Donna Shalala: “Last weekend, I traveled to the Colombia- Venezuela border to see firsthand the catastrophic humanitarian and public…”

“Last weekend, I traveled to the Colombia- Venezuela border to see firsthand the catastrophic humanitarian and public health crisis caused by the criminal Maduro regime. I met with refugees at a hospital in Colombia and heard their harrowing stories of being on the verge of death due to malnutrition, treatable diseases, and a lack of medical care for high-risk pregnancies. People with HIV cannot access antiretroviral drugs, as the government supplies dwindle and the Maduro regime continues to reject humanitarian aid. And now this crisis is spreading. I met with Colombian officials who are doing everything they can to support 1.5 million refugees crossing the border. They can't do it alone. We must increase aid to countries like Colombia for public health. Madam Speaker, our response to the crisis must include supporting the Venezuelan community that has already contributed to the richness of south Florida and the United States. Thousands of Venezuelans claiming political asylum in this country are stuck in limbo because of unnecessary delays in the adjudication of their claims. Granting TPS is necessary and humane for those Venezuelans now here. ____________________”