1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to oppose the unauthorized military blockade of Venezuela and demand congressional oversight of ongoing military operations in the region. As Texas Democratic Congressman Joaquin Castro stated, this blockade is "unquestionably an act of war" that Congress never authorized and the American people do not want. Since September 2, the Trump administration has conducted more than 20 military strikes near Venezuela, killing at least 95 people. Last week, US forces seized an oil tanker carrying approximately 2 million barrels of Venezuelan crude, which the Venezuelan government condemned as international piracy. The administration has now deployed thousands of troops and nearly a dozen warships, including an aircraft carrier, to enforce a total blockade of sanctioned oil tankers. This escalation violates constitutional requirements for congressional authorization of military action. When lawmakers requested video footage of a September 2 attack, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth refused, calling it top secret. This lack of transparency is unacceptable when American forces are conducting deadly strikes. Trump's chief of staff Susie Wiles confirmed in a Vanity Fair interview that the campaign aims to oust Maduro, revealing regime change as the true objective rather than the stated goal of combating drug trafficking. The economic consequences are already evident. Venezuelan crude exports have fallen sharply, and the loss of nearly a million barrels per day could push oil prices higher, directly impacting American consumers. An effective embargo has been in place since last week's tanker seizure, with loaded vessels staying in Venezuelan waters to avoid capture. I urge you to publicly oppose this unauthorized military action, demand the administration seek congressional approval before further escalation, and support legislation requiring transparency about military operations near Venezuela. The Constitution grants Congress alone the power to declare war, and that authority must be defended.