Congresswoman Maria Elvira Salazar | Maria Elvira Salazar Official Website
Congresswoman Maria Elvira Salazar | Maria Elvira Salazar Official Website
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar (R-FL), Chairwoman of the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, along with Representative Debbie Wasserman-Schultz (D-FL), introduced the VERDAD Reauthorization Act, a bill that would reauthorize the Venezuela Emergency Relief, Democracy Assistance, and Development Act (VERDAD) passed into law in 2019.
The original co-sponsors of the bill include Representatives Michael McCaul (R-TX), Mike Waltz (R-FL), Carlos Giménez (R-FL), Chris Smith (R-NJ), Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), and Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA).
According to Congresswoman Salazar, "The Maduro regime is employing all possible illegal tactics to distract from the momentum gained by their main political opponent, María Corina Machado. It is imperative that the United States stands with the Venezuelan people's best chance to end over two decades of socialist dictatorship. Maduro is a tyrant who must go. My bill reauthorizing the VERDAD Act will show the Venezuelan people that the United States continues to stand by their side in the fight against socialism."
The VERDAD Act, first passed in 2019, was introduced to support efforts to restore democracy in Venezuela by sanctioning key regime officials while safeguarding the rights and freedoms of those escaping socialist persecution.
The reauthorization of the VERDAD Act is crucial as Maduro has intensified his attacks on Venezuelan institutions and the opposition. The regime broke a promise with the United States by nullifying the results of the opposition primaries after María Corina Machado, his main competitor, received over 90% of the votes.
Shortly after Maduro established a distraction referendum to seize the Esequibo region in Guyana, he had his Attorney General arrest several of María Corina Machado's closest political advisors.
These attacks on María Corina's candidacy indicate that the United States must maintain pressure on the Maduro regime.
Similar legislation has been introduced in the Senate by Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL), Rick Scott (R-FL), Ted Cruz (R-TX), and Bill Haggerty (R-TN).
The text of the bill can be read by clicking here.
To find out more, go to this link: https://salazar.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresista-salazar-presenta-la-ley-de-reautorizacion-de-verdad
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