[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 44 (Monday, March 16, 2015)]
[House]
[Page H1653]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              THE DEPLORABLE ACTIONS OF THE MADURO REGIME

  (Mr. CURBELO of Florida asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. CURBELO of Florida. Mr. Speaker, the Maduro regime in Venezuela 
has moved to expel opposition leaders from the National Assembly, 
arrested the mayor of Caracas on charges of conspiracy to commit 
violent acts, and has detained opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez for 
treason. The government issued a policy allowing police to use deadly 
force to control protests, which has resulted in the death of a 14-
year-old student on his way to school. Over the weekend, Maduro's 
cronies in the legislature gave him dictatorial powers to more harshly 
crack down on internal dissent. Venezuela is sadly teetering closer 
towards a Cuba-style dictatorship.
  I condemn these acts of repression which are a desperate attempt by 
Maduro and his henchmen to cling to power, despite policy failures that 
have led to shortages of food and medical supplies, long lines at 
shops, and soaring inflation.
  These sanctions announced last week are a long overdue first step to 
holding the Maduro regime accountable for its grotesque disregard for 
human rights. But more must be done to ensure that these thugs answer 
for their crimes.
  I stand in solidarity with the peaceful, democratic Venezuelan 
opposition there and in the U.S. that oppose thuggish rule. They have 
been instrumental in spreading information about Maduro's deplorable 
actions.

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