On the recordMarch 7, 2018
I rise this morning to bring attention to the sad and tragic truth of what is going on in Venezuela today under a cynical socialist thug, the Maduro regime. Even though this administration has stepped up and has taken a strong stance against Maduro--we have sanctioned a lot of individuals--there is still much more that needs to be done. And the first step is getting more action by making sure that my fellow colleagues are aware of the ongoing crisis in Venezuela and helping those who refuse to believe that Maduro can be that bad. Yes, he really can be that bad. And we need to understand the suffering and the frustration of the Venezuelan people. The second step is urging the administration to increase the pressure, to use the tools that are available to us, to hold Maduro and his evil cronies accountable. We have already seen how some of these tools are working, Mr. Speaker. Our sanctions are working, so much so that Maduro is actively looking at ways to circumvent our sanctions, like this crazy idea of launching his own cryptocurrency. We are hitting him where it hurts, and we need to build on that momentum. But we must also not forget to advocate on behalf of the people of Venezuela who are suffering, who are malnourished, and who are sick and poor. They lack the most basic medical and food supplies that they need--again, all as a result of Maduro's policies.…





