Committee amends and advances memorial condemning U.S. invasion of Venezuela after debate over facts and recipients

Members of the House committee on Jan. 3 considered House Memorial 29, a resolution condemning the U.S. invasion of Venezuela as described in the memorial language and urging action; the item produced sharp exchanges over facts and language.

Sponsor remarks framed the memorial as a statement of democratic norms and a response to a military action described in public reporting and independent sources. Kurt Rager of Lutheran Advocacy Ministry of New Mexico testified in support, urging legislative condemnation and greater congressional oversight of war powers.

Representative Block and other members pushed back on factual assertions in the memorial — including whether Nicolas Maduro should be styled as "president" versus "dictator," casualty tallies, and whether U.S. forces occupied Venezuela or were limited to embassy protection. Block said some claims in the memorial were inaccurate and proposed edits.

During debate the committee accepted friendly amendments to expand the list of recipients who would receive the memorial if it passed: the President of the United States and the U.S. secretary of state, and the New Mexico congressional delegation were added to the transmission list. The sponsor told the committee the memorial drew on independent reporting and intelligence circulating in public sources.

Following debate and amendments, the committee recorded a do‑pass recommendation for HM29 and said the memorial would be transmitted to the named federal and state officials.

What comes next: The amended memorial will be transmitted as directed and may be considered on the House floor as a statement of the chamber’s position.