Duval Times

In an effort to hold the Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro and his criminal regime accountable for human rights abuses, Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) has introduced the Venezuela Civil Society and Human Rights Reauthorization Act of 2023. The current sanctions imposed by the United States government against Maduro and 150 members of his regime are set to expire on December 21, 2023.

Senator Rubio emphasized the importance of maintaining these sanctions, stating, "Human rights sanctions remain a crucial tool to aid the Venezuelan people who continue to suffer under Maduro's criminal regime. We have a moral duty to ensure that this narco-regime is held accountable for its countless crimes and that the sanctions remain in place."

Joining Rubio in presenting this legislation are Senators Rick Scott (R-FL), Ted Cruz (R-TX), and Bill Hagerty (R-TN). Senator Scott criticized President Joe Biden for appeasing dictators like Maduro, saying, "Time and time again, we have seen President Biden appease murderous dictators like Maduro by lifting sanctions, allowing millions of dollars to feed his dangerous regime and further destabilize the region. The people of Venezuela have made their decision by supporting María Corina Machado as the legitimate leader of the opposition, and now the United States must seize every opportunity to provide our full support to the voice for freedom, using all available sanctions to hold Maduro accountable. I am proud to join Senator Rubio in this bill to reauthorize human rights sanctions against the Maduro regime and ensure that the United States only supports those who fight for a truly democratic and free Venezuela."

Senator Cruz emphasized the importance of not weakening the US sanctions aimed at holding the regime accountable, stating, "Concessions to the Maduro regime have only resulted in more aggression and violent repression on their part. At this moment, weakening US sanctions aimed at holding the regime accountable would be ill-timed."

Senator Hagerty expressed his concern about President Biden's approach to the Maduro dictatorship, saying, "President Biden continues to appease the Maduro dictatorship and offer broad relief from sanctions for mere promises of free and fair elections, even as the regime continues its brutal repression against civil society. I am pleased to join my colleagues in introducing this legislation that seeks to ensure that sanctions against this narcoterrorist regime are maintained in the absence of significant and credible concessions to restore democratic governance in Venezuela."

If passed, this legislation would reauthorize the following sanctions for two years:

- US visa sanctions on Venezuelan officials who approve the travel of Russian military officials to Venezuela;

- The prohibition of exporting assault weapons and other crowd control tools to the Venezuelan military; and

- Visa-blocking sanctions and asset-blocking sanctions on Venezuelan officials deemed responsible for violating internationally recognized human rights of Venezuelan civil society members and human rights activists under the Venezuela Defense of Human Rights and Civil Society Act of 2014.

For more information, you can refer to previous legislation approved by the Senate in December 2019, led by Rubio and Menéndez, to address the humanitarian crisis caused by Maduro in Venezuela and expand international efforts. Additionally, in May 2019, Rubio and Menendez applauded the approval of the TRUTH Act by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

To find out more, go to this link: https://www.rubio.senate.gov/rubio-y-colegas-presentan-reautorizacion-para-mantener-sanciones-contra-regimen-de-maduro/