Connie Mack

We should work together to put down the thugocrats like Hugo Chavez.

We should withdraw from the OAS, we should stop funding the OAS.

How about we tell Nicaragua that if you want the support of the United States, you must stand for freedom and democracy.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you for this hearing, and I also want to associate myself with your opening remarks.

We cannot continue to sit back and watch the growth of these cartels and their criminal insurgent activities in Mexico because it put not only the people of the United States at risk, our freedom, security and prosperity, but also the…

I mean, most people recognize that the cartels' activity has gotten worse, that they are using every tool available to displace government.

I submit to you that these drug cartels are terrorizing the school and the children and those schools.

The deal that is on the table makes the hole deeper. And so don't -- you shouldn't expect people who believe that we should balance the budget to vote for a deal that makes the hole deeper.

The deal is on the -- that is on the table makes the hole deeper. And so don't -- you shouldn't expect people, who believe that we should balance the budget, to vote for a deal that makes the hole deeper.

I think a lot of us are wondering--and this is, obviously, a bipartisan issue; everybody is talking about the same thing.

How can you not designate Chavez as a state sponsor of terror when we know about the narcotrafficking, the support of Hezbollah?

So the designation of being sanctioned is important, but the actual sanctions that took place don't have any teeth, because these are things that we are currently not doing with Venezuela.

Hugo Chavez kicked out our DEA.

Venezuela is supporting Iran and Iran's desire for a nuclear weapon.

I mean, we are going to continue to buy this oil from Chavez when we can get it from our friends in Canada.

I think they know my views.

I would assume that Chavez has full control over PDVSA.

Under Hugo Chavez, Venezuela has become a hub in our region for money laundering and transshipment of illicit goods.

Right now all of that oil, we are funding his ability to continue to sponsor terror.

So I think what you are hearing from us is that we want to see some sanctions that affect the oil industry in Venezuela.

But you gave us the definition of why Cuba was put on the state sponsor of terrorism list, which is exactly what Chavez is doing in Venezuela.

Why aren't we putting these sanctions on PDVSA, especially when the State Department, the Secretary, with the signature of her pen, can allow the Keystone XL pipeline to move through?

I believe that we are sending basically $117 million a day to Venezuela through PDVSA, so we are funding someone who we have sanctioned.

I would suggest that the State Department sign off on the Keystone XL pipeline, which will then be able to take over for any oil that we are getting from Venezuela.

The designation of being sanctioned is important, but the actual sanctions that took place don't have any teeth.