reserving the right to object, first, I want to thank my colleague from Florida for bringing this issue to the floor. I have spoken frequently about the tragedies of the Maduro regime, the protracted political, economic, and human rights crisis that has been caused by the Maduro regime. Seven million Venezuelans have left their homes. The Maduro regime is under investigation for crimes against humanity. The list goes on and on and on. I have the opportunity to chair the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. This is a resolution that should go through our committee. Our committee should have an opportunity to review and offer suggestions as to what should be included and how it is worded. For that reason alone, I would have concern about how it is moving forward. But let me add just a few more parts to this. I support the administration's efforts to pursue diplomatic engagement. By strategically leveraging U.S. sanctions, the administration has empowered Venezuela's democratic opposition in its negotiations with this regime. We impose sanctions so that we can get changes of actions of those whom we impose the sanctions against. When we see progress in that regard, we should be willing to modify or eliminate those sanctions. On October 17, in Barbados, the Unitary Platform and the Maduro regime reached an agreement. They created a roadmap for more competitive Presidential elections next year.…
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