[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 124 (Tuesday, July 23, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H7211-H7215]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
VENEZUELA TPS ACT OF 2019
Ms. MUCARSEL-POWELL. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (H.R. 549) to designate Venezuela under section 244 of
the Immigration and Nationality Act to permit nationals of Venezuela to
be eligible for temporary protected status under such section, and for
other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 549
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Venezuela TPS Act of 2019''.
SEC. 2. DESIGNATION FOR PURPOSES OF GRANTING TEMPORARY
PROTECTED STATUS.
(a) Designation.--
(1) In general.--For purposes of section 244 of the
Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1254a), Venezuela
shall be treated as if it had been designated under
subsection (b)(1)(C) of that section, subject to the
provisions of this section.
(2) Period of designation.--The initial period of the
designation referred to in paragraph (1) shall be for the 18-
month period beginning on the date of the enactment of this
Act.
(b) Aliens Eligible.--As a result of the designation made
under subsection (a), an alien who is a national of Venezuela
is deemed to satisfy the requirements under paragraph (1) of
section 244(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8
U.S.C. 1254a(c)), subject to paragraph (3) of such section,
if the alien--
(1) has been continuously physically present in the United
States since the date of the enactment of this Act;
(2) is admissible as an immigrant, except as otherwise
provided in paragraph (2)(A) of such section, and is not
ineligible for temporary protected status under paragraph
(2)(B) of such section; and
(3) registers for temporary protected status in a manner
established by the Secretary of Homeland Security.
(c) Consent to Travel Abroad.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Homeland Security shall
give prior consent to travel abroad, in accordance with
section 244(f)(3) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8
U.S.C. 1254a(f)(3)), to an alien who is granted temporary
protected status pursuant to the designation made under
subsection (a) if the alien establishes to the satisfaction
of the Secretary of Homeland Security that emergency and
extenuating circumstances beyond the control of the alien
require the alien to depart for a brief, temporary trip
abroad.
(2) Treatment upon return.--An alien returning to the
United States in accordance with an authorization described
in paragraph (1) shall be treated as any other returning
alien provided temporary protected status under section 244
of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1254a).
(d) Fee.--
(1) In general.--In addition to any other fee authorized by
law, the Secretary of Homeland Security is authorized to
charge and collect a fee of $360 for each application for
temporary protected status under section 244 of the
Immigration and Nationality Act by a person who is only
eligible for such status by reason of subsection (a).
(2) Waiver.--The Secretary of Homeland Security shall
permit aliens to apply for a waiver of any fees associated
with filing an application referred to in paragraph (1).
SEC. 3. DETERMINATION OF BUDGETARY EFFECTS.
The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of
complying with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, shall
be determined by reference to the latest statement titled
``Budgetary Effects of PAYGO Legislation'' for this Act,
submitted for printing in the Congressional Record by the
Chairman of the House Budget Committee, provided that such
statement has been submitted prior to the vote on passage.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from
Florida (Ms. Mucarsel-Powell) and the gentleman from Virginia (Mr.
Cline) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Florida.
General Leave
Ms. MUCARSEL-POWELL. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that
[[Page H7212]]
all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their
remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under
consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from Florida?
There was no objection.
Ms. MUCARSEL-POWELL. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 549, the Venezuela
TPS Act of 2019. This vitally important bill will provide help and
support to those who cannot return to their home country of Venezuela.
Years-long political and economic turmoil in Venezuela has resulted
in the world's fastest growing migration, staggering poverty, and
chronic shortages of medicine. Millions of Venezuelans are
malnourished, and the United Nations estimates that 7 million people
are in need of humanitarian assistance. Four million Venezuelans have
been forced from their home. Most have remained in the region in
neighboring countries, but tens of thousands are here in the United
States seeking refuge. It is long past time to grant temporary
protected status for Venezuelans currently living in the United States.
My district has one of the largest Venezuelan populations in the
Nation, and I understand very well the crisis in Venezuela.
I came to this country from Ecuador when I was 14 years old, having
seen firsthand the damage that authoritarian and corrupt leaders in
South America have caused their countries. I have good friends and
family who are still there suffering in Maracaibo and in Caracas. They
are desperate. I can hear it in their voices every time they update me
on the crisis.
In Miami I have met with reporters who have had to flee their home
because a free press does not exist in Venezuela. Just yesterday, more
rolling blackouts hit the country jeopardizing the lives of hospital
patients and sending the country into pure darkness.
Even if Nicolas Maduro, the leader of this brutal narco-regime, were
to leave today and the legitimate President, Juan Guaido, were to be
sworn in, extraordinary and temporary conditions exist that would
prevent Venezuelans from returning safely. Maduro's regime has plunged
Venezuela into catastrophe.
The poverty rate in Venezuela is soaring, and the nation's health
system is near collapse. Just imagine, nearly one-third of Venezuelan
physicians have fled the country, and an astounding 79 percent of
hospitals are experiencing shortages in supplies to assist the
country's mounting medical needs. This dire situation is only
exacerbated by massive food and water shortages. Malnutrition is
widespread, especially among children and pregnant women. Frequent
nationwide blackouts contribute to the deterioration of already
impoverished communities. This is one of the worst humanitarian crises
that we have seen in the Western Hemisphere.
One thing is clear: we have to help our Venezuelan brothers and
sisters in the United States. These conditions in Venezuela warrant a
designation of TPS, and through H.R. 549, Congress will take this
necessary action.
I commend my colleagues, Representatives Darren Soto and Mario Diaz-
Balart for introducing this bill. I thank Representatives Donna Shalala
and Debbie Wasserman Schultz, and Chairwoman Lofgren of the
Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship and Chairman Nadler of the
Judiciary Committee for their support and hard work in helping move
this bill forward.
Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the Venezuela TPS Act
of 2019, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. CLINE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, we stand in solidarity with the people of Venezuela,
and I share many of the comments of the gentlewoman from Florida, but I
must rise in opposition to H.R. 549.
H.R. 549 statutorily designates Venezuela for inclusion in the broken
program known as Temporary Protective Status. Pursuant to the
Immigration and Nationality Act, the Secretary of DHS can designate a
country for TPS if there are circumstances that would prevent the safe
return of aliens to that country or if a country is temporarily unable
to adequately handle the return of its nationals.
When DHS does so, nationals of the designated country who are inside
the United States on the date of the designation, whether legally or
illegally, may apply to stay here and receive employment authorization.
DHS has estimated there are 270,000 such Venezuelan nationals currently
in the United States, over 100,000 of whom are here illegally.
TPS is usually initially designated for a period of 18 months and
then redesignated in 18-month increments after the Secretary reviews
the conditions in the country to determine whether the conditions for
the initial TPS designation continue. If the Secretary determines the
country no longer meets the conditions for the TPS designation, the
Secretary is required by law to terminate the designation. There are
currently over 415,000 TPS recipients from 10 different countries in
the United States.
Despite the fact Congress intended TPS to be a temporary protection,
over time it has become a permanent, automatically renewed status with
some countries being designated for TPS for decades.
For instance, Honduras was initially designated for TPS back in 1999
due to Hurricane Mitch which struck the country in October of 1998.
Somalia was initially designated in September of 1991 based on armed
conflict.
The current administration applied the law under section 244 of the
INA regarding mandatory termination of TPS designation if the
conditions no longer exist, and terminated TPS for Sudan, Nicaragua,
Haiti, and El Salvador. The DHS Secretary gave those populations at
least 12 months to wind down and prepare for departure, but a lawsuit
was filed, and activist Federal courts issued an injunction.
I oppose H.R. 549, but do not do so lightly. There is no doubt that
the people of Venezuela are suffering. They are in a dire situation as
a result of the socialist policies of long-time President Hugo Chavez
and his successor Nicolas Maduro.
{time} 1745
But I hold out hope for a regime change in Venezuela, and I know the
administration is watching this situation closely.
If Congress is, nevertheless, inclined to statutorily designate
Venezuela for TPS, we should not do so without reforming the process to
ensure renewal is not a rubber stamp; otherwise, we risk being in the
same position we are currently in regarding other TPS designations. No
other administration will terminate it, and 25 years from now, Members
of Congress will call for green cards for Venezuelans here on TPS.
Another concern is two Federal circuits, the sixth and the ninth,
have held the mere grant of TPS is an admission for purposes of the
Immigration and Nationality Act. The effect of those rulings is that
TPS holders who were meant to be here temporarily can now get a green
card pursuant to family or employment-based petition even if they
entered the country illegally. Also problematic is the fact that the
fee for a TPS application is statutorily capped at $50.
Last week, the Immigration and Citizenship Subcommittee held a
hearing regarding the long wait times for processing immigration
benefits applications. Large volume is the biggest driver of longer
processing times, but there is also not enough money to hire additional
staff. Since it is a fee-funded agency, U.S. Citizenship and
Immigration Services should be allowed to set the fee commensurate with
the cost of application adjudication, which is obviously more than the
mere $50.
Lastly, I must point out the glaring hypocrisy of designating a
country for temporary protective status after the majority recently
passed H.R. 6, which created a green card path for 417,000 aliens in
the country on temporary protected status. If the majority had its way,
Congress would amend the INA to remove the word ``temporary'' from the
TPS statute and just start handing over green cards immediately.
Madam Speaker, I oppose H.R. 549. I urge my colleagues to do the
same, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. MUCARSEL-POWELL. Madam Speaker, I appreciate the concerns Mr.
[[Page H7213]]
Cline has brought up, but I would like to remind him that the
Immigration and Nationality Act and this bill provide the authority to
terminate TPS for Venezuelans, and Venezuelans, right now, are clearly
eligible.
TPS was created specifically for the situations that we are seeing.
TPS was created to address situations where extraordinary and temporary
conditions in a country prevent its nationals from returning safely.
Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr.
Soto), my colleague.
Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Florida.
In 2016, Olyn Itriago escaped the evil Maduro tyranny in Venezuela.
She received death threats, including a failed attempt on her life. Her
brother, however, was captured and tortured by the Venezuelan National
Guard. The crime? Supporting the opposition party.
Olyn is now one of my constituents in Orlando, with her daughters and
her husband. She is active with our local groups, advocating for
freedom in Venezuela. She holds on to hope of returning home one day
soon.
Another one of my newest constituents, Selene Vargas, was diagnosed
with cancer in 2017. Due to the shortages of medicine, food, and lack
of functioning quality hospitals in Venezuela, all caused by Nicolas
Maduro's destruction of the economy, she moved to Orlando to continue
her cancer treatment. Selene hopes to beat cancer, return to Venezuela,
and see her family again.
Like Olyn and Selene, hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans in the
United States fear for their lives. They ask for our compassion until
the horror ends. Our bipartisan Venezuela TPS Act would protect all
eligible Venezuelan nationals from deportation. It allows them to
contribute to our American economy, all while they continue to work to
fix Venezuela.
The world is now witness to the ruthless oppression, starvation, and
human rights abuses of Maduro's rule. The administration has been a
loud voice condemning Maduro.
Vice President Mike Pence said, during a visit to Florida recently,
that the White House is discussing TPS. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo
also mentioned TPS protections could be decided ``in the near future.''
Today, the House has a chance to fulfill those promises. Senators
Marco Rubio and Bob Menendez are leading this bipartisan effort in the
Senate as well.
Granting Venezuelans TPS is one of the most bipartisan immigration
acts each of us as a Member of Congress can take right now. I plead
with Members on both sides of the aisle to take this opportunity to
come together to do the right thing.
It is our moral responsibility to support these brave Venezuelans and
their families who are already citizens here in the United States. This
is the next step to helping the people and to restoring freedom and the
rule of law in Venezuela.
Madam Speaker, I urge all my colleagues in the House to vote for the
bill.
``For a free Venezuela,'' ``Por una Venezuela libre.''
Mr. CLINE. Madam Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from
Florida (Mr. Diaz-Balart).
Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Madam Speaker, I first commend my colleague from
central Florida (Mr. Soto), for his leadership and his perseverance.
I want to also thank my colleagues from south Florida, many of whom
are here today in support of this important piece of legislation.
Look, I know that there are concerns about an immigration system that
is absolutely broken in this country, and it is. I know that there are
concerns about even the TPS system. I get that. But we have to take a
step back.
What we are dealing with here is a very specific, unique situation,
which is why Congress today will have this opportunity to vote on it.
You know the situation. You have heard the situation about the
humanitarian crisis in Venezuela. Over 3 million people have fled
Venezuela because what was the wealthiest country in South America,
because of the radical socialist policies of the two last
dictatorships, now has become among the poorest, where people don't
have access to any basic issues of--whether it is healthcare or even
food, medicine.
You know all that, but, you see, there is something else: The extreme
repression that is taking place in Venezuela, that is the real reason
people are fleeing. That is the reason that Venezuelans are dying. That
is the reason that the heroes in Venezuela have hit the streets. That
is the reason why this young leader, President Guaido, has come to the
forefront leading these heroic people.
And this administration has recognized that fact. This
administration--and I am so grateful--has applied tough sanctions
against the dictatorship, has shown great solidarity with the people of
Venezuela.
So I ask you, let's not confuse this with all of the issues of
immigration and the broken immigration system. Really, with what is
going on in Venezuela, should we be sending Venezuelans back to that
dictatorship, or could Congress act in a very specific circumstance to
give them the ability to stay here, at least while this dictatorship,
this horrific situation is taking place in Venezuela?
That is what we are dealing with. Not the horrors of complications or
the messed up parts of the immigration system which has got issues,
obviously. It is this very specific issue.
Again, thanking, particularly, my colleague, Mr. Soto, I would just
urge my colleagues in the House to take a step back. These are specific
circumstances dealing with this dictatorship in Venezuela. The
administration has shown solidarity, Congress now has the opportunity
to do the same.
Madam Speaker, I ask for a ``yes'' vote.
Ms. MUCARSEL-POWELL. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the
gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Wasserman Schultz), my colleague.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for
yielding.
Madam Speaker, I rise today to urge the House to pass the Venezuela
TPS Act of 2019, which would grant Venezuelan nationals urgently needed
temporary protective status in the United States of America.
The Maduro regime has perpetrated egregious human rights abuses,
inflicting an economic and humanitarian crisis on the people of
Venezuela. Venezuelans fleeing starvation, violence, and political
persecution have sought refuge in the United States.
My district has the largest Venezuelan population in the U.S. So many
of my south Florida neighbors know the brutality of the Maduro regime
firsthand and fled here seeking safety.
The stories are heartbreaking: children kidnapped from playgrounds;
family members dying of hunger, violence, and lack of medicine;
individuals who were jailed for speaking out against the government;
businesses confiscated.
Extending TPS will ensure Venezuelans are shielded from the imminent
danger of deportation and can obtain work permits.
President Trump has called the Maduro regime a ``nightmare of
poverty, hunger, and death.'' He said in June that he was looking
``very seriously at extending TPS to Venezuela.''
But a recent letter from the USCIS stated the administration is
simply ``monitoring'' the situation in Venezuela, something it has done
for months.
There was no commitment to extend TPS to Venezuela, and in the
meantime, this administration continues to deport Venezuelan nationals,
sending them back to the nightmare of the Maduro regime.
This cannot wait any longer. It is past time we support the
Venezuelan community and recognize the urgency of extending them TPS.
President Trump could grant TPS to Venezuelans today. He doesn't need
congressional action. So amidst his inaction, the House of
Representatives will take action today to protect our neighbors and
friends, because their lives are on the line.
I urge my colleagues to vote for this legislation to ensure that
Venezuelans are granted this essential protection, and I say ``Vive
Venezuela.''
Mr. CLINE. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Florida for
her remarks and for her sharing the concerns of the president for the
socialist regime of Maduro.
[[Page H7214]]
I would note that there are very few detained noncriminal Venezuelans
with removal orders, and there is no mechanism currently in place for
directly removing aliens to Venezuela.
Madam Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentlewoman from Puerto Rico
(Miss Gonzalez-Colon).
Miss GONZALEZ-COLON of Puerto Rico. Madam Speaker, I rise in support
of H.R. 549, the Venezuela TPS Act, introduced by the gentleman from
Florida (Mr. Soto), my friend.
Madam Speaker, I am a proud cosponsor of this bill, essentially
allowing Venezuelan nationals living in the United States to be
eligible for temporary protected status. This status will extend travel
authorization, allow lawful employment, and, ultimately, prevent their
removal from the United States.
The crisis in Venezuela is dire.
In April, I had the opportunity to travel to Colombia with other
Members of Congress to visit a humanitarian aid center on the border
with Venezuela. I saw firsthand the appalling conditions that our Latin
American brothers and sisters are enduring, and believe me, it is worse
than anyone can imagine.
The hunger and the need experienced in the country are unprecedented
and heartbreaking. Over 90 percent of the population is living in
poverty; 7 million people need humanitarian assistance; and diseases
that have been previously eradicated have, unfortunately, returned.
To make matters worse, there is a shortage of 85 percent of necessary
medicines to treat those diseases on the ground, while infant mortality
rates have increased by 30 percent and maternal mortality rates have
increased by an alarming 60 percent.
This is unacceptable, Madam Speaker.
The main obstacle at hand lies in the hands of Nicolas Maduro and his
ruthless dictatorship. He is holding the people of Venezuela hostage,
depriving them of basic human rights.
Additionally, the number of Venezuelans migrating to Puerto Rico has
doubled since the crisis began and can be expected to continue
increasing as long as Maduro remains in power.
I will continue working to move this bill so that Venezuelans can
have a temporary safe haven in our country, where they can live freely.
Madam Speaker, I do understand that the House needs to do something
about this, and I urge my colleagues to do the same and support this
bill.
Ms. MUCARSEL-POWELL. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the
gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Shalala), my colleague.
Ms. SHALALA. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of this
lifesaving bipartisan legislation to designate temporary protective
status for Venezuelans.
Maduro's evil regime has plunged Venezuela into catastrophe. The
once-thriving country is in free fall, with Venezuelans now suffering
from the largest economic, political, and humanitarian crisis in the
entire hemisphere.
Just in 2018, nearly 30,000 Venezuelans applied for asylum in the
United States, becoming the number one country of origin for asylum
claimants.
{time} 1800
Many Venezuelans have come to south Florida, where they have
contributed so much to our diverse community. In my district, there are
approximately 17,000 Venezuelan-born residents.
My constituents cannot safely return. A recent U.N. report detailed
the shocking government abuses, including extrajudicial killings at the
hands of Maduro's death squads.
Simply stated, granting TPS for Venezuelans is the right thing to do.
TPS has bipartisan support in the House and in the Senate. We now
have an opportunity to take real action to support those who have fled
the crisis caused by the illegitimate, inhumane Maduro regime.
Madam Speaker, I thank my Florida colleagues on both sides of the
aisle, as well as our colleague from Puerto Rico (Miss Gonzalez-Colon),
for their work on this important legislation. I strongly urge a ``yes''
vote.
Vive Venezuela.
Mr. CLINE. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for her remarks
against the socialist regime of Maduro as well.
Madam Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Alabama (Mr.
Brooks).
Mr. BROOKS of Alabama. Madam Speaker, let's be clear: Venezuela is
one of the most natural-resources-rich nations on the planet, and for
oil, in the top five in reserves in the world.
The problem with Venezuela is not its people, other than that they
made mistakes in whom they elected. The problem is not the lack of
resources, which should empower those people to be wealthy. Rather, the
problem in Venezuela is the self-inflicted adoption of socialism.
Let's be clear about the economic havoc that is now occurring in
Venezuela. We have starvation. In one recent study, the average adult
over a year's period of time had a weight loss in excess of 20 pounds
because they could not get the calories needed to sustain their body
weight. Riots have resulted.
Inflation a few years ago was over 1,000 percent. Today, we have
estimates that inflation in Venezuela is as high as 10 million percent.
Of course, the currency is worthless and becoming more so.
Venezuela, as a country, has been brought to its knees by the
adoption of socialism. I find it ironic that so many in America now
advocate the suppression of free enterprise and the liberty on which it
is based, and the replacement of free enterprise and liberty with
socialism and the dictatorial nature that is inherent in the adoption
of socialist practices. Venezuela is an excellent example of why
America must never go socialist.
I want to emphasize one thing: While Maduro has been in charge of
Venezuela, Maduro is not the cause of the economic hardship that is now
being faced in Venezuela. Rather, it is the people's adoption of
socialism.
Let's go to H.R. 549 and how it relates to what I have just said.
This bill proposes a tsunami of people coming to our country who are
ill-equipped to support themselves.
Let's put that into the perspective of where we are as a nation. We
just blew through the $22 trillion debt mark earlier this year. This
year, we are looking at a roughly $900 billion deficit.
A deal has been reached that will only increase our deficit by $2
trillion over the next 2 years, pushing our debt up to $22 trillion.
This is money we do not have, have to borrow to get, and can't afford
to pay back.
How does that relate to H.R. 549? Well, let me share some numbers
with you: Sixty percent of households with a lawful immigrant in them
are on welfare, living off the hard work of others. Seventy percent of
illegal alien households are on welfare, living off the hard work of
others here in the United States of America.
Quite frankly, Madam Speaker, the United States of America can no
longer afford to be the world's orphanage for children and adults
alike. We have to get our own house in order, and this legislation
helps to increase that disorder by increasing our deficit and debt,
making it less manageable and further risking debilitating insolvency
and the bankruptcy of a great Nation.
Madam Speaker, I ask for opposing H.R. 549, and that is how I will
vote.
Ms. MUCARSEL-POWELL. Madam Speaker, just a couple of quick responses
to my colleague, Mr. Brooks.
The only thing that I do agree with is, yes, we do have to put our
own house in order. We have an executive in disarray at this moment.
I think that maybe the gentleman is ill-informed. The people of
Venezuela did not elect the narco-regime, the authoritarian,
dictatorial leader who is Nicolas Maduro. They had fraudulent elections
in May 2018.
Please do not insult the people in Venezuela, who are suffering, who
have no food, who have no access to medicine. We have seen the worst
humanitarian crisis in this hemisphere, and it was not because
Venezuelans elected him. Actually, he held fraudulent elections. The
interim, legitimate President is Juan Guaido.
But we are not going to see a tsunami of Venezuelans coming to this
country. This bill applies only and specifically to the Venezuelans who
are already residing in the United States.
Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Florida (Mr.
Deutch), my colleague.
[[Page H7215]]
Mr. DEUTCH. Madam Speaker, I strongly support H.R. 549, the Venezuela
TPS Act.
The situation in Venezuela is dire. It is outrageous, Madam Speaker,
that some in this Chamber would blame the horrific situation in
Venezuela on the people of Venezuela. It is the Maduro regime that is
committing horrific human rights abuses.
People are being killed and tortured. The media has been censored.
Opponents of the regime have been imprisoned. The economy is failing.
Food is scarce. Essential medicines cannot be found.
The mass corruption and poverty have forced more than 4 million
people to flee the country for their lives.
I have witnessed desperate Venezuelans crossing the border into
Colombia in need of food. I spoke with families who traveled hours and
hours to Cucuta for one meal for their children. I saw warehouses
filled with food and humanitarian assistance that Maduro refuses to
allow in to help his people.
The dreadful living conditions, extreme violence, and persecution
warrant extending TPS to Venezuelans living in the United States.
We must stand with the Venezuelan people, the legitimate government
of President Juan Guaido, and the return of freedom and democracy. For
right now, passing this bill will ensure Venezuelans in the U.S. are
protected from being deported to life-threatening conditions.
Madam Speaker, this bill will save lives. I urge my colleagues to
support it.
Ms. MUCARSEL-POWELL. Madam Speaker, may I inquire how much time is
remaining.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentlewoman from Florida has 6 minutes
remaining. The gentleman from Virginia has 5 minutes remaining.
Mr. CLINE. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. MUCARSEL-POWELL. Madam Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the
gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Murphy), my colleague.
Mrs. MURPHY. Madam Speaker, I support this bipartisan bill to extend
temporary protected status to Venezuela.
There are over 400,000 Venezuelans living in the United States, and
more than half live in Florida. About 200,000 of these men and women
would receive TPS if this bill becomes law. They could work legally,
pay taxes, and contribute to our economy for a period of time, without
living in fear of deportation.
Venezuela is in absolute crisis, and making Venezuelans in the U.S.
go home right now is immoral. In many cases, it could be a death
sentence.
Requiring people who have sought refuge in America to return to a
failed state violates our core values as a nation.
Let me be clear: Passing TPS is a critical step, but it seeks to
treat the symptom of a disease rather than trying to cure the disease
itself. The disease is the cruel, undemocratic, and incompetent regime
of Nicolas Maduro.
For Venezuela to prosper and for the U.S. to protect its national
security, the Maduro regime must go. America should work with its
allies in the region and use all elements of our national power to
support the Venezuelan patriots who are fighting to reclaim their
country from the regime that has destroyed it.
Then, and only then, will Venezuela be sufficiently stable and safe
so these proud Venezuelans can return to the country they love.
Mr. CLINE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
As was said earlier, there are very few detained noncriminal
Venezuelans with removal orders, and there is no mechanism currently in
place for directly removing aliens to Venezuela.
Madam Speaker, we stand with the people of Venezuela in their fight
against the socialist regime of Nicolas Maduro.
We recognize that only through change in leadership and a change in
direction will Venezuela change course and begin to rebound, in terms
of adopting economic reforms and abandoning the socialist policies of
the Maduro regime.
We stand with the people, and we stand ready to embrace the newly
elected President, should he take control of the country.
But this bill, H.R. 549, is a bill that is simply not appropriate for
the circumstances right now. This broken TPS system that we have would
not be sufficient to accommodate the hundreds of thousands of
Venezuelans who would seek to use it.
Suffice it to say, it is similar to helping people by throwing them a
raft full of holes.
Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote against H.R. 549, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. MUCARSEL-POWELL. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
In response to Mr. Cline's concern, once again, TPS is the law of the
land. It is under section 244 of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
All we are asking is to place Venezuela as a country that is designated
under TPS in this bill.
We are talking about people who are suffering. We cannot send them
back to a humanitarian emergency.
We wrote a letter to the Trump administration, asking them to grant
TPS for Venezuelans. They have the ability to do so at the
administrative level right now, but they have refused. They say they
are supportive of Venezuelans, but I seriously question that when they
disagree with the importance of granting TPS for the thousands of
Venezuelans living in this country today. We cannot send them back to a
brutal regime, to a regime that is actually killing its own citizens.
I would like to express my support for H.R. 549. There is, as I
mentioned, widespread poverty and shortages of food and water. The
government is in disarray, and we can't wait any longer. We have to
help our Venezuelan brothers and sisters in the United States, and this
bill accomplishes just that.
Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to
support H.R. 549. We must do it, ``lo tenemos que hacer.'' This is the
moment.
Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Mucarsel-Powell) that the House suspend
the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 549, as amended.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. BROOKS of Alabama. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and
nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.
____________________