TITLE
RESOLUTION JOINING THE UNITED STATES IN CONDEMNING THE INAUGURATION OF NICOLAS MADURO AS PRESIDENT OF VENEZUELA AND REFUSING TO RECOGNIZE HIS PRESIDENCY

BODY
WHEREAS, on January 10, 2019, Nicolas Maduro was sworn in for a six-year term as president of Venezuela despite the ongoing economic and humanitarian crisis devastating the nation and attributable to his regime; and
WHEREAS, Maduro was re-elected on May 20, 2018, in an election widely denounced as a sham, and where just 25.8 percent of the Venezuelan electorate cast a vote; and
WHEREAS, 14 Latin American countries, the United States, Canada, the European Union, and the Organization of American States have all disputed or characterized the election as illegitimate; and
WHEREAS, contemporaneous with Maduro�s inauguration, United States Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo issued remarks condemning Maduro�s �illegitimate usurpation of power following the unfree and unfair elections�; and
WHEREAS, United States National Security Advisor John Bolton stated that the United States �will not recognize the Maduro dictatorship�s illegitimate inauguration�; and
WHEREAS, the United States continues to impose sanctions on individuals whose actions have thwarted the restoration of democratic order in Venezuela; and
WHEREAS, the United States and this Board continue to recognize Venezuela�s legitimately elected National Assembly; and
WHEREAS, this Board has repeatedly taken steps to condemn the actions of the Maduro regime while supporting diplomatic efforts to promote democracy in Venezuela, including:�
* Resolution No. R-253-14, which condemned the Venezuelan government for using violence and intimidation against political opposition and urged the federal government to take immediate diplomatic action;

* Resolution No. R-455-14, which urged the previous administration and the Secretary of Homeland Security to grant temporary protected status to Venezuelan nationals in the United States;

* Resolution No. R-526-17, which urged the federal government to impose sanctions on officials or persons acting on behalf of the Venezuelan government whom the President determined are responsible for, or complicit in, the commission of serious human rights abuses;

* Resolution No. R-527-17, which supported House Resolution 259, a federal resolution expressing concern over and condemnation of the political, economic, social, and humanitarian crisis in Venezuela;

* Resolution No. R-528-17, which supported H.R. 2161, a bill entitled the Venezuelan Refugee Assistance Act, which would allow Venezuelans in the United States to apply for legal permanent resident status;

* Resolution No. R-530-17, which further condemned the Venezuelan government for using violence and intimidation against political opposition and continued to urge the federal government to take immediate diplomatic action;

* Resolution No. R-777-17, which urged the federal government and the State of Florida to support economic sanctions against the Venezuelan government;

* Resolution No. R-788-17, which commended the U.S. Department of the Treasury�s sanctioning of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and transmitted further correspondence to President Donald J. Trump; and

* Resolution No. R-556-18, which supported a Presidential Executive Order prohibiting certain financial transactions with the Venezuelan government and condemned the May 20, 2018 sham presidential election in Venezuela; and
WHEREAS, this Board wishes to join the United States in condemning the inauguration of Nicolas Maduro as President of Venezuela and refusing to recognize his presidency,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that this Board:
Section 1. Joins the United States in condemning the inauguration of Nicolas Maduro as President of Venezuela and refusing to recognize his presidency.
Section 2. Directs the Clerk of the Board to transmit a certified copy of this resolution to the President of the United States and United States Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo.