1     
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION CONDEMNING THE

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UNDEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT OF VENEZUELA

3     
2022 GENERAL SESSION

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STATE OF UTAH

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Chief Sponsor: Jordan D. Teuscher

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Senate Sponsor: Lincoln Fillmore

7     Cosponsors:
8     Cheryl K. Acton
9     Kera Birkeland
10     Brady Brammer
11     Joel Ferry
12     Stephen G. Handy
13     Jon Hawkins
Ken Ivory
Dan N. Johnson
Karianne Lisonbee
Steven J. Lund
Jefferson Moss
Candice B. Pierucci
Susan Pulsipher
Judy Weeks Rohner
Travis M. Seegmiller
V. Lowry Snow
Christine F. Watkins
Douglas R. Welton
Ryan D. Wilcox

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15     LONG TITLE
16     General Description:
17          This resolution strongly condemns the undemocratic government of Venezuela.
18     Highlighted Provisions:
19          This resolution:
20          ▸     strongly condemns Nicolás Maduro's regime for its violation of the basic human
21     rights of countless Venezuelans;
22          ▸     calls upon the government of Venezuela to reject socialism and restore democracy;
23          ▸     supports and stands in solidarity with the people of Venezuela and their fight to
24     achieve freedom and democracy;
25          ▸     urges the United States federal government to take substantive action to ensure
26     Maduro's resignation and a peaceful transition to democracy in Venezuela; and
27          ▸     encourages Utah schools and higher learning institutions to teach Utah students

28     about these current events and the dangers of socialism and authoritarian regimes.
29     Special Clauses:
30          None
31     

32     Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah, the Governor concurring therein:
33          WHEREAS, the collapse of democratic governance and the proliferation of political
34     corruption, criminal violence, failed economic policies, and hyperinflation have created a
35     devastating humanitarian crisis in Venezuela;
36          WHEREAS, the majority of Venezuela's citizens lack access to essential medicines and
37     basic food supplies;
38          WHEREAS, in September 2020 a United Nations mission found that Nicolás Maduro
39     and his regime have carried out thousands of extrajudicial murders of peaceful dissidents and
40     political opponents since Maduro's rise to power in 2013;
41          WHEREAS, the Maduro regime has a demonstrated track record of holding fraudulent
42     elections over the last five years;
43          WHEREAS, on December 6, 2020, the regime of Nicolás Maduro held fraudulent
44     legislative elections for Venezuela's National Assembly that did not comply with international
45     standards for free, fair, and transparent electoral processes;
46          WHEREAS, the Maduro regime has detained hundreds of political prisoners in
47     dangerous and inhumane conditions across Venezuela, including a Utah native, who was freed
48     in 2018;
49          WHEREAS, the Maduro regime's security forces continue to engage in torture and
50     sexual abuse of political prisoners and members of their families to stoke terror and repress
51     pro-democracy efforts in Venezuela;
52          WHEREAS, the Maduro regime has increased arbitrary detention and intimidation of
53     journalists, frontline workers, and legislators to silence criticism of the regime's mishandling of
54     the COVID-19 pandemic;
55          WHEREAS, the average Venezuelan lost 24 pounds of body weight in 2017 due to

56     widespread poverty and food shortages;
57          WHEREAS, the Maduro regime has consistently restricted the ability of nonprofits and
58     humanitarian aid organizations to assist Venezuelans in need of basic foodstuffs and hygiene
59     items;
60          WHEREAS, to date, these deteriorating conditions have led over 5.6 million
61     Venezuelans to leave their country, making it the second-largest external displacement crisis in
62     the world; and
63          WHEREAS, Utah is home to thousands of Venezuelan asylees, refugees, and citizens
64     of Venezuelan descent, many of whom long to return to their native country if political
65     conditions improve:
66          NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah, the
67     Governor concurring therein, strongly condemns Nicolás Maduro's regime for its violation of
68     the basic human rights of countless Venezuelans.
69          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor call upon the
70     government of Venezuela to reject socialism and restore democracy.
71          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor support and stand
72     in solidarity with the people of Venezuela and their fight to achieve freedom and democracy.
73          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor urge the United
74     States federal government to take substantive action to ensure Maduro's resignation and a
75     peaceful transition to democracy in Venezuela.
76          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor encourage Utah
77     schools and higher learning institutions to teach Utah students about these current events and
78     the dangers of socialism and authoritarian regimes.
79          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to the members of
80     Utah's congressional delegation.