[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 200 (Tuesday, December 5, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5734-S5735]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                               Venezuela

  Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Mr. President, on Sunday, October 22, 2023, 
more than 2 million Venezuelans around the world made their voices 
heard and cast their votes in support of Maria Corina Machado, the 
official opposition candidate for the upcoming presidential elections.
  These brave Venezuelans participated in this election at great 
personal risk but did so united by their dedication to ridding 
Venezuela of the brutal oppression brought onto them by Nicolas Maduro 
and returning freedom and democracy to their country.
  This is a significant moment in the Venezuelan people's fight for 
freedom and true representative government--something I have been 
fighting alongside them to achieve for years. It is imperative that the 
United States stand with them, recognize Maria Corina Machado as 
Venezuela's duly elected presidential opposition candidate, and lead 
the international community in doing the same.
  The National Primary Commission is to be commended for its ability to 
successfully organize and carry out the opposition primary election 
despite facing numerous obstacles, threats, and attacks from the 
illegitimate Maduro regime. The work of the National Primary Commission 
advances the cause of freedom in Venezuela and represents the best 
interest of its citizens.
  It also is in our national security interest and the best interests 
of all who strive for peace, liberty, and stability for nations in 
Latin America and across the Western Hemisphere to recognize and 
support the fundamental role the Commission is carrying out in 
Venezuela.
  The United States must use this opportunity to put the full weight 
and power of our Nation behind the cause of freedom in Venezuela. Our 
national security depends on us being strong in this moment. However, 
we cannot act from a position of strength while negotiating with a 
murderous, dishonest, and tyrannical dictator.

  I have been unequivocal in my condemnation of attempts to negotiate 
with Nicolas Maduro on any issue beyond how and when he will leave 
power.
  Recently, I wrote to President Biden urging him to acknowledge this 
moment and immediately revise the conditions of sanctions relief that 
the administration has recently offered to the Maduro regime. That is 
the only way to make clear that Maduro and his thugs, who have 
horrifically murdered and oppressed the Venezuelan people for years, 
will see no easing of sanctions until free and fair elections are held 
and democracy returns to Venezuela and the following conditions are 
met:
  No. 1. Maria Corina Machado, as the sole Presidential opposition 
candidate, should be represented on the opposition delegation of the 
Venezuelan-led negotiations in Barbados.
  No. 2. Maria Corina Machado is officially allowed to run as the sole 
Presidential candidate of opposition in the 2024 Venezuelan 
Presidential election.
  No. 3. The release of all political prisoners, including all U.S. 
citizens, by the illegitimate Maduro regime. It is hard to believe that 
we are negotiating with somebody who is holding American citizens.
  No. 4. Reputable election observers are allowed to witness the 
illegitimate Maduro regime permitting international election observers 
from the Organization of American States, the European Union, the 
International Republican Institute, and the National Democratic 
Institute to ensure that the electoral process is genuinely free, fair, 
and transparent.
  Finally, No. 5. Recognize the votes of the Venezuelan diaspora in the 
2024 Venezuelan Presidential election.
  Just a few days after Maria Corina Machado's big win in the 2023 
primary elections, we are already seeing Nicolas Maduro, Diosdado 
Cabello, Jorge Rodriguez, and their thugs threatening, harassing, and 
attacking the National Primary Commission and everyone who voted for 
her and the hope she represents. Days after the election, the Maduro 
regime's handpicked supreme court declared the suspension of ``all 
effects'' of the Venezuelan primaries.
  We must all see this for exactly what it is--a clear sign that 
Maduro's true intention is to never give up his power or allow freedom 
to return to Venezuela.
  Lifting sanctions on the illegitimate regime of Nicolas Maduro and 
permitting the sale of oil and gas would essentially fund Maduro's 2024 
Presidential

[[Page S5735]]

campaign, further empowering the regime, prolonging oppression and 
genocide and propping terrorism and narcotrafficking in the region.
  President Biden has a historic opportunity to be a part of the 
recovery of democracy in Venezuela and to stand up for freedom and 
democracy--values that define us as Americans.
  I am here today to ask unanimous consent for the passage of a 
resolution where the Senate recognizes Maria Corina Machado as 
Venezuela's official Presidential opposition candidate and commends her 
for standing up against Maduro and leading the charge for freedom and 
democracy in Venezuela--that is not easy; condemns efforts by the 
illegitimate Maduro regime to prevent Maria Corina Machado, Venezuela's 
duly chosen official Presidential opposition candidate, from 
participating in Venezuela's Presidential election of 2024; rejects the 
illegitimate Maduro regime's efforts to carry out fraudulent 
Presidential elections by barring the participation of the opposition 
candidate chosen by the Venezuelan voters; demands that the 
illegitimate Maduro regime permits election observers from the OAS, the 
European Union, the International Republican Institute, and the 
National Democratic Institute; calls on the illegitimate Maduro regime 
to immediately release all political prisoners, including all U.S. 
citizens; denounces efforts by the illegitimate Maduro regime to 
persecute members of the National Primary Commission; calls on the U.S. 
Government and the international community to institute greater 
pressure and tighten sanctions against the illegitimate Maduro regime 
in order to restore freedom in Venezuela.
  This is common sense, but more importantly, it is the right thing to 
do for America's national security and unapologetic support of freedom 
and democracy for all people.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to address the Senate in 
Spanish.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. SCOTT of Florida. (English translation of statement made in 
Spanish is as follows:)
  More than 2 million Venezuelans voted for a change, and Maduro or his 
illegitimate supreme court will not change that. Biden and the 
international community must recognize Maria Corina as the legitimate 
leader of the Venezuelan opposition and work with her to recover 
democracy and freedom in Venezuela.
  I have been very clear: No deal should be made with Maduro and no 
sanctions can be lifted until we know Maria Corina is allowed to run 
and the elections are completely free and transparent, not backward.
  Mr. President, I am thankful for the support of my colleague from 
Florida, Senator Rubio, and the companion resolution being introduced 
in the House by Congressman Diaz-Balart.
  I urge all my colleagues to adopt this important resolution today.
  Mr. President, as if in legislative session, I ask unanimous consent 
the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 486, which is at the 
desk. I further ask that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be 
agreed to, and the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid 
upon the table with no intervening action or debate.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
  The Senator from Maryland.
  Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, reserving the right to object, first, I 
want to thank my colleague from Florida for bringing this issue to the 
floor. I have spoken frequently about the tragedies of the Maduro 
regime, the protracted political, economic, and human rights crisis 
that has been caused by the Maduro regime. Seven million Venezuelans 
have left their homes. The Maduro regime is under investigation for 
crimes against humanity. The list goes on and on and on.
  I have the opportunity to chair the Senate Foreign Relations 
Committee. This is a resolution that should go through our committee. 
Our committee should have an opportunity to review and offer 
suggestions as to what should be included and how it is worded. For 
that reason alone, I would have concern about how it is moving forward.
  But let me add just a few more parts to this. I support the 
administration's efforts to pursue diplomatic engagement. By 
strategically leveraging U.S. sanctions, the administration has 
empowered Venezuela's democratic opposition in its negotiations with 
this regime.

  We impose sanctions so that we can get changes of actions of those 
whom we impose the sanctions against. When we see progress in that 
regard, we should be willing to modify or eliminate those sanctions.
  On October 17, in Barbados, the Unitary Platform and the Maduro 
regime reached an agreement. They created a roadmap for more 
competitive Presidential elections next year.
  By supporting this agreement, the Biden administration has provided 
political space for the political opposition to hold primaries on 
October 22. The results were resounding, as my colleague from Florida 
has pointed out. Maria Corina Machado won the opposition primaries with 
over 90 percent of the vote. That is an impressive victory. This is the 
kind of progress that has been desperately needed to help restore 
democracy in Venezuela.
  Of course, the Maduro regime has sought to undermine the results of 
the primary. We are not surprised by that. The Biden administration has 
made it clear that if Maduro doesn't allow the candidate to run, they 
will reimpose the sanctions. That is how it should work. And if it does 
not release the political prisoners or wrongly detained Americans, the 
United States will snap back our sanctions. We have made that very 
clear. We want our political prisoners and wrongfully detained 
Americans released immediately. They should never have been detained. 
We want to make sure there is a competitive election in Venezuela, and 
if it is not, we will reimpose our sanctions. And I have called for 
these competitive elections.
  As I pointed out, this resolution has not been considered by the 
Senate Foreign Relations Committee. It comes as negotiations remain 
underway and some initial advancements have taken place. It seeks to 
dictate actions to the administration as sensitive diplomatic 
negotiations are ongoing.
  The Biden administration has already stated publicly it will reimpose 
sanctions if the Maduro regime does not follow through on their 
commitment. We don't trust them--believe me, we don't--and we have the 
opportunity to reimpose those sanctions.
  We must maintain the diplomatic space needed to advance democratic 
elections. That is our objective. Our objective is to get democratic 
elections and to secure the release of wrongfully detained Americans 
and political prisoners.
  So I would suggest to my colleague to submit his resolution for 
consideration to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. That is why we 
have the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Give us a chance for the 
input of those of us who have been working on this Venezuelan issue for 
a long time. Give us the opportunity for input. That is how the system 
is supposed to work.
  I give my colleague the assurances--I want to take this up in the 
Foreign Relations Committee. I want to see a resolution passed on the 
floor of the Senate in regard to what is happening in Venezuela, and I 
certainly will work with my colleague in that regard.
  For the reasons I have stated, I object.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard.
  The Senator from Florida.
  Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Mr. President, I thank my colleague for his 
comments about the importance of making sure that we get free and fair 
elections in Venezuela. It sounds like this is just a procedural issue. 
There doesn't appear to be--right now, at least--any issue over the 
substance of the resolution.
  I look forward to my colleague scheduling a Foreign Relations 
Committee markup for this important resolution. Hopefully, we will get 
to the point where we have real, free, and fair elections. Hopefully, 
we will get to the point where we get these Americans back. Hopefully, 
all the things that I think both of us care about are going to happen.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Maryland.