39–010 

Calendar No. 401 

113TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! SENATE 2nd Session 113–175 

THE VENEZUELA DEFENSE OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND 

CIVIL SOCIETY ACT OF 2014 

MAY 22, 2014.—Ordered to be printed 

Mr. MENENDEZ, from the Committee on Foreign Relations, 

submitted the following 

R E P O R T 

[To accompany S. 2142] 

The Committee on Foreign Relations, to which was referred the 

bill (S. 2142), to impose targeted sanctions on persons responsible 

for violations of human rights of antigovernment protesters in Venezuela, to strengthen civil society in Venezuela, and for other purposes, having considered the same, reports favorably thereon, with 

amendments, and recommends that the bill, as amended, do pass. 

CONTENTS 

Page 

I. Purpose ........................................................................................................... 1 

II. Committee Action .......................................................................................... 2 

III. Discussion ....................................................................................................... 2 

IV. Cost Estimate ................................................................................................. 3 

V. Evaluation of Regulatory Impact .................................................................. 4 

VI. Changes in Existing Law .............................................................................. 4 

I. PURPOSE

The purpose of S. 2142 is to outline a framework for responding 

to the acts of violence committed by members of Venezuela’s state 

security forces and intelligence services, and the use of the Venezuelan justice system for the purposes of political persecution 

against the country’s citizens. S. 2142 directs the President to 

apply targeted sanctions against those individuals, including members of the government, public security forces, and armed civilian 

groups, who have perpetrated, ordered or directed acts of violence 

or human rights abuses in Venezuela against antigovernment 

protestors, or have directed or ordered the arrest or prosecution of 

a person primarily because of the person’s legitimate exercise of 

freedom of expression or assembly. Additionally, S. 2142 authorizes 

$15 million in funding to help strengthen Venezuelan civil society 

by supporting the defense of internationally recognized human 

rights, the promotion of efforts by independent media outlets to 

broadcast and distribute objective news and content, the expansion 


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of unrestricted internet access, and the strengthening of government transparency and accountability. S.2142 also calls for a report 

on obstacles to access objective media content in Venezuela, current 

efforts by the United States Government to address these challenges, and a strategy for expanding existing programs. 

II. COMMITTEE ACTION

S. 2142 was introduced on March 13, 2014, by Senator Menendez 

and co-sponsored by Senators Rubio, Nelson, Kirk, and McCain. On 

May 20, 2014, the committee considered S. 2142 and ordered it reported favorably by voice vote, with amendments. Senators Corker 

and Udall asked to be recorded as voting no. 

III. DISCUSSION

A section-by-section discussion of the legislation follows: 

Section 1 

Section 1 names the bill. 

Section 2 

Section 2 presents key findings regarding Venezuela’s growing 

economic crisis, alarming levels of criminal violence, and the erosion of democratic governance, freedom of expression, and freedom 

of the press. 

Section 3 

Section 3 states that it is the sense of the Congress that the 

United States seeks a mutually beneficial relationship with Venezuela based on respect for human rights and the rule of law, and 

a productive relationship on public security issues such as counternarcotics and counterterrorism, and that the U.S. supports the 

Venezuelan people in their efforts to realize their economic potential and to advance representative democracy, human rights, and 

the rule of law. The section goes on to hold the Government of Venezuela responsible for the chronic mismanagement of its economy, 

the levels of criminal violence in the country, and the undermining 

of democratic governance, and states that it was these crisis conditions that prompted the demonstrations taking place throughout 

Venezuela. The section concludes by expressing the view that the 

repeated use of violence perpetrated by Venezuela’s government, as 

well as persons acting on their behalf, against government 

protestors is intolerable, and that the use of unprovoked violence 

by the protestors is also a matter of very serious concern. 

Section 4 

Section 4 sets forth the policy of the United States towards Venezuela, which is to support the democratic aspirations of the Venezuelan people as defined under the Inter-American Democratic 

Charter, to work in concert with the members of the Organization 

of American States and the European Union to ensure the immediate end of violence against protesters and a peaceful resolution 

of the current crisis, and to hold accountable government and security officials either responsible for or complicit in the use of force 

against antigovernment protestors. 


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Section 5 

Section 5 requires the President to impose sanctions on persons, 

including current and former officials of the Government of Venezuela, that he determines have perpetrated, ordered or directed 

acts of violence or human rights abuses in Venezuela against 

antigovernment protestors, or have directed or ordered the arrest 

or prosecution of a person primarily because of the person’s legitimate exercise of freedom of expression or assembly. Sanctions are 

also to be imposed upon those who materially assisted, sponsored 

or supported those who carried out the above activities. The sanctions to be imposed include asset blocking, or using all powers 

granted to the President by the International Emergency Economic 

Powers Act to block and prohibit all transactions in property in the 

United States, or in the possession and control of a U.S person, and 

the denial and revocation of visas and other documents in accordance with the Immigration and Nationality Act. Sanctions may be 

waived if the President determines that a waiver is in the interest 

of national security, or submits to the relevant congressional committees notice and justification for the waiver. 

Section 6 

Section 6 authorizes $15 million in Fiscal Year 2015 for the purposes of defending human rights, building the capacity of democratic civil society, supporting independent media outlets and unrestricted access to the internet, improving government transparency 

and accountability, assisting civil society activists, journalists and 

protesters that have been targeted for their activities, and providing support for democratic organizing and election monitoring. 

Following enactment, the President has 60 days to submit a strategy for implementing these activities to the relevant committees in 

the Senate and the House of Representatives. 

Section 7 

Section 7 requires, within 30 days of enactment, that the Chairman of the Broadcasting Board of Governors submit to Congress a 

report that includes an evaluation of the governmental, political, 

and technological obstacles faced by the Venezuelan people in their 

efforts to obtain accurate and objective news, an assessment of current efforts relating to broadcasting, information distribution, and 

circumvention technology distribution in Venezuela, by the United 

States Government, and a strategy for expanding such efforts in 

Venezuela. 

IV. COST ESTIMATE

In accordance with Rule XXVI, paragraph 11(a) of the Standing 

Rules of the Senate, the committee notes that the cost estimate 

provided by the Congressional Budget Office was not available for 

inclusion in this report. The estimate will be printed in either a 

supplemental report or the Congressional Record when it is available. 


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V. EVALUATION OF REGULATORY IMPACT

Pursuant to Rule XXVI, paragraph 11(b) of the Standing Rules 

of the Senate, the committee has determined that there is no regulatory impact as a result of this legislation. 

VI. CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW

In compliance with Rule XXVI, paragraph 12 of the Standing 

Rules of the Senate, the committee has determined that there is no 

change to existing law made by the bill, as reported. 

Æ 


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