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[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 486 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>

118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 486

 Commending Maria Corina Machado as Venezuela's legitimate presidential 
                         opposition candidate.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            December 5, 2023

    Mr. Scott of Florida (for himself and Mr. Rubio) submitted the 
 following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign 
                               Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
 Commending Maria Corina Machado as Venezuela's legitimate presidential 
                         opposition candidate.

Whereas, on October 26, 2023, Maria Corina Machado was declared the winner of 
        the primary election that was held by the National Primary Commission of 
        Venezuela;
Whereas the primary election drew more than 2,400,000 voters in Venezuela and 
        abroad;
Whereas the intent of the National Primary Commission was to choose a candidate 
        to oppose the illegitimate Nicolas Maduro regime in Venezuela's 2024 
        presidential election;
Whereas the National Primary Commission successfully organized and carried out 
        the primary election despite obstacles, threats, and attacks by the 
        illegitimate Maduro regime;
Whereas Maria Corina Machado deserves the recognition of the United States and 
        all democratic states as Venezuela's duly chosen presidential opposition 
        candidate;
Whereas the Biden administration should rally the international community to 
        recognize Maria Corina Machado as the legitimate leader of the 
        Venezuelan opposition in furtherance of the administration's stated goal 
        of supporting free and fair elections in Venezuela, and Venezuela's 
        return to democratic governance;
Whereas the United States Government should not recognize the results of the 
        general elections in Venezuela unless Maria Corina Machado is officially 
        allowed to run as the legitimate presidential candidate of the 
        opposition in Venezuela's 2024 presidential election without repression, 
        the election is free, fair, transparent, and internationally supervised, 
        and all political prisoners are released unconditionally;
Whereas the United States and all democratic states must stand with the people 
        of Venezuela in their quest to restore civil, political, and human 
        rights;
Whereas, because the illegitimate Maduro regime has forced millions of 
        Venezuelans into exile and potential disenfranchisement, the United 
        States and the international community must support the Venezuelan 
        diaspora's voice and its right to be recognized in Venezuela's 2024 
        presidential election; and
Whereas, on October 30, 2023, the illegitimate supreme court of Nicolas Maduro 
        declared the suspension of ``all effects'' of the Venezuelan primary 
        election, thereby negating the deal between the Maduro regime and the 
        opposition that was facilitated by the United States Government: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) commends Maria Corina Machado as Venezuela's official 
        presidential opposition candidate;
            (2) condemns efforts by the illegitimate Maduro regime to 
        prevent Maria Corina Machado from participating in Venezuela's 
        2024 presidential election;
            (3) rejects the illegitimate Maduro regime's efforts to 
        carry out fraudulent presidential elections, including barring 
        the participation of the opposition candidate chosen by the 
        Venezuelan voters;
            (4) demands that the illegitimate Maduro regime permit 
        reputable election observers, such as the Organization of 
        American States, the European Union, the International 
        Republican Institute, the National Democratic Institute, and 
        other credible organizations;
            (5) calls for the immediate, unconditional release of all 
        political prisoners in Venezuela;
            (6) denounces efforts by the illegitimate Maduro regime to 
        persecute its political opponents, such as members of the 
        National Primary Commission;
            (7) condemns efforts by the illegitimate supreme court of 
        Venezuela to invalidate the primary election held by the 
        National Primary Commission; and
            (8) urges the President to strengthen and reimpose 
        sanctions because the negotiated conditions have not been met.
                                 <all>
```