North Miami-Dade News

Today, Western Hemisphere Subcommittee Chairwoman María Elvira Salazar (R-FL) and Rep. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz (D-FL) have introduced the VERDAD Reauthorization Act. This bill aims to reauthorize the anti-Maduro Venezuela Emergency Relief, Democracy Assistance, and Development (VERDAD) Act, which was originally passed into law in 2019. The VERDAD Reauthorization Act has garnered support from several original cosponsors, including Reps. 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).

Chairwoman Salazar emphasizes the importance of standing by the Venezuelan people's fight against socialism and supporting their best chance to end the socialist dictatorship led by Maduro. She states, "The dictator Maduro and his lackeys are doing everything in their power to ensure Chavismo's primary opponent, María Corina Machado, never reaches Miraflores. Maduro is a tyrant who needs to go. My bill reauthorizing the VERDAD Act will show the Venezuelan people that America is still on their side in the fight against socialism."

The VERDAD Act, initially passed in 2019, was designed to aid efforts in restoring democracy in Venezuela. It accomplishes this by imposing sanctions on key regime officials while safeguarding the rights and liberties of those fleeing socialist persecution.

The reauthorization of the VERDAD Act has become increasingly critical due to Maduro's intensified attacks on Venezuelan institutions and the opposition. After María Corina Machado, his primary competitor, won over 90% of the vote in the opposition's primary, the regime broke its promise with the United States and nullified the results. In addition, Maduro established a distraction referendum to lay claim to the Essequibo region of Guyana and had his Attorney General arrest several of María Corina's closest political advisors.

These actions against María Corina's candidacy highlight the need for the United States to maintain pressure on the Maduro regime. In support of this effort, Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL), Rick Scott (R-FL), Ted Cruz (R-TX), and Bill Haggerty (R-TN) have introduced companion legislation in the Senate.

To review the text of the VERDAD Reauthorization Act, click here.

To find out more, go to this link: https://salazar.house.gov/media/press-releases/salazar-introduces-verdad-reauthorization-act