; Whereas deteriorating conditions in health care persist, with the World Health Organization estimating that there are shortages for 75 percent of necessary medications and medical supplies, up from 55 percent in 2014 and 67 percent in 2015; Whereas the country is facing increasing outbreaks of malaria and diphtheria, previously eradicated diseases in Venezuela; Whereas the country has experienced an increase in emigration, according to multiple press reports, including the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, and Washington Post; Whereas Venezuela is the leading country for asylum requests to the United States in the world, according to data reported by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services; Whereas the Government of Venezuela has expanded its powers to regulate media and reduce the number of dissenting media outlets, including CNN en Español after CNN broadcasted a report alleging that Vice President Tareck El Aissami was directly linked to passport fraud involving members of Hezbollah; Whereas, on February 13, 2017, the United States Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control designated Tareck Zaidan El Aissami Maddah as a Specially Designated Narcotics Trafficker pursuant to the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act for playing a significant role in international narcotics trafficking and imposed sanctions on Mr. El Aissami and froze his assets in the United States; Whereas, on March 14, 2017, the Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), Luis Almagro, issued a second report on the crisis in Venezuela following his May 2016 report, documenting an altercation of the Inter-American Democratic Charter by the Government of Venezuela and calling for free, fair, and open elections and the release of political prisoners without delay