Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) has reintroduced the Preserving Accountability for National Assets (PANA) Act alongside Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX), Marco Rubio (R-FL), and others to the 118th Congress. The bill’s purpose is to seize the assets of individuals of the Chavez and Maduro regimes convicted of corruption and hold them in the “Venezuela Restoration Fund.”
They believe these funds and assets can be used by the State Department for “building up Venezuelan democracy and civil society.”
Sen. Scott said that the money seized from corrupt “thugs” in Venezuela “deserve to be returned to the people.”
“Maduro and his thugs are ruthless and corrupt. Any money or assets seized relating to their corrupt activities deserve to be returned to the people of Venezuela. I am grateful for Senators Cruz and Rubio for their support of this important issue to restore Democracy and civil society to the people of Venezuela that they so desperately deserve,” said Sen. Scott.
Sen. Cruz mentioned that this legislation will work towards restoring freedom in Venezuela.
“Corruption is rampant among the leading individuals connected to the Chavez and Maduro regimes in Venezuela. Venezuelans have seen billions of dollars stolen from them, leaving their country impoverished. This bill will hold bad actors accountable and provide much-needed support to those Venezuelans who are working to restore freedom in their country,” said Sen. Cruz.
Moreover, Sen. Rubio noted that the Venezuelan people have “paid the price of [Maduro and Chavez regimes’] misgovernance and incompetence.”
“Assets recovered from the criminal Maduro and Chavez regimes should be used to help the people of Venezuela who have paid the price of their misgovernment and incompetence. Rebuilding Venezuela's democracy, the rule of law, and a prosperous future requires strengthening the nation’s democratic governance and its institutions,” stated Sen. Rubio.
According to Sen. Cruz’s press release, the United States has already “identified, prosecuted, and convicted corrupt individuals that have profited from the Venezuelan regimes of Hugo Chavez and Nicolas Maduro.”
Other than Cruz and Rubio, Senators Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), John Barrasso (R-WY), and Todd Young (R-IN) joined in the effort.
With Representative Mike Johnson (R-LA) elected Speaker of the House, the bill has a chance to make it to the President’s desk.
