H. Res. 488 

In the House of Representatives, U. S., 

March 4, 2014. 

Whereas the United States Government should support the 

rule of law, and free and peaceful exercise of representative democracy in Venezuela, condemning violence and intimidation against the country’s political opposition, and 

calling for dialogue between all political actors in the 

country; 

Whereas, on February 12, 2014, also known in Venezuela as 

the National Youth Day, students began protesting in 

several cities Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro’s inability to stem violent crime, his undemocratic actions, and 

a rapidly deteriorating economy marked by high inflation 

and shortages of consumer goods; 

Whereas, on February 12, 2014, a judge issued an arrest 

warrant for Leopoldo Lo ́pez, leader of the opposition 

party Voluntad Popular, for unfounded allegations in 

connection with the student protests; 

Whereas, on February 17, 2014, the Government of Venezuela notified the United States Department of State 

that it had declared 3 consular officers at the United 

States Embassy in Venezuela personae non gratae; 
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Whereas over the last year, the Government of Venezuela has 

expelled a total of 8 United States Government officials 

from Venezuela; 

Whereas, on February 18, 2014, opposition leader Leopoldo 

Lopez turned himself in to Venezuelan authorities, was 

arrested, and charged with criminal incitement, conspiracy, arson, and intent to damage property; 

Whereas Leopoldo Lopez is currently being held in a prison 

at a military facility; 

Whereas nongovernmental human rights organizations have 

alleged that the charges brought against Venezuelan opposition leader Leopoldo Lo ́pez appear to be a politically 

motivated attempt to silence dissent in the country; 

Whereas the Venezuelan Government has blocked users’ online images as opposition groups marched through Caracas; 

Whereas the Venezuelan people have been protesting economic, social, and political concerns facing their country, 

including corruption, rising inflation rates, shortages of 

everyday products, increasing crime rates, and the erosion of human rights and respect for political dissent; 

Whereas, on February 19, 2014, President Barack Obama 

criticized the Venezuelan Government for arresting protesters, called for their release, and urged the government 

to focus on the ‘‘legitimate grievances of the Venezuelan 

people’’; 

Whereas, as of February 26, 2014, there have been 14 people 

killed, over 100 injured, and many persons unjustly detained in relation to pro-democracy demonstrations 

throughout Venezuela; 
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Whereas Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro threatened to 

expel the United States news network CNN from Venezuela and has taken off the air the Colombian news 

channel NTN 24, which transmits in Venezuela, after 

news outlets reported on the nation-wide protests; 

Whereas the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights 

released a statement on February 14, 2014, which ‘‘expresses its concern over the serious incidents of violence 

that have taken place in the context of protest demonstrations in Venezuela, as well as other complaints concerning acts of censorship against media outlets, attacks 

on organizations that defend human rights, and acts of 

alleged political persecution’’; and 

Whereas as a member of the Organization of American 

States and signatory to the Inter-American Democratic 

Charter, the Government of Venezuela has agreed to 

abide by the principles of constitutional, representative 

democracy, which include free and fair elections and adherence to its own constitution: Now, therefore, be it 

Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

(1) supports the people of Venezuela in their pursuit of freedom of expression and freedom of assembly 

to promote democratic principles in Venezuela; 

(2) deplores acts which constitute a disregard for 

the rule of law, the inexcusable violence perpetrated 

against opposition leaders and protesters in Venezuela, 

and the growing efforts to use politically motivated 

criminal charges to intimidate the country’s political opposition; 
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(3) urges responsible nations throughout the international community to stand in solidarity with the people of Venezuela and to actively encourage a process of 

dialogue between the Government of Venezuela and the 

political opposition to end the violence; 

(4) urges the United States Department of State to 

work in concert with other countries in the Americas to 

take meaningful steps to ensure that basic fundamental 

freedoms in Venezuela are in accordance with the InterAmerican Democratic Charter and to strengthen the 

ability of the Organization of American States (OAS) to 

respond to the erosion of democratic norms and institutions in Venezuela; 

(5) urges the Organization of American States and 

its Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to utilize its good offices and all mechanisms at its disposal 

to seek the most effective way to expeditiously end the 

violence in Venezuela in accordance with the Inter-American Democratic Charter; and 

(6) supports efforts by international and multilateral organizations to urge the Venezuelan Government to 

adopt measures to guarantee the rights to life, humane 

treatment, and security, and the political freedoms of as-
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sembly, association, and expression to all of the people 

of Venezuela. 

Attest: 

Clerk.