The House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a measure on Monday that would prohibit contracts with the regime of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro in a bipartisan move.
Representative Mike Waltz (R-FL). The bill was introduced by Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), who was the nominee of President-elect Donald Trump for the position of national security advisor.
“The BOLIVAR Act compliments existing sanctions by prohibiting the U.S. government from contracting with any person that has business operations with the illegitimate government of Nicolas Maduro, as well as any successor government of Venezuela not recognized as legitimate by the United States,” Waltz announced.
“Venezuela is in crisis due to the illegitimate, authoritarian rule and the Marxist policies of Nicolas Maduro and his Caracas cartel. Maduro and his cronies have mocked and ignored the electoral will of the Venezuelan people, inciting violent action against the democratic opposition.” he added.
“Our policy must be based on solidarity with the brave activists that strive to break the shackles of oppression and not provide aid and comfort to their oppressors. We must maintain existing sanctions against the regime and seek to expand sanctions to minimize Maduro’s resources to abuse the freedoms and prosperity of the Venezuelan people. This legislation sends a clear and powerful message to Maduro, as well as other dictators around the world, that there will be no appeasement, there will be no tolerance, there will be no reward for their rogue, illegal actions. … I urge the Senate to quickly pass this important bill and send it to the President’s desk for his signature.” Waltz concluded.
Edmundo González Urrutia, a presidential opponent, was arrested by Maduro in September on the basis that he had alleged that Maduro had stolen the election.
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