WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) — The House Foreign Affairs Committee passed H.R. 4587, the Venezuelan Human Rights and Democracy Protection Act.
Co-introduced by Chairman Emeritus Ros-Lehtinen (FL-27), Rep. Ted Deutch (FL-21), Rep. Matt Salmon (AZ-5), Rep. Albio Sires (NJ-8), Rep. Alan Grayson (FL-9), Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (FL-25), Rep. Corrine Brown (FL-5), Rep. Patrick Murphy (FL-18), Rep. Steve Stockman (TX-36), and Rep. Joe Garcia (FL-26), this bipartisan legislation will equip the Obama Administration with enhanced tools to crackdown on those perpetrating the egregious human rights violations against the Venezuelan people.
“The people of Venezuela are being subject to censorship, intimidation, imprisonment, torture, and even death, and for what?” demanded Deutch. “Simply for demanding greater security in a country with the fifth highest murder rate in the world, where 2,500 people were murdered in the first two months of 2014? Or because people are suffering from serious food scarcity and lack access to basic supplies?
“These are the simple, basic demands from citizens of a democratic state, and they have a right to a responsive government.”
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Preceding provided by U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch