Denouncing Nicolás Maduro's authoritarian, despotic, and murderous regime and commending President Trump for taking decisive action long called for by Members of Congress.
- Bill Number
- H.Res. 987
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- International Affairs
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-01-12: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Last Updated
- 2026-01-22T09:05:57Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This House Resolution (H. Res. 987) aims to formally denounce the regime of Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela as authoritarian, despotic, and murderous, while commending President Trump for authorizing a U.S. special operation on January 3, 2026, to arrest and remove Maduro, holding him accountable for alleged narcoterrorism (drug trafficking linked to terrorism) and crimes against humanity.
Key Provisions
- Background on Maduro's Regime: The resolution includes numerous "Whereas" clauses detailing Maduro's alleged abuses, such as election fraud, violent repression of protests, arbitrary arrests (over 15,000 politically motivated ones in the last decade), torture, extrajudicial killings, and disinformation campaigns. It cites U.N. reports and the Barbados Agreement (a 2023 pact for fair elections that Maduro allegedly violated).
- U.S. Action and Support: It praises the U.S. intelligence community, law enforcement, and military for executing the operation, which the resolution describes as courageous and long overdue. It supports bringing Maduro to justice under a grand jury indictment for his role in cartel activities harming Americans and others.
- Criticism of U.S. Democrats: The resolution highlights statements from Democratic leaders (e.g., Hakeem Jeffries, Delia Ramirez, Dan Goldman) opposing the operation as illegal or unconstitutional, contrasting this with prior Democratic-led legislation condemning Maduro.
- Prior Democratic Legislation: It references multiple bills and resolutions from the 118th and 119th Congresses introduced by Democrats (e.g., H.R. 328, H.R. 10255, H. Res. 1471, H.R. 1409, H.R. 5670, H.R. 4086, H.R. 8741, H.R. 3136), which criticized Maduro's human rights violations, called for sanctions, and urged ending his rule—using these to argue bipartisan consensus on Maduro's threat.
- Resolving Clauses:
- Affirms Maduro as a national security threat to the U.S. and the Venezuelan people.
- Applauds the U.S. arrest action.
- Recognizes President Trump's leadership in ending Maduro's rule.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This is a non-binding resolution, so it introduces no changes to existing U.S. law. It expresses the House's sense (opinion) rather than enacting statutes, mandates, or appropriations. However, it builds on prior laws by reinforcing calls for accountability, such as sanctions mentioned in referenced Democratic bills.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Bolsters support for U.S. intelligence, military, and law enforcement involved in foreign operations, potentially encouraging similar future actions against designated threats. It may influence foreign policy by signaling congressional backing for executive-led interventions.
- On Citizens: Venezuelan opposition and diaspora communities may gain morale from U.S. endorsement of their cause, potentially aiding democratic transitions. U.S. citizens affected by drug trafficking could see indirect benefits from Maduro's removal, though it risks escalating regional instability.
- On International Relations: Could strain ties with Venezuela and allies like Russia or China that support Maduro, while strengthening U.S. alliances with Venezuelan opposition and Latin American democracies. It might prompt international debate on unilateral U.S. actions, affecting global norms on sovereignty and human rights enforcement.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Venezuelan People and Opposition: Portrayed as primary beneficiaries, with the resolution emphasizing their long-denied freedom and gratitude for Maduro's removal; key figures like Maria Corina Machado and Edmundo González are highlighted as victims of repression.
- U.S. Government Entities: Intelligence community, military, law enforcement, and the executive branch (under President Trump) receive commendation; the State Department may face pressure to brief Congress on related issues, as in prior bills.
- U.S. Political Figures and Parties: Republicans (sponsors like Mr. Crawford) are positioned as decisive actors; Democrats are critiqued for inconsistency, potentially deepening partisan divides.
- Maduro Regime and Supporters: Directly targeted as a "cancer" on the world, facing implied further sanctions or isolation.
- Broader International Actors: U.N. bodies, foreign governments aiding Maduro, and Latin American nations dealing with Venezuelan migration or disinformation.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: References a grand jury indictment for Maduro's arrest, grounding the operation in U.S. criminal law, but notes critics' claims of illegality (e.g., violation of sovereignty or the War Powers Resolution, which requires congressional approval for military actions). No new legal mechanisms are created.
- Constitutional: Highlights debates over executive power, with Democrats cited as calling the action an "impeachable offense" for bypassing Congress or invading without declaration of war—echoing Article I limits on presidential war-making authority.
- Political: Reinforces partisan framing by contrasting Republican praise with Democratic opposition, using Democratic-sponsored bills to argue hypocrisy. It could rally U.S. conservatives on foreign intervention while alienating progressives concerned with unilateralism, potentially influencing midterm elections or future Venezuela policy in a divided Congress. Internationally, it underscores U.S. commitment to countering socialism and authoritarianism in the Western Hemisphere.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Crawford, Eric A. "Rick" [R-AR-1]
Cosponsors (9)
Rep. Salazar, Maria Elvira [R-FL-27], Rep. Steube, W. Gregory [R-FL-17], Rep. Scott, Austin [R-GA-8], Rep. LaHood, Darin [R-IL-16], Rep. Kelly, Trent [R-MS-1], Rep. Tenney, Claudia [R-NY-24], Rep. Jackson, Ronny [R-TX-13], Rep. Moore, Tim [R-NC-14], Rep. Pfluger, August [R-TX-11]
Recent Actions
- 2026-01-12: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2026-01-12: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2026-01-12: Submitted in House
- 2026-01-12: Submitted in House
Bill Versions
- Denouncing Nicolás Maduro’s authoritarian, despotic, and murderous regime and commending President Trump for taking decisive action long called for by Members of Congress. — issued 2026-01-12 — PDF (9 pages)