Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, on previous occasions I have spoken about the loss of Shannon Melendi, a beautiful girl who attended my alma mater, Southwest Miami High School, and whose life was taken tragically as a teenager in 1994. As their Congresswoman and friend, I thank the Melendi Family for keeping us vigilant. I would like to share an eloquently written story about Shannon by Anne (Martinez) Vasquez, Associate Editor at the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, which was published by the newspaper on March 25, 2014:

Shannon Melendi's death Still Stings, 20 Years Later

What I would give to relive those days of playing with our

collection of cheap drugstore makeup sprawled on the bedroom

floor as we plotted our outfits and gossiped about boys.

Shannon Melendi and I became fast friends at the cusp of

adolescence, when you dream of days still decades away and

fantasize about chapters in your life you've yet to write.

Tears still sting my eyes when I think of the final chapter

of Shannon's short life: At 19, a sophomore at Emory

University, she disappeared on a Saturday afternoon after

going on a lunch break from her part-time job as a

scorekeeper at a softball field in suburban Atlanta.

The year was 1994, 20 years ago this week. It would be

another painful 12 years before the man long suspected of

kidnapping Shannon confessed.

Shannon's body was never found. There was no funeral, no

official moment to mourn. Instead, the last 20 years have

unfolded in surreal fashion, where life goes on for Shannon's

closest family and friends even as we've struggled to fill in

the blanks, a search for answers that never come.

Only now, as I reflect on the twists and turns of my life,

do I realize the imprint that Shannon's story has left on my

soul, a silent narrative that has molded my evolution as an

adult and, ultimately, as a mother. The underlying lesson

lingering in my subconsciousness: If evil can strike on a

Saturday afternoon--snatching a smart 19-year-old with quick

wit, the president of her high school senior class, an

aspiring lawyer, a champion debater, the daughter of present

and caring parents--it can happen to anyone, anywhere.

Evil strikes

I woke up on Tuesday morning, March 29, 1994, with my

father handing me a small clipping buried inside the Local

section of The Miami Herald. I found the concerned look on my

father's face puzzling, until I read the brief article, just

a few lines long, saying Shannon's parents had flown to

Atlanta after learning she had gone missing.

The rest of the week was a blur until I went to see

Shannon's younger sister, Monique, who was staying with her

aunt and grandparents. She turned 14 years old five days

after Shannon disappeared, and I wanted to bring her a

present. I sought to revisit happier times, when the Melendi

family would invite me to join them on their vacations to the

Florida Keys. Endless summer days where I first learned to

water ski, jump waves and conquer my fear of treading open

water.

In the weeks and months--even years--that followed, Shannon

regularly paid me visits in my dreams. In many, I would

replay our last chance encounter, which took place just a

couple of weeks before Shannon disappeared.

A complete fluke, I had spotted Shannon among a sea of

Spring Breakers in Daytona Beach, a rare place for either of

us to visit. I walked in her direction until she came into

clear focus. Yes, it was Shannon. For a few fleeting minutes,

we laughed and reminisced. We caught up on where our college

lives were taking us. We made plans to see each other a few

weeks later when she would be back in Miami visiting her

family. Then we hugged and went our separate ways.

It was the last time I saw Shannon. I didn't know it at the

time, but it was my chance to say goodbye. She would be gone

before the month came to a close.

Fighting the monster

As the years went by without word of what became of

Shannon, my dreams began to reflect the anger I bottled deep

inside.

In one recurring dream, it's late in the evening in some

unnamed town in the middle of America. I walk into a

restaurant for a bite. The room is dark and bustling with

customers. I take a seat in a booth and see Shannon sitting

across from her captor. Her hands are not tied, but she's not

moving, not trying to escape. She's scared or drugged or

both, I reason. I approach their table, see a spark of hope

in Shannon's eyes and quickly find others who help me hold

down the man who had stolen Shannon from her family. We

pummel him. Shannon returns home.

My anger also manifested itself in other ways.

I made decisions determined not to cede power to the

monster. I fought the fear that evil could lurk behind any

corner.

I jumped at the chance to intern at The Boston Globe rather

than spend the summer at a local paper. I walked to and from

my apartment many late evenings holding a stun gun wrapped in

a newspaper. Years later, as a reporter for The Miami Herald,

I'd live and work in Sao Paulo, Brazil, for several months,

riding the subway and making my way in another language in an

unknown city five times the size of New York City.

I moved across the country to Northern California, where I

worked and lived for seven years. A visit to Yosemite, on

assignment in Mexico or vacationing in Vancouver, I'd imagine

crossing paths with Shannon and putting an end to the tragic

mystery.

Anger turns into fear

Then I became a mother and the anger gave way to fear.

My firstborn was just shy of two years old when Colvin

``Butch'' Hinton III, a man with a history of harming young

girls, confessed to kidnapping and murdering Shannon. Hinton,

an umpire at the softball field where Shannon kept score,

said he had set out to commit murder on March 26, 1994. He

had targeted another woman but changed his plans when he

spotted Shannon.

Hinton said he held Shannon at knifepoint, tied her up in

his home, repeatedly raped her--in between catching a movie

at a local theater in an effort to create an alibi--and

ultimately strangled her in the early morning hours of March

27.

The unspeakable details resurfaced my dormant pain.

As my son's independence blossomed--and with that his

ability to walk away from me at a department store or at a

park--I found myself fighting a constant unease. I wanted--

needed--to know where he was at every moment.

Most parents take their children to the park to relax, sit

back and let their kids play. That will never be me.

I'll never forget spending one afternoon at a local water

park with several of my son's friends. The other mothers

positioned their chairs in the shallow water to chat and

sunbathe. They didn't fuss, completely confident that their

kids were safe. I stood the entire time, sloshing through the

kneehigh water to make sure my son emerged from the labyrinth

of slides.

Dealing with my vigilant watch is a reality my children

have learned to accept: My 9-year-old son understands why

last summer I had him skip a field trip to the water park. My

4-year-old daughter recites to me how I shouldn't speak to

strangers. I live in constant battle with myself, wrestling

with a deep-seated desire to fuel my children's independence

while also fighting a fear that harm may come their way.

Both of my children know, to varying degrees, Shannon's

story. They know the world can be cruel, but they also exude

a spirit of boundless optimism. They see themselves as the

superheroes who can change the world.

I hope they do.

Timeline: The Shannon Melendi murder

March 26, 1994: Shannon Melendi, a South Florida native and

19-year-old Emory University sophomore, vanishes on a

Saturday afternoon from her part-time job as a scorekeeper at

a softball field in suburban Atlanta.

March 27, 1994: Shannon's parents, Luis and Yvonne Melendi,

get word that Shannon has been missing for more than 24

hours. They make arrangements to fly to Atlanta. In the

ensuing weeks, volunteers and friends plaster streets with

``MISSING'' posters bearing Shannon's photo. Print and TV

media in South Florida and Atlanta follow the story closely.

April 6, 1994: A caller to an Emory University hot line

claims he is holding Shannon captive. As proof, the caller

leaves a ring belonging to Shannon, enclosed in a bag, inside

the pay phone where the call was made.

April 12, 1994: Police search the home of Colvin ``Butch''

Hinton III, an umpire at the softball field the day Shannon

was last seen. Hinton has a criminal record of sexual

assaults.

September 1994: A fire damages Hinton's home.

October 20, 1994: The Melendi family and friends of Shannon

attend a vigil and press conference at Emory University on

what would have been Shannon's 20th birthday. Luis and Yvonne

Melendi keep Shannon's story alive in the local and national

media for years to come.

March 26, 1995: Southwest 48th Street in Miami-Dade County

is renamed Shannon Melendi Drive. The street runs in front of

Southwest Miami Senior High School, where Shannon was class

president and a prominent student.

June 1995: A federal grand jury indicts Hinton for arson,

suggesting Hinton set fire to his home to collect insurance

money.

January 1996: Hinton is convicted of arson and sent to

federal prison.

December 2003: Hinton is released from federal prison.

August 2004: Authorities arrest Hinton, using a grand jury

indictment that accuses Hinton of murdering Shannon Melendi.

September 2005: A jury convicts Hinton of murder. He is

sentenced to life in prison.

June 2006: The Georgia Supreme Court upholds Hinton's

conviction.

July 17, 2006: Hinton confesses to kidnapping, raping and

murdering Shannon, after his appeal was denied.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak in support of those fighting for freedom in Venezuela.

This morning our House Foreign Affairs Committee passed my bipartisan measure, H.R. 4587, the Venezuelan Human Rights and Democracy Protection Act, which will sanction members of the Maduro regime responsible for gross human rights violations.

Just a few days ago, Mr. Speaker, Human Rights Watch released a deeply troubling report that made clear that there has been ``a serious pattern of abuse by Venezuelan security forces.''

The report mentions stories like that of Lisandro Barazarte, a 40- year-old photographer for a local newspaper who said, ``I live in suspense, because I don't know from where they are going to shoot at me.'' Or Jose Romero, only 17 years old, who was stopped by a national guardsman when coming out of a metro station and was taken to a building where he was threatened with death, beaten, and even burned.

Even as this brutality continues, the Obama administration and Congress have yet to act. I urge my colleagues to support bringing this important measure, which is bipartisan, to the floor immediately to support the people of Venezuela and to send a clear signal to the Maduro regime that his reign of oppression will have serious consequences.

Mr. Speaker, as we continue to celebrate National Foster Care Month, I would like to recognize the dedicated foster families, social workers, and service providers for their work to support the nearly 400,000 youth who are part of our country's foster care system.

Our Kids of Miami-Dade/Monroe, Foster Care Review, and CHARLEE of Dade County are just a few of the many organizations that work each and every day in our south Florida community to find a stable home with a devoted and loving family for our youth.

While May has been designated as National Foster Care Month, the work to ensure that every child has a safe and permanent family does not stop when the calendar turns. In fact, before the end of this year, Mr. Speaker, at least 23,000 of these vulnerable members of our society will age out of the foster care system. Research has shown that these young individuals are at a heightened risk of poverty, homelessness, incarceration, and early parenthood.

I encourage my congressional colleagues and every person across our Nation to work together so that we can

change these tragic facts and figures for the betterment of our youth and the improvement of our society.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Sessions for his inspiring leadership on the Rules Committee on every issue, but most especially as he spearheaded the creation of this select committee on Benghazi to examine what happened, what led to this attack, and what has happened since. Thank you for your leadership, Chairman Sessions.

Mr. Speaker, I stand here to fully support this measure, but it really is unfortunate, it is sad, it is tragic that it has come to this. We shouldn't have to be here today debating the rule and, later, the underlying resolution on having to form a select committee to be able to get to the truth about what happened on that tragic day and night of September 11, 2012; but, unfortunately, our patience has been sorely tried, so here we are.

The administration has, for nearly 2 years now, been stonewalling and obfuscating, anything it can do, to avoid letting the truth out about that tragic terrorist attack in our consulate in Benghazi, Libya.

As chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee at the time of the attack, as Chairman Sessions has pointed out, I know, perhaps as well as any of our colleagues, just how much the administration has been trying to protect this false narrative and President Obama, the narrative that Libya was a political success. Repeated requests for more protection were ignored.

When the Accountability Review Board report was released, I planned on convening a hearing to examine the assessment and the recommendations; but in true stalling fashion, the State Department did not release the report to us until about 8:30 p.m., just a few hours before our hearing was set to begin.

Then, of course, there was a new song and dance every time we tried to secure a date for Secretary Clinton to come before our House Foreign Affairs Committee to testify.

We would even have taken any administration official, for that matter. It took 3 months for the administration to provide us with witnesses, and it did not provide Secretary Clinton to our committee until the following year.

This is not the moves, Mr. Speaker, of an administration that had planned on being the most transparent in history. In fact, this administration has been anything but transparent, as we

have seen with the emails, having been the latest revelation in the never-ending attempt to avoid telling the American public the full truth about what happened, what was the lead up to the terrorist attack, what happened during the many hours of that firefight, and what happened to all of those documents afterwards

That is why, Mr. Speaker, we need this select committee, to get the truth out there for the American public, so that we can have an open and honest debate about what happened on that fateful day and to ensure that we can do everything in our power to prevent another terrorist attack like this from happening in the future.

Let's remember these names, Mr. Speaker: Ambassador Chris Stevens, Information Officer Sean Smith, and former Navy SEALs Tyrone Woods and Glen Doherty. These are names that the American people need to remember each and every day.

Mr. Speaker, some folks have mentioned the fundraising aspect of this Benghazi investigation, and that is rather sad and pathetic to bring that up, but it is interesting because I was reading a newspaper article.

It is interesting that this says that the Democrats are fundraising off GOP fundraising off Benghazi. It is a very interesting article, and I hope that all of our colleagues will look at it.

It is an article, and it says:

Contribute now, Democrats 2014.

I am not pointing fingers and calling names; but if we are going to get blamed for something, I think that there is enough blame to go around. To sensationalize this and to fundraise off it, this is something some groups are trying to do, but I believe that the pot is calling the kettle black.

Mr. Chairman, thank you for your respected leadership on this issue. The American people deserve to know the truth. We must not keep promoting a false narrative. Libya was not a political success. Libya continues, to this day, to be a tinderbox waiting to explode.

Terrorist groups are all over the place. Let's not ignore the facts on the ground. Let's get to the truth about what happened to Benghazi, and having this select committee is a way to get to the truth--pure and simple--no politics.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate the team from Hebrew Academy in South Florida for winning this year's National Council of Synagogue Youth JUMP competition.

Schools across the country were charged with creating events related to Israel advocacy, Jewish values, Holocaust remembrance, and bullying prevention. Through this competition, students develop and build critical aspects of leadership that can be applied throughout their lives.

For their team's winning project, the Hebrew Academy JUMP team created an Israel awareness day, developed a bullying awareness week and discussion groups about cliques and bullying, and created a remembrance project that engaged Holocaust survivors to have their stories integrated in their school's Holocaust curriculum.

I congratulate these impressive students on what they have accomplished for our community and for their victory in the national competition.

At this time, Mr. Speaker, I would like to submit into the Record the names of the exceptional Hebrew Academy JUMP team members.

They are students Jackie Olemberg, Alix Klein, Ariela Stein, Jacob Mitrani, Ariela Isrealov, Merah Frank, Adina Bronstein, Shane Hershkowitz, Madison Emas, Danny Bister; and faculty Rabbi Avi Fried.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about Debbie's Dream Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing stomach cancer research, and it recently hosted its Fifth Annual Dream Makers Gala in my area in south Florida.

Each year, the event mobilizes efforts to fight stomach cancer, a disease that will be diagnosed in more than 22,000 Americans and kill almost 11,000 Americans this year alone. Although stomach cancer is the second most prevalent cancer killer worldwide, it receives the least amount of Federal funding for death of any type of cancer.

I was proud to lead a letter with my fellow Floridian colleague, Lois Frankel, and 55 of our House colleagues to include stomach cancer in a list of cancers eligible for Department of Defense research funding.

Thanks to Debbie Zelman, her incredible team, and their determination and perseverance, we can help Debbie's Dream of curing stomach cancer a reality soon.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring attention to the case of Juliet Michelena Diaz, an independent Afro-Cuban journalist who last month was unjustly detained by Castro's thugs simply for photographing the brutality of the state security forces of Fidel Castro in Havana.

The detention of this young journalist is not just an example of the regime's efforts to silence those who are critical of its actions, but it also shows how ruthless the Castro brothers continue to be in their policy of repressing independent voices and violating human rights.

There is no independent press in Cuba and many journalists are afraid to speak out against the dictatorship for fear of incarceration. That is why it is so important to support the free flow of information on the island so that the Cuban people can exchange ideas to promote democratic principles and the rule of law.

Mr. Speaker, along with my colleagues Lois Capps and Ted Deutch, I introduced the Truth in Advertising Act, a bill that could help reduce the negative health impact of photoshopped images in advertising.

Photoshopped ads can promote unrealistic expectations of the human body, leading to tragic emotional, mental, and physical health problems. Academic evidence has already shown the connection between very thin models in advertising and body image issues, one of the major contributing factors to eating disorders.

The Truth in Advertising Act does not impose new regulations, but simply asks the Federal Trade Commission to work with stakeholders to investigate how to confront this important public health issue while ensuring that freedom of speech is protected.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to cosponsor this bill so that we can find the best way to stop the destructive impact of photoshopping on eating disorders.

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to celebrate the long and successful public service career of Maria De La Milera and congratulate her on a well-deserved retirement. Her commitment to our community and our nation is exemplary and we are all forever grateful for her service. With over 30 years of experience and countless accolades and accomplishments over such an expansive career, South Floridians are truly losing an invaluable member of the fabric of our community.

Maria was born in Holguin, Oriente, Cuba, the oldest of three daughters. After the brutal dictator Fidel Castro seized power, Maria came with her younger sister to the United States in the largest exodus of unaccompanied children from the regime--known as ``Pedro Pan.'' She then spent four years in a Los Angeles orphanage until her parents were finally able to join her in the United States.

As an adult, Maria moved to Miami and began her career helping our South Florida community through public service, working as a constituent service representative for Senator Richard Stone. She continued her career in the office of Senator Paula Hawkins, focusing primarily on immigration cases where she earned a reputation as a caring and compassionate advocate on behalf of all those needing a helping hand. Her commitment to others allowed her to positively shape the lives of many individuals.

Maria then spent a few years in the political realm as Executive Director of the Republican Party of Miami-Dade County, and then joined the government of Miami-Dade County, where she spent the last 23 years supporting our local residents. She has long been known for inspiring those around her, people who will undoubtedly carry on her legacy of professionalism and commitment. There is no greater reward than the satisfaction gained through serving others, and Maria embraced this most noble of endeavors with remarkable principle.

It is my distinct pleasure to join Maria's family; her children Beatriz Maria, Maritza Isabel and Raul De La Milera, Jr.; her grandchildren Michael, Mathew, Madison, Mark, Laenie and Rachel; as well as friends and peers as they honor her many accomplishments and outstanding career. Maria, thank you for your exceptional public service. I wish you only the best in any challenge you choose next to accept.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize the Florida Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association (FCBF) on its successful 55th Annual Gala.

FCBF was founded in 1960 by several Miami brokers and forwarders. Since then, it has thrived as a positive forum for the interchange of ideas; a promoter greater industry knowledge and ideals; and a powerful advocate on behalf of brokers and forwarders.

From these humble beginnings, FCBF has grown into one of the most influential and active members of the Florida freight forwarding and customs brokerage community. FCBF's active and experienced volunteer professionals have been at the forefront of matters that directly affect their industry, encouraging the development of common sense international trade policies that can help our nation thrive and protect our fragile economic recovery. Its professionals are equally committed to fostering positive working relationships amongst the trade community and federal agencies, creating a healthier environment for economic development and job creation in our state and our nation. Small business owners like customs brokers and forwarders are vital to our South Florida economy and it will be through their success that we will be able to realize true private sector jobs growth.

FCBF's annual gala celebrated over half a century of accomplishment and included the induction of John Ballestero of PortMiami, Lilly Cabrera of Lilly & Associates, Nelly Yunta of Customized Brokerage, Raymond Jones of Florida East Coast Railway, and Jorge Rodriguez into its hall of fame. FCBF was also proud to recognize the contributions of both Florida East Coast Railway and Florida Governor Rick Scott.

Congratulations again to the Florida Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association on its

recent gala and I wish all of its members continued success in the years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to wish a happy and healthy 85th birthday to Sister Jeanne O'Laughlin.

For 23 years, Sister Jeanne served as the fifth president at Barry University, and made it the fourth-largest private university in my home State of Florida. It is because of Sister Jeanne's vision and enthusiasm in taking on such a challenging responsibility that Barry University has now expanded from 16 to 55 buildings on its campus, and increased its enrollment to more than 9,000 while maintaining its goal of academic excellence.

Sister Jeanne has also been an active member of our community in civic and professional associations, and has been the recipient of several accolades related to her work. She became the first woman to be a member of both the Orange Bowl Committee and the Non-Group of Miami- Dade County. The south Florida community is truly blessed to have the benefit of Sister Jeanne's experience. Her tenacity is a beacon of hope to us all.

Happy birthday, Sister Jeanne, and many more.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to speak for those who are being violently muzzled by the autocratic Maduro regime in Venezuela.

This regime has used every arm of the state to attack its political opponents, resulting in at least 39 dead and many more imprisoned.

One of these leaders is Leopoldo Lopez, whom we can see in this poster, who has been unjustly detained in a military prison for almost 7 weeks and who now faces a 14-year prison sentence just for protesting peacefully to promote democratic principles.

The arrest of Leopoldo Lopez has nothing to do with justice and everything to do with silencing the political opposition and the Venezuelans' call for democracy; yet the Obama administration still has not taken any action against Maduro, and it has failed to hold human rights violators accountable.

This communicates a dangerous indifference that is painful not only to the Venezuelan people, but to all who care about freedom and human rights, and it further erodes the little credibility we have on the international stage.

Let's listen to the people of Venezuela.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share some words written by Anne Vasquez about the tragic loss of a teen from my Miami high school:

Shannon Melendi and I became fast friends. Tears still

sting my eyes when I think of the final chapters of Shannon's

short life.

At 19, a sophomore at Emory, she disappeared on a Saturday

afternoon lunch break from her job at a softball field in

suburban Atlanta.

The year was 1994. It would be another painful 12 years

before the suspect confessed.

Shannon's body was never found. No funeral, no official

moment to mourn. The last 20 years have unfolded in surreal

fashion.

A smart 19-year-old with quick wit, the president of her

high school senior class, an aspiring lawyer, a champion

debater, the daughter of present and caring parents--it can

happen to anyone, anywhere.

Indeed.

Thank you, Anne. Shannon, we'll always remember you.

Madam Speaker, there has been a lot of misinformation today about the Cuban Twitter program. This is not a secret program. Cuba democracy programs are public.

Both USAID and State publicly put out requests for proposals from different NGOs or private businesses to administer and implement our Cuba democracy programs.

The objective of these programs is to provide greater access to information to those suffering under the repressive regime. The Cuban dictatorship controls, censors, and blocks information going into the island to deny Cubans the ability to hear about world events or about the human rights violations occurring throughout the island in their very own country.

The funds help provide technology-based training to get through--to cut through the censorship of the Castro brothers. Our goal is to stimulate new ideas to help the Cuban people tackle pressing issues such as human rights abuses.

These new technology programs are also aimed at reaching out to the Cuban youth to share experiences and provide them with the tools to build their capacity for grassroots organizing to promote democracy, liberty, and freedom. The Cuban people deserve freedom.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address the crisis in Ukraine, Putin's rising aggression and intransigence in the face of increased international opprobrium, and the failure of American leadership that has allowed these recent events to transpire.

This is yet another example of Vladimir Putin looking at President Obama's foreign policy and making the calculation that he can do whatever he wants without fear that the White House will react with anything other than empty threats.

We have seen this time and time again, so much so that the President's lead from behind policy has not only eroded our influence and credibility around the world, it has hurt our relations with other countries, and it has shown tyrants like Putin, Assad, Maduro, Kim Jung Un, Khamenei, and the Castros that the U.S. lacks the courage of its convictions.

Putin has annexed Crimea, and we would be foolish to think that he will stop there as he seeks to reestablish Russia as more than just a regional power, and the Obama administration has misguidedly dismissed Putin and his provocations as those of a weakened Russia acting out.

This is an astonishing view to take and one that could seriously harm our U.S. national security interests if we continue to downplay these threats.

In 1994, the United States, along with Ukraine and Russia, signed the Budapest memorandum. In that agreement, all sides agreed to respect Ukraine's territorial sovereignty if Ukraine returned the nuclear weapons it inherited after the fall of the Soviet empire. We gave our guarantee to protect Ukraine's borders, a guarantee that we clearly did not keep.

What kind of message is the United States sending to the world again?

You can bet that Rouhani and Khamenei are sitting in Iran, and they are paying very close attention, Mr. Speaker. They are making the calculations right now, and they are betting that perhaps they will face no repercussions if they abandoned the negotiations and actively and openly pursue nuclear weapons.

President Obama's lack of leadership and strength has shown that the umbrella of U.S. security that so many have relied upon is not as wide nor as durable as they once thought.

The House and the Senate have acted to pass sanctions legislation against Putin over his actions in Crimea, but it is clear that Putin is not going to be deterred by this.

It may be a case of too little, too late because the administration failed to take decisive action from the get-go, just like it had in Iran and Syria before this and just like it is now failing to do in Venezuela.

While Obama threatens consequences for Putin over his Crimea provocations--and fails to act on these words--he hasn't even mustered up the fortitude to even feign strong condemnations for Maduro and his thugs in Venezuela, as they continue to brutally oppress the opposition in Venezuela, the opposition that is calling for reforms and democracy.

Mr. Speaker, I have here a poster of Maria Corina Machado, a valiant human rights leader in Venezuela, and she is just one of the many victims of Maduro's thuggery.

There have been 30 people killed as a result of Maduro's violent attempts to oppress dissent, while opposition leaders like Leopoldo Lopez have been unjustly detained over a month now in military prison, and Maria Corina Machado has been stripped of her seat in the national assembly, thus revoking her immunity, her protection, suggesting that Maduro and his goons will soon be coming to take her away to a military prison.

Yet again, President Obama chooses to lead from behind. The administration has repeatedly said that we need to work with the Organization of American States to hold Maduro accountable, but that body is even more afraid to call out Maduro than this administration.

Mr. Speaker, 5 years of failed foreign policy from this administration is really coming home to roost, and that means dire consequences for the American people, for the people of Venezuela, for the people of Ukraine, and for freedom-seeking people throughout the world.

It is time for the administration to take an active role in foreign policy for the sake of American national security and for the sake of the future of democracy. It is time to quit this leading from behind. It is time to restore American leadership, and that is the only way to make the world a safer place.