Eliot Engel

I believe it weakens us, it has isolated us, and it has made Americans less safe.

One of the most important things we can do to advance America's security, interests, and values around the world, is to provide robust funding for our international affairs budget.

One of the most problematic aspects of the president's foreign policy is the way it has shelved American diplomacy.

One of the things that really saddened me and worried me is the message that we are sending or the administration is sending to our friends and allies.

I have never heard it so quiet at the start, so I think that is a tribute to you.

I urge my colleagues to work together to find meaningful solutions to root out waste, fraud, and abuse in our healthcare system, and I yield back the balance of my time.

That is always the position of the United States.

The entire thrust of American policy in Venezuela is to support the Venezuelan people's effort to restore democracy to their country.

I certainly understand the need to squeeze Maduro, but I hope that the White House has thought through the potential impact.

I hope we can continue to have dialog on it because I think it is really, really important.

I would urge you to do so.

But my biggest concern about the policy is what seems to me is clearly missing, and that is an effort to deal with the 3 million Venezuelans who have fled the country.

The United States is holding accountable those responsible for Venezuela's tragic decline.

We are hopeful and confident that the Venezuelan people will succeed in their quest for liberty.

We will continue pressing for humanitarian assistance delivery with the help of regional partners and the international community.

We will support Venezuela's Interim President, the National Assembly, the new government, and its aspirations to create a new Venezuela.

Now is the time for the armed forces to support the Venezuelan people and reclaim their own legitimacy.

I believe this is an issue that both parties can come together on and do what is best for the people of Venezuela to support this noble cause.

Our role must be a supportive one, but one that stands for universal principles of freedom and democracy.

I continue to work with the chairman in a bipartisan manner to condemn the criminal actions of Nicolas Maduro and countries like Cuba, Russia, China, Iran, and Syria for supporting his regime.

The President could fix that with the stroke of a pen.

In no way would the Colombian government permit or agree with any type of military intervention.

U.S. military intervention is not an option.

This was a disgrace, and we need to keep looking for ways to get this assistance to those who need it.

Now some consider it a good sound bite to say that Venezuela represents the failure of socialism, but we should be honest that Venezuela is not a socialist country.