do just that. 
Furthermore, Congress must act now on the Colombian Free Trade 
Agreement to promote freedom and prosperity in the region. By passing 
the Colombian Free Trade Agreement, we will show our allies we stand 
with them and against the tyranny of Hugo Chavez.

                                     House of Representatives,

                                    Washington, DC, March 6, 2008.
     Hon. George W. Bush,
     President of the United States, The White House, Washington, 
         DC.
       Dear Mr. President: I am writing to seek your support in 
     standing against Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and his 
     support for terrorist groups in our hemisphere by designating 
     Venezuela a state sponsor of terrorism.
       Last weekend, our allies in Colombia struck a blow for 
     freedom against the internationally-recognized terrorist 
     organization known as the Revolutionary Armed Forces of 
     Colombia (FARC). The FARC supports its war against our 
     friends in Colombia through drug trafficking, kidnappings, 
     and the murder of innocent civilians. And, as you are aware, 
     the FARC has expanded their war in Colombia to specifically 
     target the United States by their holding of three Americans 
     as hostages. The attack last weekend which occurred in 
     Ecuador, about a mile from the Colombia-Ecuador border, 
     killed Raul Reyes who was a leader of the FARC terrorist 
     organization.
       While Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has been quite vocal 
     in his support of the FARC and his opposition to the United 
     States and Colombia, it is now abundantly clear that Mr. 
     Chavez is increasingly intertwined with the FARC and is now 
     giving aid and comfort to international terrorist 
     organizations. During last week's raid in Ecuador, the 
     Colombian authorities recovered several laptop computers and 
     records belonging to Mr. Reyes. Reports indicate that 
     included in those laptops and papers is evidence that Mr. 
     Chavez has given the FARC hundreds of millions of dollars, 
     weapons, and safe passage and haven in Venezuela.
       According to our State Department, ``. . . state sponsors 
     of terrorism provide critical support to non-state terrorist 
     groups. Without state sponsors, terrorist groups would have 
     much more difficulty obtaining the funds, weapons, materials, 
     and secure areas they require to plan and conduct 
     operations.'' While Venezuela previously has been certified 
     by our Secretary of State as ``not fully cooperating'' with 
     our counterterrorism efforts, it is increasingly evident that 
     Venezuela now qualifies to be designated as a ``state sponsor 
     of terrorism.''
       Designating a country that repeatedly provides support for 
     international terrorists, like the FARC, imposes certain 
     United States government sanctions such as a ban on arms-
     related exports and sales and the imposition of economic and 
     financial restrictions. Other countries which have been 
     designated as state sponsors of terrorism and which are good 
     friends of President Chavez include Cuba and Iran.
       As you are aware, President Chavez has repeatedly 
     threatened to cut off shipments of oil to the United States. 
     As I have said to you before, we cannot be held as an 
     economic hostage to the whims of tyrants, thugs, and 
     dictators like President Chavez and his anti-American allies 
     such as Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Designating 
     Venezuela and the Chavez regime as a state sponsor of 
     terrorism would likely mean an end to Venezuelan oil until 
     there is regime

[[Page H1449]]

     change there. However, now is the time for us to stand 
     against President Chavez and for the United States government 
     to firmly protect our nation and our economy against an oil 
     war with Venezuela and its allies. That is why I have called 
     for having proactive policies in place, such as increasing 
     our Strategic Petroleum Reserve. I believe that it is in our 
     national security interest to begin increasing our Strategic 
     Petroleum Reserve in order to replace Venezuela's supply to 
     the United States. By doing this, we will let the markets 
     know that the United States government will protect the 
     American people from those who sponsor terrorism and would 
     use oil as an economic and political weapon against our 
     nation.
       The FARC is despised across Latin America and many 
     Venezuelans are openly denouncing President Chavez for his 
     alliance and open support of a terrorist organization. In 
     President Chavez's effort to take the focus off of his failed 
     domestic policies and his recent loss in the December 
     referendum, Mr. Chavez is increasingly trying to create an 
     international crisis with neighboring Colombia and he is 
     seeking to destabilize all of Latin America. We must 
     recognize this gathering storm and must stop Mr. Chavez in 
     his tracks by designating Venezuela as a state sponsor of 
     terrorism. By taking this prudent step, we will be standing 
     against President Chavez and his menacing alliances and we 
     will be defending the people of the region against a 
     dangerous thug and dictator in Latin America.
       Thank you for your consideration.
           Sincerely,
                                                      Connie Mack,
     Member of Congress.

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