As Chairwoman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, Representative María Elvira Salazar (FL-27) addressed the House floor to voice her opposition to H.Con.Res. 61. The resolution, known as the War Powers Resolution, seeks to limit the President’s authority to act against terrorist organizations in the Western Hemisphere, including those operating in Venezuela.
Salazar argued that such limitations are misplaced. “This resolution is fundamentally flawed,” said Rep. Salazar. “The War Powers Resolution does not apply to law enforcement or counter-narcotics operations against indicted terrorists like Nicolás Maduro. What the President is doing does not require congressional approval.”
She further stated that the President holds constitutional and legal authority to protect the United States from terrorist threats and cautioned that adopting this resolution could weaken America’s response to narco-terrorism in Latin America.
“When Maduro is gone and democracy is restored, Venezuela can once again be the most prosperous country in the Caribbean,” Salazar said. “This resolution would only tie the President’s hands.”
Salazar concluded by urging other members of Congress to vote against H.Con.Res. 61.