Florida Urges Biden to Reimpose Venezuelan Sanctions

TALLAHASSEE, FL --- The Florida Legislature is pushing for strong foreign policy action against Venezuela and their dictator Nicolas Maduro. Following Venezuela's violation of a deal granting sanction relief, Florida has taken steps to urge the federal government to reinstate all sanctions against them.

"The November 30th deadline has passed without compliance," SM 398's sponsor, Sen. Bryan Avila (R-Miami) said in Tuesday's Senate Committee on Governmental Oversight and Accountability, "Despite the Maduro regime breaching the agreement, sanctions have not yet been reinstated."

Signed between the U.S. and Venezuela, Venezuela agreed to grant a level electoral playing field and to release detained U.S. nationals and Venezuelan political prisoners by November 30th. In return, President Biden provided some sanction relief from what was imposed under President Trump: licenses for oil exports, gold mining, and debt trading were reauthorized. Deportation and repatriation flights from the US to Venezuela are also now allowed.

"It is also important to note that Nicolas Maduro and 14 current and former Venezuelan officials are charged with narcoterrorism, corruption, drug trafficking, and other criminal charges by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration," Avila continued, demonstrating the danger of continuing sanction relief.

On the other hand, worries about reinstating sanctions come in the form of America's reliance on Venezuelan crude oil and Europe's need for its natural gas. The sanction relief is likely to boost these important shipments.

Sen. Bryan Avila took Florida's involvement in foreign affairs a step further, proposing another memorial, SM 540, to urge the U.S. Secretary of State to issue a condemnation on the partnership between communist China and Cuba, the establishment of a Chinese eavesdropping facility in Cuba, and a Chinese spy balloon shot down over the U.S. in February of last year.

Both memorials passed their respective committees unanimously, and will continue through the legislative process.