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RESOLUTION SUPPORTING PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP�S EXECUTIVE ORDER PROHIBITING CERTAIN FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF VENEZUELA; FURTHER SUPPORTING GOVERNOR RICK SCOTT�S EFFORTS TO PLACE ECONOMIC PRESSURE ON THE MADURO REGIME; CONDEMNING THE RESULTS OF THE SHAM PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN VENEZUELA

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WHEREAS, on May 21, 2018, President Donald Trump issued an executive order prohibiting people in the United States from purchasing any debt owed to the Government of Venezuela or any debt owed to the country that is pledged as collateral; and
WHEREAS, the executive order was issued just one day after Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was re-elected to a second term in office in what U.S. officials have described as a �sham� election; and
WHEREAS, on May 15, 2018, Florida Governor Rick Scott issued a letter to all United States governors urging them to take action to hold the Maduro regime in Venezuela accountable for its actions; and
WHEREAS, Governor Scott�s letter emphasized how Florida�s executive and legislative branches have worked together to apply economic pressure on the Venezuelan government by imposing a ban on Florida state agencies� ability to invest with companies that do business with the Maduro regime; and
WHEREAS, this Board has passed Resolution Nos. R-253-14, R-526-17, R-527-17, R-528-17, and R-528-17, all of which are designed to support positive intervention and a rectifying of the crumbling socioeconomic landscape in Venezuela; and
WHEREAS, on May 20, 2018, Nicolas Maduro was re-elected to another presidential term despite less than 50 percent of voters casting a ballot; and
WHEREAS, 14 Latin-American countries, the United States, Canada, and the European Union have all disputed or characterized the election as illegitimate; and
WHEREAS, free, open, and fair elections are foundational principles of democracy; and
WHEREAS, this Board is wholly supportive of steps taken by President Trump and Governor Scott to hold the Maduro regime accountable and hasten the return of Venezuela to a peaceful, democratic state,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that this Board:
Section 1. Supports President Donald Trump�s executive order prohibiting certain financial transactions with the government of Venezuela.
Section 2. Supports Governor Rick Scott�s efforts to place economic pressure on the Maduro regime.
Section 3. Condemns the results of the May 20, 2018 sham presidential election in Venezuela.
Section 4. Directs the Clerk of the Board to transmit a certified copy of this resolution to the President of the United States and Florida Governor Rick Scott.