Political Quotes

“I come here this evening to speak on the issue of human rights in Venezuela and developments today in regard to all these issues. It is part of the broader effort my office has undertaken for a while now. It is the hashtag ``Expression NOT Oppression'' campaign. Every week we come here to the floor of the Senate when in session and highlight political prisoners and dissidents whose lives are being destroyed by oppressive regimes around the world. Today, I will be highlighting the case of Leopoldo Lopez, a Venezuelan opposition leader who, 3 years ago this week, led peaceful demonstrations against the regime of Nicolas Maduro, and he was thrown in jail for it. I am honored that this week we will be visited here in Washington by Lilian Tintori, Leopoldo's wife and the mother of their two children. She is an incredibly brave woman who does not rest as she continues advocating for her husband's release and the release of all political prisoners and continues to fight for a free and democratic Venezuela. So I want to recognize her as she visits Washington this week to ask for our government's continued help. Before I get into Leopoldo's case, I want to take a few moments to talk about what is happening in our own Western Hemisphere and in Venezuela specifically. For decades, the Western Hemisphere has been neglected by our foreign policy--sadly, by administrations of both parties.…”