Media Contact 202-226-8467

Washington, D.C. – House Foreign Affairs Committee Lead Republican Michael McCaul (R-TX) and U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-ID), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement today on the Biden Administration’s plan to again provide unilateral sanctions relief to Venezuela’s criminal network.

“We are deeply troubled by the Biden Administration’s plans to yet again ease sanctions on the narco-terrorist Maduro regime. Instead of pursuing domestic energy solutions to rising global oil prices, the administration is turning to a criminal network known for pretending to negotiate while extorting for sanctions relief.

“Moreover, announcing this deal shortly after the swap for wrongfully detained Americans has the potential to raise the cost on other Americans detained in Venezuela and around the world by dictators. It is past time congressional leadership ensures U.S. policy in Venezuela is strictly tied to a demonstrable transition of power from the Maduro regime to a representative democracy in Venezuela. Anything else will perpetuate Maduro’s stranglehold on Venezuela.”

###