State Department Heeds Mack's Call for Sanctions Against Venezuelan State Oil Company

Mack Renews Call on Joe Kennedy to Step Down as Chavez Oil Pitchman in the U.S.

WASHINGTON, May 24, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- After several months of calling for U.S. government action to sanction Venezuela's state run oil company Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PDVSA) for doing business with Iran, Chairman of the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee Connie Mack (FL-14) welcomed the State Department's decision to finally sanction Venezuela's state-owned oil corporation today by stating:

"The sanctions on PDVSA are an important step in the right direction for U.S. policy toward the region; however, we must acknowledge that PDVSA's shipments are only one example of Hugo Chavez's support for the terrorist supporting Iranian regime."

Reports of Iranian missile bases in Venezuela, the increasing presence of Hezbollah and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, and yesterday's sanctioning of Venezuelan Military Industries Company show just how dangerous the Venezuela-Iranian relationship has become.

Mack also renewed his call on former Congressman Joe Kennedy to again step aside as pitchman for CITGO, the American subsidiary of PDVSA, a call Mack has made repeatedly since 2007.

"With our own State Department now calling out Joe Kennedy's bosses in Caracas for doing business with Iranian terrorists, it should be clear to Joe Kennedy and his family's legacy of public service what the right thing is to do and resign as the pitchman for Hugo Chavez and his terrorist aiding oil company CITGO."

Mack added:  "While the State Department's actions today are welcome, the slow and inadequate response has been frustrating.  The U.S. needs to move quickly to cut off Chavez's source of revenue, and bring an end to both his influence in Latin America and his dangerous relationship with the terrorist supporting Iranian regime before it's too late."

In a March Foreign Affairs Committee hearing, Congressman Mack presented Secretary of State Hillary Clinton with evidence proving Venezuela's sanctionable activity under the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010 (CISADA), which the State Department acknowledged today by sanctioning PDVSA.  PDVSA is responsible for close to a third of Venezuelan government revenues yet the Venezuelan people continue to suffer while Hugo Chavez funnels PDVSA profits to corrupt regimes throughout Latin America.

SOURCE Office of Congressman Connie Mack

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