[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 14]
[Senate]
[Pages 18972-18973]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   SENATE RESOLUTION 581--CONDEMNING THE ANTI-DEMOCRATIC ACTIONS OF 
PRESIDENT HUGO CHAVEZ AND ADMONISHING THE STATEMENTS MADE BY HIM TO THE 
         UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON SEPTEMBER 20, 2006

  Mr. BUNNING (for himself, Mr. Inhofe, and Mr. Vitter) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign 
Relations:

                              S. Res. 581

       Whereas, to consolidate his powers, President Chavez 
     rewrote the constitution of Venezuela after he was elected in 
     1988;
       Whereas, in August 2004, President Chavez survived a recall 
     vote through intimidation and other undemocratic actions;
       Whereas President Chavez has decreed that all private 
     property deemed ``not in productive use'' will be confiscated 
     by the government of Venezuela and redistributed to third 
     parties;
       Whereas President Chavez has enacted a media responsibility 
     law placing restrictions on broadcast media coverage, 
     imposing severe penalties for violations, and using other 
     legal methods to intimidate media outlets that criticize his 
     government;
       Whereas changes imposed by President Chavez to the penal 
     code of Venezuela have threatened the freedom of expression 
     and freedom of association once enjoyed by the citizens of 
     Venezuela, and have increased jail terms for those convicted 
     of criticizing the government of that country;

[[Page 18973]]

       Whereas President Chavez and his supporters have stated 
     their intention to use their full control of the national 
     assembly to change the constitution of Venezuela to allow 
     President Chavez to remain in power until 2030, a period of 
     time that exceeds the current constitutional limits of 
     Venezuela;
       Whereas, in an effort to destabilize the already fragile 
     democratic governments of other countries in the region, 
     President Chavez is supporting radical forces in Colombia, 
     Bolivia, and Ecuador, as well as leftist parties in those 
     countries;
       Whereas President Chavez has repeatedly stated his desire 
     to unite Latin America to serve as a buffer against the 
     United States;
       Whereas President Chavez has aligned himself with countries 
     that are classified by the Department of State as sponsors of 
     terrorism;
       Whereas President Chavez has developed a close relationship 
     with the Dictator of Cuba, Fidel Castro;
       Whereas President Chavez has also associated himself with 
     other dictators, including Kim Jong Il of North Korea and the 
     totalitarian regime of Iran;
       Whereas President Chavez was allowed to promote hatred in a 
     speech in which he delivered at the United Nations General 
     Assembly on September 20, 2006, and referred to the President 
     of the United States as ``the devil'';
       Whereas President Chavez referred to the President of the 
     United States as ``the spokesman of imperialism'' for the 
     efforts of the United States to aid the citizens of 
     Afghanistan and Iraq in the goal of those citizens to create 
     a permanent and viable representative government; and
       Whereas President Chavez made unsubstantial claims that the 
     United States has set in motion a coup in Venezuela and 
     continues to support coup attempts in Venezuela and 
     elsewhere: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, that the Senate condemns President Chavez for his 
     anti-democratic actions and his statements made at the United 
     Nations General Assembly on September 20, 2006.

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