[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 462 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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119th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 462

  Recognizing Nobel Prize winner Maria Corina Machado and reaffirming 
                  support for democracy in Venezuela.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

             October 22 (legislative day, October 21), 2025

Mr. Durbin (for himself, Mr. Scott of Florida, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr. Cruz, 
Mr. Gallego, and Mr. Bennet) submitted the following resolution; which 
           was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Recognizing Nobel Prize winner Maria Corina Machado and reaffirming 
                  support for democracy in Venezuela.

Whereas, on May 20, 2018, Venezuela held Presidential elections that were widely 
        discredited as illegitimate;
Whereas the ensuing years under Nicolas Maduro were marred by devastating 
        economic and political collapse, with millions fleeing the country and 
        others jailed or killed for peacefully opposing the regime;
Whereas, amid that repressive environment, Venezuelan opposition parties 
        conducted a credible Presidential primary election on October 22, 2023, 
        won by former National Assembly member Maria Corina Machado;
Whereas the Maduro regime refused to allow Machado to be on the ballot for the 
        July 2024 Presidential election;
Whereas retired Venezuelan diplomat Edmundo Gonzalez was chosen by the 
        opposition to run in Machado's stead;
Whereas, on July 28, 2024, Gonzalez won two thirds of the vote in a process 
        meticulously and transparently documented by credible election 
        observers;
Whereas the Maduro regime refused to release actual election results and 
        tabulations, instead conducting a sweeping crackdown of opposition 
        leaders and supporters, including arbitrary detentions;
Whereas the Maduro regime refused to swear Gonzalez into office on January 10, 
        2025, leading him to flee the country;
Whereas Machado, at great risk to her safety, has remained in Venezuela in 
        hiding while continuing to call for respect for the election results and 
        a return to democracy; and
Whereas Machado's courageous efforts led to her being awarded the Nobel Peace 
        Prize on October 10, 2025: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) commends Maria Corina Machado for her peaceful and 
        determined effort to see a free and democratic Venezuela;
            (2) congratulates Maria Corina Machado for winning the 
        Nobel Peace Prize;
            (3) demands the Maduro regime ensure her safety and release 
        her colleagues and other political prisoners from detention;
            (4) recognizes the legitimate results of the July 2024 
        Venezuelan election won by Edmundo Gonzalez and expects the 
        Maduro regime to also recognize those results without any 
        further delay; and
            (5) supports the aspirations of the Venezuelan people to 
        reverse the country's tragic decline by freely and 
        democratically choosing their leaders.
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