Removal of the Use of United States Forces for Hostilities Within or Against Venezuela

Floor Speech

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Mr. CRAWFORD. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Mast for yielding and for his leadership on this critical issue.

Mr. Speaker, make no mistake about it, we are not at war with Venezuela.

Nicolas Maduro is a murderer, an autocrat, a narcoterrorist, and a thug who has oppressed his own people, stolen elections, and turned a once prosperous and free country into a desperate nation that millions have fled.

Most importantly, as for the action that the United States took against him on January 3, he is a criminal, an indicted fugitive from U.S. justice.

My colleagues on the other side of the aisle have demanded Maduro's removal for years, after the stolen 2024 election, the fraudulent 2018 election, and the Constituent Assembly power grab in 2017.

In fact, H. Res. 1409 of the 118th Congress is a Democrat-sponsored resolution with the unambiguous title of ``Standing in solidarity with the Venezuelan people and condemning Nicolas Maduro's attempt to steal the Venezuelan Presidential election.''

Here is another Democratic hit, H.R. 8741 of the 118th Congress, pointing to the threat to our homeland, defining Maduro as a person of concern who has engaged in a ``long-term pattern or serious instances of activity adverse to the national security of the United States, the security of critical infrastructure of the United States, or the safety and security of United States persons.''

Who can forget Democrat-sponsored H.R. 5670 of the 118th Congress that succinctly called for ``an end to the usurpation of Presidential authorities by Nicolas Maduro.''

Instead of celebrating President Trump's historic leadership on this issue and the unmatched operational excellence of the United States military, law enforcement officers, and the intelligence community in carrying out this historic and heroic effort, House Democrats are once again putting politics before protecting the American people.

Mr. Speaker, this hypocrisy is evident in the message coming from congressional Democrats. Earlier this month, Chuck Schumer stated that President Trump ``seems content to drag our country . . . into an endless war with no plan, no transparency, and nothing but wishful thinking.'' Nothing could be further from the truth.

Operation Absolute Resolve was a masterfully, meticulously planned law enforcement operation supported by the U.S. military.

I don't know how much clearer we must be with our colleagues on the other side of the aisle, but the U.S. is not at war with Venezuela. None of the actions taken by the Trump administration to execute an arrest warrant on a criminal constitutes war.

The Trump administration has briefed both Chambers of Congress in detail on the operation to bring Maduro to justice, an action the Democrats in this Chamber would have celebrated had it been carried out by the feckless and failed Biden administration.

Additionally, Secretary Rubio confirmed again to Congress on January 14 that there are currently no U.S. troops in Venezuela and that the introduction of U.S. Armed Forces into future hostilities will be undertaken consistent with notification of the War Powers Resolution if required.

Mr. Speaker, the hypocrisy of House Democrats is palpable this afternoon in this Chamber.

I urge each of my colleagues to vote down this deeply flawed resolution and instead thank President Trump for continuing to take historic action to place the safety of the American people first.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Mast for his partnership and leadership.

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