Florida Democrats Release Statement Following Vote to Invoke the War Powers Act

Washington, DC - Today, all of Florida's Congressional Democrats, including U.S. Representatives Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25), Kathy Castor (FL-14), Frederica Wilson (FL-24), Lois Frankel (FL-22), Darren Soto (FL-09), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20), Maxwell Frost (FL-10), and Jared Moskowitz (FL-23), released a joint statement after voting in favor of H.Con.Res.61 and H.Con.Res.64, resolutions to invoke the War Powers Act:

"As Floridians, we have no illusions about the brutality of the Maduro dictatorship. Venezuelans voted for a peaceful, democratic transition, but Maduro has clung to power through repression and corruption.

"That's why we have condemned President Trump's termination of legal protections for more than 600,000 Venezuelans while he designates Venezuela's de facto rulers as a terror organization. It is hypocritical to claim Venezuela is safe enough to send back innocent people, while also declaring it dangerous enough that we need to send in troops.

"The President has failed to present a clear strategy to Congress or the American people. He has justified his strikes with baseless claims about 'Venezuelan fentanyl' while pardoning major drug traffickers. The President seems more concerned with maximizing oil profits and separating families than bringing the Maduro regime to justice.

"No president can launch military action without the consent of Congress. Allowing this operation to continue without that consultation would set a dangerous precedent that is incompatible with our system of checks and balances.

"Reestablishing the balance of power between Congress and the White House on a topic as serious as war is essential.

"We will stand with the Venezuelan people as they seek a free and democratic Venezuela. We will fight to reverse President Trump's vicious assault on law-abiding Venezuelans with TPS.

"We will not give the President a blank check to exploit their pain and hardship to usurp Congress's power to authorize the use of force."

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