On the recordMay 28, 2014
I also rise in support of this important resolution, the Venezuelan Human Rights and Democracy Protection Act. I first, Mr. Speaker, want to start by thanking my dear friend, a tireless champion for human rights and democracy around the world. She has thanked, and rightfully so, a number of people who have helped with this important legislation. But we would not be dealing with this issue on the floor if it weren't for the tireless effort, the constant and tireless struggle, fight, solidarity, and efforts of my dear friend, my sister, Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. Those people around the world who are struggling in gulags and struggling for their freedom know that they have in Ileana Ros-Lehtinen a true champion, and, once again, we see that leadership here today. Mr. Speaker, since mid-February, the people of Venezuela--led mostly by students, by the way--have risen up to protest the corruption, the food shortages, the crime rates, and the alarming repression that have worsened during Maduro's few months in office, in control. In response to these legitimate peaceful grievances, Mr. Speaker, what the Venezuelan regime has done is they have ordered security forces to brutally crack down--brutally with great force and brutality--crack down on the opposition. They have used unlawful force. They have used severe beatings and beatings of unarmed protesters, mostly students, and, by the way, even shooting some of them pointblank.…
