Durbin Introduced Bill To Halt U.S. Investments In Venezuela's Energy Sector Until Legitimate 2024 Election Results Are Respected
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today introduced a bill terminating all U.S. petroleum cooperation and petroleum-related trade with Venezuela until the legitimate results of the recent Venezuelan election are respected. On July 28, 2024, more than 10 million Venezuelans peacefully voted in the presidential election, with results meticulously compiled by credible election monitors showing an overwhelming victory for opposition candidate, Edmundo González, over President Nicolás Maduro. The regime issued an arrest warrant for González and brazenly refused to swear him in as President on January 10, the country’s Inauguration Day. The Maduro regime currently uses oil revenues dependent on U.S. involvement to maintain its police state. Durbin filed the bill as an amendment to the annual defense authorization bill last year. A bipartisan companion bill was reintroduced in the House earlier this month.
“Despite the sweeping and clear opposition victory in the Venezuelan presidential election, the Maduro regime refused to release the results, announced that it had won instead, arbitrarily arrested thousands of opposition supporters, and refused to allow President-elect González to be sworn in on January 10, Venezuela’s Inauguration Day,” said Durbin. “We must put an end to the outright theft of the Venezuelan voters’ overwhelming choice for a better future. That’s why I introduced a bill today terminating all U.S. petroleum cooperation and related trade with Venezuela until the legitimate results of the country’s recent presidential election are respected. The Maduro regime clings to power using oil revenues dependent on U.S. involvement. Under this bill, that will end, and so will Maduro’s financial strength.”
Durbin traveled to Venezuela in April 2018, during which time he met with then National Assembly Member Juan Guaidó as well as Nicolás Maduro, warning him that pursuing a sham election the following month would further isolate his autocratic regime.
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