TITLE
RESOLUTION JOINING THE UNITED STATES IN RECOGNIZING JUAN GUAID� AS INTERIM PRESIDENT OF VENEZUELA

BODY

WHEREAS, on January 23, 2019, Juan Guaid�, the leader of Venezuela�s legitimately elected National Assembly, declared himself interim president of Venezuela; and
WHEREAS, The United States, along with numerous South American countries and Canada, have declared and recognized Guaid� as interim president of Venezuela; and
WHEREAS, Nicol�s Maduro, who was recently sworn in for a six-year term as president of Venezuela following a May 20, 2018 sham election, has been widely denounced by nations and geopolitical entities worldwide, including the United States; and
WHEREAS, Maduro has since severed diplomatic relations with the United States and ordered all United States diplomats to leave Venezuela; and
WHEREAS, like the United States, this Board refuses to recognize Maduro�s illegitimate presidency; and
WHEREAS, the United States and this Board continue to recognize Venezuela�s legitimately elected National Assembly; and
WHEREAS, Venezuela�s constitution states that a presidential vacancy is filled by the head of the national Legislature until new elections occur; 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
* Resolution No. R-88-19, which urged the United States Congress to enact legislation to provide humanitarian relief to the Venezuelan people and advance a constitutional and democratic solution to Venezuela�s political crisis; and
* Resolution No. 90-19, which joined the United States in condemning the inauguration of Nicolas Maduro as President of Venezuela; and
WHEREAS, this Board wishes to join the United States in recognizing Juan Guaid� as interim president of Venezuela,
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 recognizing Juan Guaid� as interim president of Venezuela.
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.