Dear Community Member, 

The Trump Administration's intervention in Venezuela has left us with uncertainty, instability, and insecurity with no set plan for what comes next, all without congressional approval.

It is indisputable that our U.S. Military special operations forces and intelligence community carried out a stunningly successful operation to remove a despot on January 3. But last week demonstrated that the Administration does not have a clear path forward for the day-after in Venezuela. That creates instability and threatens the region’s security.

This is what happens, however, when the Administration’s foreign policy is based on incoherency, hypocrisy, and audacity, with its pardon of a past Honduran president who was convicted by a U.S. federal jury on drug trafficking charges, while using those same criminal charges to justify removing a leader of a sovereign country.

The President is trying to establish a sphere of influence in the region rather than abiding by the rules-based international order, which we helped establish and have relied on for the past three quarters of a century with our allies around the globe for stability and security, especially for America. Unfortunately, Speaker Mike Johnson continues to abdicate our constitutional powers of Congress to the executive branch, which acts under and advocates for an interventionist foreign policy.  

That is why Congress must act now.

Rep. Panetta joined his colleagues to introduce the Venezuela War Powers Resolution.  To watch remarks by Rep. Panetta, click on the above photo or here.

I recently joined my colleagues to introduce the privileged Venezuela War Powers Resolution in the House of Representatives. This bipartisan legislation would prevent further boots on the ground in Venezuela without Congressional authorization. The Senate passed a version of this type of bill last week. However, Speaker Johnson will not bring that Senate legislation to the floor for a vote. Nevertheless, our House bill is privileged, which means that we should be voting next week on the Venezuela War Powers Act.

Over a month ago, I also helped introduce the No Unauthorized War in Venezuela Act, which would prevent the Administration from using any federal funding on military action in Venezuela. As working families struggle with rising costs for housing, healthcare, food, fuel, and family care, our taxpayer dollars should be addressing the real challenges facing working families here at home. Moreover, if the Administration wants to send our troops abroad, it should make its case of an imminent threat to America through Congress under our Constitution and before the American people.

Follow me on facebook, x, or bluesky to keep updated on my work to ensure the U.S. Congress upholds our obligations under the U.S. Constitution. I look forward to working together in our continued fight for the values and service to the people of California’s 19th Congressional District.

Sincerely,

Jimmy Panetta
United States Representative
19th Congressional District, California