[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 3] [House] [Pages 3650-3651] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]VENEZUELA: A STATE SPONSOR OF TERRORISM The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the order of the House of January 4, 2007, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mack) is recognized during morning-hour debate for 2 minutes. Mr. MACK. Madam Speaker, last week our allies in Colombia struck a blow for freedom against the terrorist organization known as the FARC. As we all know, the FARC supports its war against our friends in Colombia through drug trafficking, kidnappings, and the murder of innocent civilians. While Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has been vocal in his support of the FARC and his opposition to the United States and Colombia, it is now clear that Chavez is increasingly intertwined with the FARC and is now giving aid and comfort to terrorist organizations. During last week's raid in Ecuador, the Colombian authorities recovered records that clearly show that Chavez has been giving the FARC millions of dollars, weapons, and safe passage in Venezuela. Last night, published reports indicate that the Bush administration has taken the first steps towards naming Venezuela as a state sponsor of terrorism because of its support of terrorist organizations just like the FARC. I am pleased that the Bush administration has initiated the process of including Venezuela on the list with the likes of Iran, Cuba and North Korea. Madam Speaker, the time has come to once and for all take the steps that will cripple the ability of the Chavez regime to fund its terrorist friends and allies. By adding Venezuela to the list of official state sponsors of terrorism, we will help do just that. Furthermore, Congress must act now on the Colombian Free Trade Agreement to promote freedom and prosperity in the region. By passing the Colombian Free Trade Agreement, we will show our allies we stand with them and against the tyranny of Hugo Chavez. House of Representatives, Washington, DC, March 6, 2008. Hon. George W. Bush, President of the United States, The White House, Washington, DC. Dear Mr. President: I am writing to seek your support in standing against Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and his support for terrorist groups in our hemisphere by designating Venezuela a state sponsor of terrorism. Last weekend, our allies in Colombia struck a blow for freedom against the internationally-recognized terrorist organization known as the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). The FARC supports its war against our friends in Colombia through drug trafficking, kidnappings, and the murder of innocent civilians. And, as you are aware, the FARC has expanded their war in Colombia to specifically target the United States by their holding of three Americans as hostages. The attack last weekend which occurred in Ecuador, about a mile from the Colombia-Ecuador border, killed Raul Reyes who was a leader of the FARC terrorist organization. While Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has been quite vocal in his support of the FARC and his opposition to the United States and Colombia, it is now abundantly clear that Mr. Chavez is increasingly intertwined with the FARC and is now giving aid and comfort to international terrorist organizations. During last week's raid in Ecuador, the Colombian authorities recovered several laptop computers and records belonging to Mr. Reyes. Reports indicate that included in those laptops and papers is evidence that Mr. Chavez has given the FARC hundreds of millions of dollars, weapons, and safe passage and haven in Venezuela. According to our State Department, ``. . . state sponsors of terrorism provide critical support to non-state terrorist groups. Without state sponsors, terrorist groups would have much more difficulty obtaining the funds, weapons, materials, and secure areas they require to plan and conduct operations.'' While Venezuela previously has been certified by our Secretary of State as ``not fully cooperating'' with our counterterrorism efforts, it is increasingly evident that Venezuela now qualifies to be designated as a ``state sponsor of terrorism.'' Designating a country that repeatedly provides support for international terrorists, like the FARC, imposes certain United States government sanctions such as a ban on arms- related exports and sales and the imposition of economic and financial restrictions. Other countries which have been designated as state sponsors of terrorism and which are good friends of President Chavez include Cuba and Iran. As you are aware, President Chavez has repeatedly threatened to cut off shipments of oil to the United States. As I have said to you before, we cannot be held as an economic hostage to the whims of tyrants, thugs, and dictators like President Chavez and his anti-American allies such as Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Designating Venezuela and the Chavez regime as a state sponsor of terrorism would likely mean an end to Venezuelan oil until there is regime change there. However, now is the time for us to stand against President Chavez and for the United States government to firmly protect our nation and our economy against an oil war with Venezuela and its allies. That is why I have called for having proactive policies in place, such as increasing our Strategic Petroleum Reserve. I believe that it is in our national security interest to begin increasing our Strategic Petroleum Reserve in order to replace Venezuela's supply to the United States. By doing this, we will let the markets know that the United States government will protect the American people from those who sponsor terrorism and would use oil as an economic and political weapon against our nation. The FARC is despised across Latin America and many Venezuelans are openly denouncing President Chavez for his alliance and open support of a terrorist organization. In President Chavez's effort to take the focus off of his failed domestic policies and his recent loss in the December referendum, Mr. Chavez is increasingly trying to create an international crisis with neighboring Colombia and he is seeking to destabilize all of Latin America. We must recognize this gathering storm and must stop Mr. Chavez in his tracks by designating Venezuela as a state sponsor of terrorism. By taking this prudent step, we will be standing against President Chavez and his menacing alliances and we will be defending the people of the region against a dangerous thug and dictator in Latin America. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Connie Mack, Member of Congress. [[Page 3651]] ____________________