LOTF: An American Political Roleplay (116th Congress)

[Jovuistan]

Senate Floor

"Without objection, the bill passes and is sent to the President, with recommendation that it be signed into law. The floor is open for motions."

Senator Goldman (D-CT): "Motion to receive the DOVE Act, Mr. President."

Senator Slater (R-AR): "Seco-"

Senator Goldman (D-CT): "Motion to receive the DOVE Act, Mr. President."

Sen. Anderson (R-MO)

"Seconded."

Slater remained frozen for a moment. He sighed through his nose, not in anger, but rather slight amusement. He nodded at Anderson.

[Agarntrop]

Senator Goldman (D-CT): "Motion to receive the DOVE Act, Mr. President."

Senator Slater (R-AR): "Seco-"

Sen. Anderson (R-MO)

"Seconded."

Slater remained frozen for a moment. He sighed through his nose, not in anger, but rather slight amusement. He nodded at Anderson.

Anderson thumbed-up Slater

[Meelducan]

Senate Floor

"Without objection, the motion is agreed to and the Senate will begin to consider the Democracy and Openness for Venezuela Act. The chair invites the Senator from Arkansas to lay out the bill."

[Jovuistan]

Senate Floor

"Without objection, the motion is agreed to and the Senate will begin to consider the Democracy and Openness for Venezuela Act. The chair invites the Senator from Arkansas to lay out the bill."

Slater cleared his throat.

“None of us need a reminder of what the Maduro regime has done to the people of Venezuela for many years. Venezuelans have been forced to suffer through censorship and oppression by a power-hungry, selfish excuse for a man who only desires wealth at the expense of those in poverty.

The United States of America values freedom and Democracy above all else. Throughout our history we have been dedicated to ensuring that those values are not threatened and destroyed by totalitarian forces. From the Nazis to the Soviets, America has not backed down in the face of tyranny, and has beaten it in every battle.

It is our responsibility as a nation to take action against a man who has crushed Democracy under his feet. This is an act that directly targets the assets and business dealings of Maduro, not the people of Venezuela. This act tells the world that anyone who stands with Maduro has no business with the United States. It weakens his grip on power through precise targeted sanctions.

It would be a shame for us to back down now. We are not calling for a war here, we are calling for accountability. We are calling for peace and freedom for the Venezuelans who have been targeted by this regime. I urge all of my colleagues to support this bill so we can defend Democracy and freedom in South America, not through war, but through careful and strong sanctions.”

[Agarntrop]

Senate Floor

"Without objection, the motion is agreed to and the Senate will begin to consider the Democracy and Openness for Venezuela Act. The chair invites the Senator from Arkansas to lay out the bill."

Sen. Anderson (R-MO)

"Motion to pass the bill by unanimous consent."

[Meelducan]

Senate Floor

"Objection! We need to have debate on such a bill."

[The World Capitalist Confederation]

Senate Floor

"Objection! We need to have debate on such a bill."

"Does anyone want to oppose the bill?" Goldman said, trying to get the bill passed quickly enough before Murphy or Winthrop could write a statement.

[Meelducan]

Senate Floor

"The motion is not in order. The floor is open for questions."

[Gordano and Lysandus]

United States Senate
Senator Augusta Merriam
[Republican - State of New Hampshire]

"In order to allay the concerns of some colleagues both in this chamber and in the House, could the Senator from Arkansas confirm before this chamber on the congressional record for us that the bill before us does not impede or restrict U.S. aid agencies and N.G.O.s from supplying aid through, for example, Colombia directly to the Venezuelan people?"

[Meelducan]

Senate Floor

"So you think because no one opposes the bill that it shouldn't be scrutinized, Senator? The whole point of the Senate Chamber is for scrutiny. You're a joke Goldman."

Michelle looked over some notes that she had made during Slater's speech.

"Senator, do any of the businesses that are targeted in this bill provided services to the Venuzalian people? As in distributing food, water or medicines?"

[Puertollano]

Senate Floor

"Without objection, the bill passes and is sent to the President, with recommendation that it be signed into law. The floor is open for motions."

Senator Goldman (D-CT): "Motion to receive the DOVE Act, Mr. President."

Sen Murphy (D-MN): Objection

[Azekopolaltion]

Senator Tim Westra (D-NJ)

Tim, back in DC for his meeting with Dayton and also to be present for the DOVE Act debate and vote, was eager to get this billed passed but with some assurances about the impact of the legislation.

“Senator, even leaving aside interruption of humanitarian aid to Venezuela, under clause 4 would aid to Maduro-supporting states like Palestine be eliminated as well?

[Puertollano]

Levi Murphy (D-MN): Why should the United States play a role in dictating the President of a foreign country, Venezuela? Juan Guiadó has no authority within Venezuela itself, and declaring him as Interim President would only provoke civil war in the country, don't you agree?

[Puertollano]

Levi Murphy (D-MN): “Mr President, I’d like to amend the bill by adding the following:

To Section 4
'Any state which provides defence articles or services to the Maduro regime, or any other military or paramilitary body involved in the preservation of the Maduro regime, shall be prohibited from receiving foreign assistance, except emergency foreign aid, from the United States.'"

[Jovuistan]

Levi Murphy (D-MN): Why should the United States play a role in dictating the President of a foreign country, Venezuela? Juan Guiadó has no authority within Venezuela itself, and declaring him as Interim President would only provoke civil war in the country, don't you agree?

Slater groaned as everyone started hurling questions before he could even answer.

“Juan Guaido was declared interim President by the National Assembly under constitutional grounds. As the election was illegitimate, Maduro is not the legitimate leader of Venezuela. I find it interesting how you’re so eager to protect a man such as Maduro. Like I said, we have an obligation to stand against Dictators across the globe.”

“I’ll get to all of your questions, just stop shouting over each other.”

[Jovuistan]

Senate Floor

"So you think because no one opposes the bill that it shouldn't be scrutinized, Senator? The whole point of the Senate Chamber is for scrutiny. You're a joke Goldman."

Michelle looked over some notes that she had made during Slater's speech.

"Senator, do any of the businesses that are targeted in this bill provided services to the Venuzalian people? As in distributing food, water or medicines?"

“No. Businesses that would be sanctioned under this legislation would need to be either actively involved in the campaign of repression or providing defense articles or services to the regime. That would not cross over with food, water or medicines.”

[Jovuistan]

United States Senate
Senator Augusta Merriam
[Republican - State of New Hampshire]

"In order to allay the concerns of some colleagues both in this chamber and in the House, could the Senator from Arkansas confirm before this chamber on the congressional record for us that the bill before us does not impede or restrict U.S. aid agencies and N.G.O.s from supplying aid through, for example, Colombia directly to the Venezuelan people?"

“As I said in response to Senator Brown, only agencies directly involved with the repression campaign or supplying the regime directly with service and defense articles will be targeted. N.G.O.s supplying aid to Venezuelans will not be impeded.”

(OOC: Gotta go offline again. I’ll answer Westra and any others later tonight.)

[Jovuistan]

Senator Tim Westra (D-NJ)

Tim, back in DC for his meeting with Dayton and also to be present for the DOVE Act debate and vote, was eager to get this billed passed but with some assurances about the impact of the legislation.

“Senator, even leaving aside interruption of humanitarian aid to Venezuela, under clause 4 would aid to Maduro-supporting states like Palestine be eliminated as well?

“Again, it’s dependent on whether or not they are supplying defense articles and services to the regime or be actively involved in suppression efforts by the regime. I do not believe Palestine is doing either, so aid to that state would not be impacted. States like Russia on the other hand who supply a significant amount of arms and materials to Maduro would be eliminated.”

[Azekopolaltion]

Senator Tim Westra (D-NJ)

Tim, back in DC for his meeting with Dayton and also to be present for the DOVE Act debate and vote, was eager to get this billed passed but with some assurances about the impact of the legislation.

“Senator, even leaving aside interruption of humanitarian aid to Venezuela, under clause 4 would aid to Maduro-supporting states like Palestine be eliminated as well?

“Again, it’s dependent on whether or not they are supplying defense articles and services to the regime or be actively involved in suppression efforts by the regime. I do not believe Palestine is doing either, so aid to that state would not be impacted. States like Russia on the other hand who supply a significant amount of arms and materials to Maduro would be eliminated.”

Senator Tim Westra (D-NJ): Mr. President, if I may ask the gentleman from Arkansas: what about the just under $13 million in aid that we provide to China? China has armed the Venezuelan government with fighter jets and military radar technology, under section 4 would that be considered a 'defensive service' to the 'Maduro regime' and if so, what happens to the millions of dollars we provide not just in emergency humanitarian aid to the people of Tibet and China, but also our spending on climate change policy and rule of law initiatives in China?"

[Jovuistan]

“Again, it’s dependent on whether or not they are supplying defense articles and services to the regime or be actively involved in suppression efforts by the regime. I do not believe Palestine is doing either, so aid to that state would not be impacted. States like Russia on the other hand who supply a significant amount of arms and materials to Maduro would be eliminated.”

Senator Tim Westra (D-NJ): Mr. President, if I may ask the gentleman from Arkansas: what about the just under $13 million in aid that we provide to China? China has armed the Venezuelan government with fighter jets and military radar technology, under section 4 would that be considered a 'defensive service' to the 'Maduro regime' and if so, what happens to the millions of dollars we provide not just in emergency humanitarian aid to the people of Tibet and China, but also our spending on climate change policy and rule of law initiatives in China?"

“Yes, China would qualify for losing access to American aid under section 4, but they're a sufficiently developed state and should not receive American aid funds anyway, and it's brazenly obvious that climate change reform and the defense of the rule of law have failed in China, so that money is effectively already being wasted. So that $13 million would be withheld under the new rules.”

[Jovuistan]

Levi Murphy (D-MN): “Mr President, I’d like to amend the bill by adding the following:

To Section 4
'Any state which provides defence articles or services to the Maduro regime, or any other military or paramilitary body involved in the preservation of the Maduro regime, shall be prohibited from receiving foreign assistance, except emergency foreign aid, from the United States.'"

“Objection”

[Meelducan]

Senate Floor

“Senator, what is classed as a defence article?”

[Azekopolaltion]

Levi Murphy (D-MN): “Mr President, I’d like to amend the bill by adding the following:

To Section 4
'Any state which provides defence articles or services to the Maduro regime, or any other military or paramilitary body involved in the preservation of the Maduro regime, shall be prohibited from receiving foreign assistance, except emergency foreign aid, from the United States.'"

Seconded.

[Azekopolaltion]

Senator Tim Westra (D-NJ): Mr. President, if I may ask the gentleman from Arkansas: what about the just under $13 million in aid that we provide to China? China has armed the Venezuelan government with fighter jets and military radar technology, under section 4 would that be considered a 'defensive service' to the 'Maduro regime' and if so, what happens to the millions of dollars we provide not just in emergency humanitarian aid to the people of Tibet and China, but also our spending on climate change policy and rule of law initiatives in China?"

“Yes, China would qualify for losing access to American aid under section 4, but they're a sufficiently developed state and should not receive American aid funds anyway, and it's brazenly obvious that climate change reform and the defense of the rule of law have failed in China, so that money is effectively already being wasted. So that $13 million would be withheld under the new rules.”

Senator Tim Westra (D-NJ): "Is the gentleman from Arkansas aware that China is the world's leading country in electricity production from renewable energy sources, and that U.S. aid is instrumental in forging a global transition away from carbon? Additionally, I would like to ask the Senator about why he objects to exempting humanitarian aid from the bill's sanctions. Additionally, does the Senator believe that the people of Tibet 'shouldn't be receiving American funds anyway' and what would happen to non-direct government aid to Tibet, through NGO grants and other means, that provide much needed aid to a people that are, by all legal definitions, considered part of China?"

[Jovuistan]

Senate Floor

“Senator, what is classed as a defence article?”

“Any item or technical data listed in the U.S. Munitions List would be classed as a defense article.”

“Yes, China would qualify for losing access to American aid under section 4, but they're a sufficiently developed state and should not receive American aid funds anyway, and it's brazenly obvious that climate change reform and the defense of the rule of law have failed in China, so that money is effectively already being wasted. So that $13 million would be withheld under the new rules.”

Senator Tim Westra (D-NJ): "Is the gentleman from Arkansas aware that China is the world's leading country in electricity production from renewable energy sources, and that U.S. aid is instrumental in forging a global transition away from carbon? Additionally, I would like to ask the Senator about why he objects to exempting humanitarian aid from the bill's sanctions. Additionally, does the Senator believe that the people of Tibet 'shouldn't be receiving American funds anyway' and what would happen to non-direct government aid to Tibet, through NGO grants and other means, that provide much needed aid to a people that are, by all legal definitions, considered part of China?"

“To answer my friend from New Jersey, China is also the world's largest coal-burning nation, with 70% of Chinese energy production dependent on coal. Whitewashing China's role when it comes to climate change is neither helpful to this debate or the wider discussion on energy. That money would be better spent developing new energy producing technologies in the United States. Exempting humanitarian aid is important because it intensifies the political pressure on states to turn away from providing guns to a regime which uses those guns to shoot democracy protesters. It makes the sanctions package more effective and will fundamentally protect more lives in the long run. The status of the Tibetan people is not likely to be improved by a poorly funded, small aid program and would be better provided for by a sustained diplomatic push to be handled by the relevant national and international agencies. This bill does not govern the function of private NGOs and concerns merely aid dispensed by the Federal Government. And the Senator from New Jersey has made his loyalties on the issue very clear when he states his belief that Tibet is, by all legal definitions, part of China.”