Statement of Administration Policy: S.J. Res. 90 - A Joint Resolution to Direct the Removal of United States Armed Forces from Hostilities Within or Against Venezuela That Have Not Been Authorized by Congress

STATEMENT OF ADMINISTRATION POLICY

(Senate)
(Sen. Kaine, D-VA and 15 cosponsors)

The Administration strongly opposes passage of S.J. Res. 90, a joint resolution that would direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against Venezuela.

S.J. Res. 90 fails to account for the extraordinary national security threat posed by transnational violent drug trafficking cartels and narco-terrorists operating in and around the Caribbean Sea. For decades, the response to the flow of illicit narcotics into the United States has primarily relied on the use of law enforcement authorities. These efforts have been ineffective in stemming the tide of these addictive and lethal drugs. The cartels involved have grown more armed, well-organized, and violent. They have the financial means, sophistication, and paramilitary capabilities needed to operate with impunity. The challenge posed by the current iteration of these groups require a different approach.

These groups illegally and directly cause the deaths of tens of thousands of American citizens each year. Although regional partners have made significant efforts to combat these organizations, suffering significant losses of life, these groups are now transnational and conduct ongoing attacks throughout the Western Hemisphere as organized cartels. Therefore, the President determined these cartels are non-state armed groups, designated them as terrorist organizations, and determined that their actions constitute an armed attack against the United States.

In response, based upon the cumulative effects of these hostile acts against the citizens and interests of the United States and friendly foreign nations, the President recognized that the United States is in a non-international armed conflict with these designated terrorist organizations. The President directed the Department of War to conduct operations against them pursuant to the law of armed conflict. The United States has now reached a critical point where we must use force in self-defense and defense of others against the ongoing attacks by these designated terrorist organizations.

S.J. Res. 90 should be rejected as it fails to recognize the imminent national security threats posed by violent drug-trafficking cartels operating in and around the Caribbean Sea that have, in some cases, a connection or affiliation with the illegitimate Maduro regime, which the United States does not recognize as the government of Venezuela.

If S.J. Res. 90 were presented to the President, his advisors would recommend that he veto the joint resolution.