Senator Marco Rubio (R., Fla.) continued his push for economic sanctions on the Venezuelan government during a floor speech Thursday, calling for sanctions on specific Venezuelan oligarchs and companies that do business in the United States.
"Sanctions against [Venezuelan President] Maduro and his government would have dramatic impact," Rubio said, "because all those people who are around him that are getting rich off of this regime…all have bank accounts and restaurants and businesses and mansions in the United states of America."
Rubio stressed that the oppression of Venezuela was happening in America’s backyard, and asked who would stand up for the oppressed Venezuelans if not the United States.
"If the United States of America will not stand up and be a strong voice on behalf of people who all they seek is freedom and liberty that our own founding documents say belong to all people, rights given to them by their Creator, if the United States of America will not be a forceful voice, what nation on Earth will?"