[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.