Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) rallied alongside members of the Venezuelan community in Tampa Thursday, vowing unwavering U.S. support for the Venezuelan people and denouncing the “illegitimate, criminal regime” of Nicolás Maduro.
The senator emphasized the need for decisive action to hold the regime accountable and safeguard America’s national security.
Scott highlighted measures taken by the Trump administration and Secretary of State Marco Rubio to pressure the Maduro government and protect U.S. interests. He boasted his long-standing commitment to the Venezuelan cause since joining the Senate, pointing to key legislative initiatives he has championed, such as the BOLIVAR Act and the STOP MADURO Act.
These bills aim to sever financial support for the current leadership in Venezuela and promote a transition towards a free and democratic future.
“I’m proud to stand with the brave people of Venezuela in their fight for freedom and democracy, alongside Venezuelan community leaders here in Florida and together with rightful Venezuelan President Edmundo González and democracy leader María Corina Machado,” Scott stated. He asserted that the “illegitimate Maduro regime has desperately held onto power for too long, depriving the Venezuelan people of their rights and freedoms, only emboldened by the weak Biden administration.”
The senator welcomed recent steps to increase pressure on the Maduro government, including the curtailment of oil licenses to impede the regime’s financial resources and the designation of groups like Tren de Aragua as foreign terrorist organizations, which he described as “a crucial step in protecting America’s national security.”
He called for continued robust action, urging the passage of his STOP MADURO Act and BOLIVAR Act to further isolate the current Venezuelan leadership and cut off its funding streams.
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He also advocated for the designation of two additional entities allegedly controlled by the Maduro regime – Cartel de los Soles and DGCIM – as terrorist organizations, citing the need to protect American national security.
“The days of the Maduro regime exploiting America under the previous administration’s weak appeasement policies are over,” Senator Scott declared. “Together, we can strip Maduro of every last resource he is using to grip onto power and finally bring a new day of freedom to Venezuela.”
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