Risch, Rubio on Administration Decision Not to Extend Oil License to Criminal Maduro Regime

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), ranking member of the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, today released the following statement on the Biden Administration's decision not to extend a license to do business with Maduro's oil industry:

"Today's announcement that President Biden will not renew a general license to do business with the Maduro regime's oil and gas sector is long-overdue and insufficient given the realities on the ground in Venezuela. Nicolás Maduro has violated yet another negotiated agreement by undermining the democratic opposition's presidential candidate María Corina Machado. At the same time, Maduro represses Venezuelans at torture centers like El Helicoide and is unjustly holding members of Machado's team.

"Both the United States and the international community must respond to these assaults and continue to hold the Maduro regime accountable. For three long years, President Biden has repeatedly appeased and granted concessions to Maduro and his cronies, even as the criminal regime has increased repression on Venezuelan democratic opposition and continues to threaten neighboring democratic countries.

"The Biden Administration should finally undertake diplomatic efforts to persuade the European Union and other democratic partners to increase sanctions on the regime and enforce the March 2020 indictment of Nicolás Maduro and members of Cártel de Los Soles."

This week, Senators Risch and Rubio urged President Biden to stop emboldening the Maduro regime and to renew economic pressure by not renewing oil sanctions relief. Text of the letter can be found here.

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