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
Recognizing Nobel Prize winner María 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 Nicolás 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 María 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 González was chosen by the opposition to run in Machado’s stead;
Whereas, on July 28, 2024, González 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 González 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
That the Senate—
(1)
commends María Corina Machado for her peaceful and determined effort to see a free and democratic Venezuela;
(2)
congratulates María 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 González 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.