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[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 50 Introduced in House (IH)]

110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 50

 Calling on the Government of Venezuela to uphold the human rights and 
              civil liberties of the people of Venezuela.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 31, 2007

    Mr. Fortuno (for himself, Mr. McCotter, Mr. Mack, Mr. Rogers of 
Michigan, Mr. Lincoln Diaz-Balart of Florida, Mr. Mario Diaz-Balart of 
   Florida, Mr. Linder, Mr. Pearce, Mr. Tancredo, Mr. Brown of South 
  Carolina, Mr. Souder, and Mr. Fortenberry) submitted the following 
 concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign 
                                Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 
 Calling on the Government of Venezuela to uphold the human rights and 
              civil liberties of the people of Venezuela.

Whereas the United States has traditionally had close relations with Venezuela;
Whereas Venezuela has undergone enormous political changes, including a new 
        constitution, a new unicameral legislature, and even a new name for the 
        country since President Hugo Chavez was elected to power;
Whereas the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights (IACHR) has expressed 
        concern that some of these changes have resulted in a growing 
        concentration of power in the executive branch of government with a 
        tendency to militarize public administration;
Whereas human rights organizations, such as Human Rights Watch, have expressed 
        concerns about the independence of Venezuela's judiciary with respect to 
        a May 2004 court packing law that expanded the Supreme Court from 20 to 
        32 justices;
Whereas the Venezuelan Government enacted legislation in 2004 placing 
        restrictions on broadcast content affecting the full exercise of freedom 
        of expression;
Whereas human rights organizations assert that freedom of expression remains at 
        threat in Venezuela because of laws that have created onerous 
        restrictions on the media, subjecting them to heavy fines, temporary 
        closures, and threats to suspend their operating licenses;
Whereas President Chavez announced in early January 2007 that the license of 
        Radio Caracas Television (RCTV), one of Venezuela's oldest television 
        stations, would not be renewed;
Whereas the Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), Jose 
        Miguel Insulza, expressed concern about Venezuela's decision to suspend 
        RCTV's broadcasting license, calling for the decision to be reversed and 
        maintaining that the action gives the appearance of a form of censorship 
        against freedom of expression and serves as a warning against other news 
        organizations;
Whereas the Venezuelan Government amended Venezuela's criminal code in 2005 by 
        broadening laws that punish disrespect for government authorities;
Whereas the Venezuelan Government has investigated and prosecuted several 
        opposition leaders and brought charges against others;
Whereas the Venezuelan Government continues to try civilians in military court, 
        contrary to the appeals of the IACHR; and
Whereas there is ongoing concern by international human rights organizations 
        regarding the deterioration of democratic institutions, threats and 
        intimidations of human rights defenders, illegal wiretapping of private 
        citizens, intimidation of political opponents, and extrajudicial 
        executions of criminal suspects by police: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring),  
That Congress--
            (1) expresses its support for the people of Venezuela in 
        their daily struggle for freedom, respect for human rights and 
        civil liberties, democratic self-governance, and the 
        establishment of the rule of law;
            (2) calls on the Government of Venezuela to abide by its 
        freely undertaken obligations under international human rights 
        treaties and international humanitarian law to respect and 
        ensure the rights of all individuals, irrespective of their 
        political views;
            (3) calls on the Government of Venezuela to put an end to 
        all killings, torture, and ill treatment by police and 
        military;
            (4) encourages the Inter-American Commission of Human 
        Rights (IACHR) to continue to monitor the human rights 
        situation in Venezuela and engage with the Government of 
        Venezuela with respect to the human rights situation in 
        Venezuela;
            (5) encourages the President and the Secretary of State to 
        reach out to democracy and human rights activists and to assist 
        them in their efforts;
            (6) urges the adoption and pursuit of these and other 
        policies to support political parties, the rule of law, civil 
        society, and independent media, and otherwise promote 
        democratic accountable government in Venezuela; and
            (7) expresses support for the Secretary General of the 
        Organization of American States (OAS) for his continued 
        attention and support for freedom of expression in Venezuela.
                                 <all>
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