Moulton Statement on Situation in Venezuela

I support Venezuela's interim president, Juan Guaidó, and the hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans who have taken to the streets to turn the page on the last twenty years of repression from Hugo Chavez and Nicolás Maduro.

Mr. Maduro and his regime have denied hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans their human rights, ruined the economy of the wealthiest nation in South America, and caused a humanitarian disaster that has driven thousands to seek refuge throughout the hemisphere.

Interim President Guaidó has a monumental task ahead to rebuild his proud country.

We should work with our friends and allies in the region to ensure he has the assistance and resources he needs to reestablish the rule of law, address the humanitarian crisis, and move Venezuela forward so that his people have a country that is safe and strong.

Before the situation deteriorates further, Congress and President Trump should work with our regional allies and partners to:

1. Call on Juan Guaidó to organize free and open elections within 90 days of Maduro’s vacating office.
2. Increase humanitarian operations in support of the millions of refugees flowing out of the country and offer Temporary Protected Status to Venezuelans in the United States with a clear plan of return for those refugees who can safely do so once the situation stabilizes.
3. Guarantee an end to economic sanctions contingent upon Maduro’s vacating the presidency; Maduro should also voice support for the Constitutional process wherein Mr. Guaidó has been legitimately elected the Interim President.

It is clear: Nicolás Maduro must go. It is also clear that Venezuela’s future leaders must abide by the rule of law and engage in full dialogue with Venezuela’s citizens to begin healing the wounds of the past twenty years of chavista rule.

Here at home, we must also be cognizant of America’s mixed history of intervention in the region. President Trump does not have the required Congressional authorization to use force in Venezuela. Intervening militarily in Venezuela today would give credence to Maduro’s history of fear-mongering that the U.S. will do just that. As a separate and co-equal branch of government, it is Congress’s constitutional responsibility to prohibit the use of funds for any unauthorized military campaign.