Mucarsel-Powell's bill provides Venezuelan humanitarian aide

Democrat Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell  is championing the passage of legislation to increase Humanitarian Assistance to the Venezuelan people.

At a time when tensions are rising in the country because of insufficient food, medicine and a communist regime that oppresses its people by stripping them of their basic human rights, lawmakers have been actively working to not only support the people of Venezuela but to also support Juan Guaidó, who many have acknowledged as the interim-President of the country.

The passage of the legislation would provide humanitarian assistance to the Venezuelan people, which includes Venezuelan migrants and refugees in the Americas. In addition, the legislation would also require the Trump administration to develop a strategy for directing humanitarian aid to the Venezuelan people, and a condemnation of Venezuela’s security forces blocking and diverting humanitarian aid.

In response to the passage of the legislation, Mucarsel-Powell commented that “since my first day in Congress, I have been a loud and proud advocate for the Venezuelan community in Congress.” She added that she “couldn’t be happier that the House of Representatives today showed full and unanimous support for the Venezuelan people in their journey to peacefully restore their democracy.” Finally, the freshman Congresswoman concluded that “the United States will not stand idly… while Maduro allows his own people to die from starvation, a lack of access to basic medicine, and brutal repression by his security forces.”

Nicolas Maduro has faced backlash from many world leaders and lawmakers, and there have been numerous calls for him to step down as President of Venezuela.

Before her legislation was passed, Mucarsel-Powell detailed that “Maduro has proven that he is willing to let his own people suffer and die rather than accept international aid.” In turn, she asserted that “the Administration must show they are strategically trying everything they can to get the aid to the Venezuelan people inside the country… that is what this bill will achieve.”