[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 2]
[House]
[Page 2807]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          VENEZUELA'S DICTATOR

  (Mr. POE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. POE. Mr. Speaker, it is abundantly clear that the President of 
Venezuela, Hugo Chavez, is neither a friend of democracy nor a friend 
of the United States. Mr. Chavez has consistently rattled the anti-
United States sabers. He made best friends with Fidel Castro and Cindy 
Sheehan, and he supported radical revolutionaries in Latin and South 
American countries.
  Mr. Chavez has also radically altered his own country's political 
institutions, creating a disgusting and disgraceful dictatorship that 
does not deserve our support.
  Why is it then, Mr. Speaker, that the United States gives Mr. 
Chavez's government millions in direct aid each year? As our friend and 
Congressman, Louie Gohmert says, ``Why do we pay them to hate us?''
  Mr. Speaker, it is absolute hypocrisy to fund this corrupt communist 
dictator on Monday and then complain about his antidemocratic actions 
on Tuesday.
  Do we give money to Venezuela because we need them as a source for 
crude oil? If so, this is another reason we should become energy self-
sufficient and not depend on Third World dictatorships for oil.
  Mr. Speaker, this ought not to be.

                          ____________________