CASTRO SPEAKS IN SUPPORT OF TARGETED SANCTIONS IN VENEZUELA

Washington, D.C—Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) spoke in support of targeted sanctions on Venezuela during U.S. House consideration of the Venezuelan Human Rights and Democracy Protection Act (H.R. 4587). The bill was adopted by a voice vote  by the U.S. House of Representatives. Below are his remarks as delivered:

“Thank you Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. R. 4587, the Venezuelan Human Rights and Democracy Protection Act, and yield myself as much time as I may consume.

I first would like to thank Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen for authoring this legislation, and for her dedication to these important issues. The eyes of this Congress and the international community are on Venezuela as President Nicolas Maduro and his security forces crack down on peaceful protesters.  It is an absolute tragedy that 42 people have been killed in protests throughout the country. I am also troubled that opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez remains in jail on [trumped up] charges while many others have been unjustly detained by the Maduro government. I am grateful for President Obama and Secretary Kerry’s strong statements condemning the government’s reprehensible actions.  

Let me say that all of us in Congress want nothing more than a peaceful resolution to this conflict.  

It was disappointing when negotiations between the Maduro government and the opposition broke down, and I hope that these talks can be revived.

In March, the House of Representatives passed a resolution which encouraged “a process of dialogue between the Government of Venezuela and the political opposition to end the violence.”  I continue to believe that dialogue is the best way out of this crisis.

In the meantime, the legislation that we are considering today makes it clear that the United States will not turn a blind eye to human rights violations.

This bill has been crafted to impose targeted sanctions on human rights violators in Venezuela, while not harming average Venezuelans, who are already suffering as a result of terrible economic mismanagement by their country’s leaders.
While the Venezuelan government might try to say otherwise, let us be clear: there is not a single provision in this bill that would negatively affect the average Venezuelan.  This bill does not touch the Venezuelan oil sector or other parts of the country’s economy.

Instead, the Venezuelan Human Rights and Democracy Protection bill revokes visas and freezes assets of human rights violators.

Finally, it is important to note that this bill gives President Obama a great deal of flexibility to respond to events on the ground in Venezuela.  Each and every sanction in this bill can be waived by the President at any time. 
I would point out, Mr. Speaker, that this is important—as I mentioned when this came up in Committee, as the gentlewoman will remember—it is important that the United States send a strong signal in Latin America. Although we understand that each of the Latin American countries is distinct and different and all have different histories, we witnessed in the 1960s to the 1980s many thousands of students who disappeared, who were removed by their governments from their homes because of the protests that were going on in those countries at the time and we want to make sure that never happens again. And this bill is important in ensuring that the Venezuelan government understand that the United States is watching and that we will make sure something like that never happens again. 
With that, Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.”

[CLOSING]
“I just wanted to say thank you to the Congresswoman, to the Chairman of the Committee, Chairman Royce, and to Ranking Member Engel. Of course, I’m here, as many others are, to support the bill. There was a strong argument as Mr. Meeks so eloquently stated. I am glad he had a chance to voice it, but I do hope that the Congress today will get behind this bill.”

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