Today, Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) released the following statement demanding answers from the Trump administration about its actions in Venezuela:

“While I am glad that the dictator Nicolás Maduro will face justice in U.S. federal court, the Trump administration’s actions raise serious concerns at home in Northwest Washington and abroad.

“First, federal action to fight the fentanyl epidemic must focus on what works: supporting law enforcement’s interdiction efforts at land and sea ports of entry, and supporting local treatment and recovery services. The flow of drugs from Mexican cartels and Colombian jungles into Northwest Washington has devastated families and communities I represent. The good news is that drug seizures over the last two months as reported by Customs and Border Protection are up significantly, continuing a trend started during the Biden administration. Also, the U.S. Coast Guard has reported capturing more cocaine in the past year than any previous year.

“Will the Trump administration support effective interdiction and recovery work, or use Maduro’s arrest to take a superficial victory lap? I will continue to maintain my focus supporting local law enforcement and treatment and recovery services.

“Second, the Administration is openly discussing invading other countries in the region. Will the Trump administration continue to ignore the American people’s voice in the use of military force by failing to come to Congress to get authorization to act? Will the Administration continue to violate international law, giving cover to Putin, Xi and dictators and rogue states across the world? I celebrate the remarkable competence of the U.S. military, and I hold the Trump administration responsible for the policy decisions that drive the military’s actions.

“Finally, the Trump administration has created a power vacuum in Venezuela and risked dragging our country into a new costly quagmire. In the past year, this Administration has driven up the prices Americans must pay for health care, gas and groceries. How does Trump plan to govern Venezuela when his governance of the U.S. has failed so miserably?

“I call for oversight hearings to investigate the Trump administration’s actions and demand answers to these questions.

“While the Trump administration’s attention is divided between solving the problems it created in Venezuela and the problems it created in the U.S., Congress will be in session this week to vote on extending critical tax credits that make health care affordable for 26,000 people in Northwest Washington. I remain relentlessly focused on lowering health care costs, lowering gas prices and lowering grocery prices for the people I represent.”

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