James Hill: “I am proud to stand on the floor with my colleague from Arkansas, our distinguished chair of the House Permanent Select…”

“I am proud to stand on the floor with my colleague from Arkansas, our distinguished chair of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and our colleagues to give the American people some perspective on the important action that President Trump has taken that reasserts America's leadership in the Western Hemisphere, counters our rivals for that Western Hemisphere influence, Russia, Iran, China, and keep America safer by taking this action. The communist, authoritarian government in Caracas has long been an adversary of the United States. In the early 2000s, our relationship with Venezuela was strained when they named strongman Hugo Chavez as their leader. Maduro was a leader in the Chavez government, Mr. Speaker, and was a full partner in the anti-American policies and the growing partnership with Cuba, China, and Russia. In 2013, Maduro became the president of Venezuela after Chavez' death. He continued those communist partnerships, compounded the anti-American rhetoric and strategy by adding the goal of becoming a narcostate. From 2014 to 2015, the United States began to sanction Venezuelan officials for drug trafficking. In 2017, the United States escalated sanctions against the Maduro government for its links to the illicit drug trade. In 2019, the United States no longer recognized Maduro as Venezuela's legitimate president. As a result, the United States officially cut diplomatic ties with the Maduro regime.”