Congressional Record, House of Representatives, Wed. Feb. 11, 2009
HUGO CHAVEZ’S QUEST FOR POWER (Mr. MACK asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute.)
Mr. MACK. Mr. Speaker, this weekend, the Venezuelan people will go to the polls to determine the future of freedom and democracy in their country. Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez, in his continued quest for power, is demanding that the people of Venezuela get rid of presidential term limits. Chavez has just celebrated 10 years in power, and his legacy is clear: Higher poverty, more crime, rampant inflation, growing anti-Semitism, less freedom, alliances with Iran, Russia, and Cuba, and a loss of hope and opportunity for the Venezuelan people. Mr. Speaker, Venezuelans cannot afford to have Chavez leading them into the Communist abyss. Today, I am introducing a resolution calling upon the Members of the House to stand for free and fair elections this weekend in Venezuela. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the important resolution and to stand with the Venezuelan people in their fight for freedom from the iron fist of Hugo Chavez.