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Mr. HASTINGS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to draw attention to the human rights atrocities that are occurring in Venezuela. Under the leadership of Nicolas Madura, Venezuela has reverted from one of the most prosperous nations in South America to a country into severe crisis.
Venezuela's economy, once the envy of South America, currently faces one of the worst cases of hyperinflation in modern history. The International Monetary Fund expects the inflation rate to reach an astounding 10 million percent this year. Across the country Venezuelans are struggling to survive, facing immense difficulties putting food on the table or affording basic necessities such as fuel and medicine. More than 80 percent of Venezuelan households have insufficient access to food. As grocery stores become increasingly bare, hospitals too are running dangerously low on supplies as the medical system continues to crumble. Even though the Ministry of Health has stopped reporting national health data, we know that rates of malnutrition are rising, as are outbreaks of preventable diseases and the rate of infant mortality.
Madam Speaker, more than three million Venezuelan citizens have fled their home to nearby nations, including nearly 300,000 who have come to the United States seeking refuge in 2018. As the situation continues to deteriorate, tens of thousands of protestors have taken to he street to protest the economic and humanitarian crises and demand change. We must stand with those who are putting their lives on the line to ensure that future generations of Venezuelans live in a peaceful and prosperous country.
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