[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 58 (Tuesday, April 4, 2017)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2404-S2405]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                               Venezuela

  Mr. NELSON. Mr. President, I have already cast my ``no'' vote with 
regard to the judge and will so again whenever we get to final passage, 
but I want to take this opportunity to talk about the chaos that is 
going on in Venezuela.
  As if there weren't already enough chaos, last week Venezuela's 
supreme court stripped its legislative branch of its powers--just 
stripped them of powers. Only because the court had gotten such 
significant criticism did it reverse its decision. Apparently even the 
very shaky President of Venezuela, Maduro, weighed in to get them to 
reverse their decision. Now, isn't that something? This is supposed to 
be a democracy. Yet it is being run as a dictatorship, where even the 
judicial branch goes and does something crazy and the President of the 
country gets up and tells them: You had better reverse yourself; there 
is too much criticism.
  This is the nonsense that is going on in Venezuela. Of course, what 
went on last week further undermines Venezuela's so-called democracy, 
and it is only the latest in President Maduro's creeping dictatorship. 
That is what it is.
  He has repeatedly and violently suppressed protesters and jailed his 
political opponents in violation of any understanding of human rights. 
He has used that same Supreme Court to block members of the National 
Assembly from taking office, and he has used that Supreme Court as a 
rubberstamp to overturn the laws that the National Assembly does that 
he doesn't like. Isn't it a sad state that Venezuela has reached?
  The President has also thwarted opposition efforts to recall him, 
President Maduro, in a national referendum. In so doing, he was able to 
appoint a Vice President with ties to Hezbollah, and now a Vice 
President it appears that he has sanctioned for drug trafficking.
  Meanwhile, the poor Venezuelan people suffer the consequences of the 
political, humanitarian, and economic

[[Page S2405]]

crisis. Venezuelans are dying because of severe shortages of food and 
medicine and other products. The economy is in freefall, and crime and 
corruption are rampant.
  Last year, 18,000 Venezuelans sought asylum in the United States--
more than any other nationality. The United States stands clearly on 
the side of the Venezuelan people in calling on President Maduro to 
cease undermining democracy, release all political prisoners, respect 
the rule of law, and respect human rights.
  There obviously is no sign that he is going to be doing this. What 
should we do? First of all, we ought to get our Secretary of State to 
work with the international community, including the Organization of 
American States, to help resolve this crisis and alleviate the 
suffering of the Venezuelan people.
  That is the first order of business, to try to eliminate the 
suffering of people. It is all so true; whenever a dictator takes 
control, as has happened in Venezuela, it is the people who suffer 
first.
  Additionally, I am suggesting and I am calling on the administration 
to fully enforce and, where appropriate, expand the sanctions on those 
responsible for continued violence and human rights violations that are 
perpetrated against the people.
  It is very interesting. A lot of these so-called big guys in 
Venezuela love to travel. They love to have bank accounts. They love to 
come to Miami. They love to have U.S. bank accounts. Let's slap some 
severe economic sanctions on these guys. The situation is increasingly 
dire, and we must stand with the Venezuelan people in their struggle 
for democracy and human rights.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. NELSON. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.