WASHINGTON -Today, Rep. Byron Donalds (FL-19) led a letter alongside Florida Republican Members of Congress, Díaz-Balart (FL-25), Franklin (FL-15), Giménez (Fl-26), and Webster (FL-11), slamming the Biden administration amid reports they are courting the Venezuelan socialist dictatorship for increased oil production.

"As a member of Florida, home to the largest Venezuelan community in our country, it is alarming to hear that the Biden administration is courting increased oil production from adversaries such as the evil, corrupt, and deadly Maduro regime,” said Rep. Donalds. “Hundreds of thousands of proud Venezuelans fled this socialist regime for safety, opportunity, and freedom, and it is unfathomable that Biden is choosing to embolden this tyrant. Under President Trump, America was energy independent—now under Biden—we depend on oil from Maduro, Putin, and the Ayatollah of Iran. We do not need their blood-stained oil, we need American-made oil."

“I am profoundly concerned by reports that the Biden Administration is contemplating trading one type of blood oil for another,” said Diaz-Balart. “We must guard our national security interests and promote the freedom of oppressed populations by refusing to channel millions of dollars to the world’s most oppressive, anti-American dictatorships. Weakened sanctions will only help the mullahs in Iran and Maduro’s cronies cling to power.”

“President Biden begging dictators to produce more oil instead of unleashing American energy is disgraceful and a national security threat,” said Rep. Franklin. Maintaining sanctions on rogue states like Venezuela and Iran is one of our strongest diplomatic and strategic tools. By entertaining the potential removal of these sanctions in order to attempt to solve the energy crisis HE created, President Biden is jeopardizing the safety and security of American citizens.”

“Nicolas Maduro is just another puppet of Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping. The fact that President Biden sent a delegation to Venezuela and is using current U.S. sanctions as a bargaining chip with an illegitimate government is a slap across the face to the thousands of Venezuelan constituents I represent,” said Rep. Giménez. “President Biden should not be jumping from one dictator to another in search of more oil. We need to be producing more right here in the United States and ensuring we are putting American oil, American jobs, American national security, and the American economy first. President Biden’s energy policy has been an utter disaster.”

“President Biden's war on American energy independence continues to hurt Americans most,” said Rep. Webster. “It is unbelievable and unconscionable that instead of unleashing U.S. production and transport, President Biden is trying to make a deal with Venezuela’s Nicholas Maduro, a despot, and illegitimate president.”

EXCLUSIVE: House Republicans Demand Answers On Biden Administration’s Oil Negotiations With Venezuela

Click here to read the full letter.

###