Duval Times

U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) and U.S. Representative María Elvira Salazar (R-FL) have commended the House Committee on Foreign Affairs for passing the Venezuela Emergency Relief, Democracy Assistance, and Development (VERDAD) Reauthorization Act. Senator Rubio emphasized the importance of the bill in light of recent events in Venezuela, stating, “Let there be no doubt, this bill is needed now more than ever following the evermore tyrannical tactics of Maduro and his thugs against leading opposition presidential candidate María Corina Machado and her team. It’s time for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to follow suit and pass this bipartisan and bicameral bill.”

Congresswoman Salazar echoed Senator Rubio's sentiments, highlighting the unjust treatment of María Corina Machado by the Maduro regime. Salazar stated, “The people’s choice María Corina Machado won the opposition primary with over 90% of the vote. But the Maduro regime will not let her participate in elections because they fear her popularity. The VERDAD Act was Congress’s landmark Venezuela bill which gave us the tools to fight the Chavista oppression. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.”

The VERDAD Act, which first passed in 2019, aims to support efforts to restore democracy in Venezuela by sanctioning key regime officials and protecting the rights of those fleeing socialist persecution. The recent developments in Venezuela, including the ban on María Corina Machado from participating in the upcoming election and the arrest of members of her campaign team, have underscored the importance of reauthorizing this critical legislation.

The reauthorization of the VERDAD Act is seen as a crucial step in holding the Maduro narco-regime accountable for its violations and crimes. Senator Rubio and Congresswoman Salazar's support for the bill reflects a bipartisan effort to address the ongoing crisis in Venezuela and support the democratic aspirations of the Venezuelan people.