II 

Calendar No. 101 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 1025 

To provide humanitarian relief to the Venezuelan people and Venezuelan 

migrants, to advance a constitutional and democratic solution to Venezuela’s political crisis, to address Venezuela’s economic reconstruction, 

to combat public corruption, narcotics trafficking, and money laundering, 

and for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

APRIL 3, 2019 

Mr. MENENDEZ (for himself, Mr. RUBIO, Mr. DURBIN, Mr. CRUZ, Mr. 

CARDIN, Mr. CORNYN, Mr. KAINE, Mr. YOUNG, Mrs. SHAHEEN, Mr. 

GRAHAM, Mr. BENNET, Mr. BARRASSO, Mr. COONS, Mr. CASSIDY, Mr. 

HAWLEY, Mrs. GILLIBRAND, Mr. CARPER, and Mr. GARDNER) introduced 

the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee 

on Foreign Relations 

JUNE 3, 2019 

Reported by Mr. RISCH, with an amendment 

[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 

A BILL 

To provide humanitarian relief to the Venezuelan people and 

Venezuelan migrants, to advance a constitutional and 

democratic solution to Venezuela’s political crisis, to address Venezuela’s economic reconstruction, to combat 

public corruption, narcotics trafficking, and money laundering, and for other purposes. 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
2 

•S 1025 RS

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLES; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

4 (a) SHORT TITLES.—This Act may be cited as the 

5 ‘‘Venezuela Emergency Relief, Democracy Assistance, and 

6 Development Act of 2019’’ or the ‘‘VERDAD Act of 

7 2019’’. 

8 (b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 

9 this Act is as follows: 

Sec. 1. Short titles; table of contents. 

Sec. 2. Defined term. 

TITLE I—SUPPORT FOR THE INTERIM PRESIDENT OF VENEZUELA AND RECOGNITION OF THE VENEZUELAN NATIONAL 

ASSEMBLY 

Sec. 101. Findings; sense of Congress in support of the Interim President of 

Venezuela. 

Sec. 102. Recognition of Venezuela’s democratically elected National Assembly. 

Sec. 103. Advancing a negotiated solution to Venezuela’s crisis. 

TITLE II—HUMANITARIAN RELIEF FOR VENEZUELA 

Sec. 201. Humanitarian relief for the Venezuelan people. 

Sec. 202. Humanitarian assistance to Venezuelans in neighboring countries. 

Sec. 203. Requirement for strategy to coordinate international humanitarian 

assistance. 

Sec. 204. Support for efforts at the United Nations on the humanitarian crisis 

in Venezuela. 

Sec. 205. Sanctions exceptions for humanitarian assistance. 

TITLE III—ADDRESSING REGIME COHESION 

Sec. 301. Classified report on declining cohesion inside the Venezuelan military 

and the Maduro regime. 

Sec. 302. Additional restrictions on visas. 

Sec. 303. Waiver for sanctioned officials that recognize the Interim President 

of Venezuela. 

TITLE IV—RESTORING DEMOCRACY AND ADDRESSING THE 

POLITICAL CRISIS IN VENEZUELA 

Sec. 401. Special Envoy for Venezuela and Task Force on Venezuela. 

Sec. 402. Support for the Lima Group. 

Sec. 403. Accountability for crimes against humanity. 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
3 

•S 1025 RS

Sec. 404. Upholding the Organization of American States Inter-American 

Democratic Charter. 

Sec. 405. Support for international election observation and democratic civil society. 

TITLE V—SUPPORTING THE RECONSTRUCTION OF VENEZUELA 

Sec. 501. Engaging international financial institutions to advance the reconstruction of Venezuela’s economy and energy infrastructure. 

Sec. 502. Recovering assets stolen from the Venezuelan people. 

TITLE VI—RESTORING THE RULE OF LAW IN VENEZUELA 

Sec. 601. Developing and implementing a coordinated sanctions strategy with 

partners in the Western Hemisphere and the European Union. 

Sec. 602. Classified briefing on the involvement of Venezuelan officials in corruption and illicit narcotics trafficking. 

Sec. 603. Sanctions on persons responsible for public corruption and undermining democratic governance. 

Sec. 604. Public information about sanctioned officials. 

Sec. 605. Financial sanctions on Maduro regime debt. 

Sec. 606. Additional financial sanctions on Maduro regime debt. 

Sec. 607. Expanding kingpin sanctions on narcotics trafficking and money 

laundering. 

Sec. 608. Sanctions on the Maduro regime’s trade in gold. 

Sec. 609. Concerns over PDVSA transactions with Rosneft. 

Sec. 610. Classified briefing on activities of certain foreign governments and actors in Venezuela. 

TITLE VII—CRYPTOCURRENCY SANCTIONS AND ENSURING THE 

EFFECTIVENESS OF UNITED STATES SANCTIONS 

Sec. 701. Sanctions on Venezuela’s cryptocurrency and the provision of related 

technologies. 

Sec. 702. Report on the impact of cryptocurrencies on United States sanctions. 

TITLE VIII—MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS 

Sec. 801. Congressional briefings. 

Sec. 802. Extension and termination of sanctions against Venezuela. 

1 SEC. 2. DEFINED TERM. 

2 In this Act, the term ‘‘Maduro regime’’ means any 

3 ministry, agency, political subdivision, or instrumentality 

4 of the Government of Venezuela, including the Central 

5 Bank of Venezuela and Petr ́oleos de Venezuela, S.A., any 

6 branch of the Venezuelan armed forces, and any person 

7 owned or controlled by, or acting for or on behalf of, the 

8 Government of Venezuela that remain under the control 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
4 

•S 1025 RS

1 of Nicol ́as Maduro or the subsequent control of a person 

2 that comes to power through any means other than— 

3 (1) a free, fair, and transparent democratic 

4 election that is monitored by credible international 

5 observers; or 

6 (2) the appointment by Venezuela’s democrat7 ically elected National Assembly of an Interim Presi8 dent with a mandate to convene elections described 

9 in paragraph (1); and 

10 (3) a negotiation process described in section 

11 103. 

12 TITLE I—SUPPORT FOR THE IN13 TERIM PRESIDENT OF VEN14 EZUELA AND RECOGNITION 

15 OF THE VENEZUELAN NA16 TIONAL ASSEMBLY 

17 SEC. 101. FINDINGS; SENSE OF CONGRESS IN SUPPORT OF 

18 THE INTERIM PRESIDENT OF VENEZUELA. 

19 (a) FINDINGS.—Congress makes the following find20 ings: 

21 (1) Venezuela’s electoral event on May 20, 

22 2018, was characterized by widespread fraud and 

23 did not comply with international standards for a 

24 free, fair, and transparent electoral process. 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
5 

•S 1025 RS

1 (2) Given the fraudulent nature of Venezuela’s 

2 May 20, 2018, electoral event, Nicol ́as Maduro’s ten3 ure as President of Venezuela ended on January 10, 

4 2019. 

5 (3) The National Assembly of Venezuela ap6 proved a resolution on January 15, 2019, that ter7 minated Nicol ́as Maduro’s authority as the President 

8 of Venezuela. 

9 (4) On January 23, 2019, the President of the 

10 National Assembly of Venezuela was sworn in as the 

11 Interim President of Venezuela. 

12 (5) The United States Government, the Govern13 ments of Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Australia, 

14 Austria, Bahamas, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Can15 ada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, 

16 Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ec17 uador, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, 

18 Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Iceland, Ireland, 

19 Israel, Japan, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxem20 bourg, North Macedonia, Malta, Montenegro, Mo21 rocco, Netherlands, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Po22 land, Portugal, Romania, South Korea, Spain, Swe23 den, Switzerland, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom, 

24 the Secretary General of the Organization of Amer25 ican States, and the European Parliament have all 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
6 

•S 1025 RS

1 recognized National Assembly President Juan 

2 Guaid ́o as the Interim President of Venezuela. 

3 (b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con4 gress— 

5 (1) to support the decisions by the United 

6 States Government, more than 50 governments 

7 around the world, the Secretary General of the Or8 ganization of American States, and the European 

9 Parliament to recognize National Assembly Presi10 dent Juan Guaid ́o as the Interim President of Ven11 ezuela; 

12 (2) to encourage the Interim President of Ven13 ezuela to advance efforts to hold democratic presi14 dential elections in the shortest possible period; and 

15 (3) that the Organization of American States, 

16 with support from the United States Government 

17 and partner governments, should provide diplomatic, 

18 technical, and financial support for a new presi19 dential election in Venezuela that complies with 

20 international standards for a free, fair, and trans21 parent electoral processes. 

22 SEC. 102. RECOGNITION OF VENEZUELA’S DEMOCRAT23 ICALLY ELECTED NATIONAL ASSEMBLY. 

24 (a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds that Venezuela’s uni25 cameral National Assembly convened on January 6, 2016, 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
7 

•S 1025 RS

1 following democratic elections that were held on December 

2 6, 2015. 

3 (b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con4 gress that— 

5 (1) Venezuela’s democratically elected National 

6 Assembly is the only national level democratic insti7 tution remaining in the country; and 

8 (2) actions taken by the Maduro regime that re9 quire legislative approval, ratification, or concur10 rence, including the provision or refinancing of 

11 debts, should only be recognized as legitimate by the 

12 United States and the international community if 

13 such legislative actions are authorized by the demo14 cratically elected National Assembly of the 

15 Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. 

16 (c) POLICY.—It is the policy of the United States to 

17 recognize the democratically elected National Assembly of 

18 Venezuela as the only legitimate national legislative body 

19 in Venezuela. 

20 (d) ASSISTANCE TO VENEZUELA’S NATIONAL ASSEM21 BLY.—The Secretary of State, in coordination with the 

22 Administrator of the United States Agency for Inter23 national Development, shall prioritize efforts to provide 

24 technical assistance to support the democratically elected 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
8 

•S 1025 RS

1 National Assembly of Venezuela in accordance with sec2 tion 406. 

3 SEC. 103. ADVANCING A NEGOTIATED SOLUTION TO VEN4 EZUELA’S CRISIS. 

5 (a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con6 gress that— 

7 (1) direct, credible negotiations led by the In8 terim President of Venezuela and members of Ven9 ezuela’s democratically elected National Assembly— 

10 (A) are supported by stakeholders in the 

11 international community that have recognized 

12 the Interim President of Venezuela; 

13 (B) include the input and interests of Ven14 ezuelan civil society; and 

15 (C) represent the best opportunity to reach 

16 a solution to the Venezuelan crisis that in17 cludes— 

18 (i) holding a new presidential election 

19 that complies with international standards 

20 for a free, fair, and transparent electoral 

21 process; 

22 (ii) ending Nicol ́as Maduro’s usurpa23 tion of presidential authorities; 

24 (iii) restoring democracy and the rule 

25 of law; 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
9 

•S 1025 RS

1 (iv) freeing political prisoners; and 

2 (v) facilitating the delivery of humani3 tarian aid; 

4 (2) dialogue between the Maduro regime and 

5 political opposition that commenced in October 

6 2017, and were supported by the Governments of 

7 Mexico, of Chile, of Bolivia, and of Nicaragua, did 

8 not result in an agreement because the Maduro re9 gime failed to credibly participate in the process; 

10 and 

11 (3) negotiations between the Maduro regime 

12 and political opposition that commenced in October 

13 2016, and were supported by the Vatican, did not 

14 result in an agreement because the Maduro regime 

15 failed to credibly participate in the process. 

16 (b) POLICY.—It is the policy of the United States to 

17 support diplomatic engagement in order to advance a ne18 gotiated and peaceful solution to Venezuela’s political, eco19 nomic, and humanitarian crisis that is described in sub20 section (a)(1). 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
10 

•S 1025 RS

1 TITLE II—HUMANITARIAN 

2 RELIEF FOR VENEZUELA 

3 SEC. 201. HUMANITARIAN RELIEF FOR THE VENEZUELAN 

4 PEOPLE. 

5 (a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con6 gress that— 

7 (1) the United States Government should ex8 pand efforts to peacefully address Venezuela’s hu9 manitarian crisis; and 

10 (2) humanitarian assistance— 

11 (A) should be provided directly to the peo12 ple of Venezuela; and 

13 (B) should not be passed through the con14 trol or distribution mechanisms of the Maduro 

15 regime. 

16 (b) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of State, in coordi17 nation with the Administrator of the United States Agen18 cy for International Development, shall work through 

19 international and nongovernmental organizations to pro20 vide humanitarian assistance to individuals and commu21 nities in Venezuela, including— 

22 (1) public health commodities to Venezuelan 

23 health facilities and services, including medicines on 

24 the World Health Organization’s Model List of EsVerDate Sep 11 2014 00:01 Jun 04, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6401 E:\BILLS\S1025.RS S1025

kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
11 

•S 1025 RS

1 sential Medicines and basic medical supplies and 

2 equipment; 

3 (2) the basic food commodities and nutritional 

4 supplements needed to address growing malnutrition 

5 and improve food security for the people of Ven6 ezuela, with a specific emphasis on the most vulner7 able populations; and 

8 (3) technical assistance to ensure that health 

9 and food commodities are appropriately selected, 

10 procured, and distributed. 

11 (c) STRATEGY REQUIREMENT.— 

12 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 

13 after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec14 retary of State, in coordination with the Adminis15 trator of the United States Agency for International 

16 Development shall submit a strategy for carrying out 

17 the activities described in subsection (b) to— 

18 (A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of 

19 the Senate; 

20 (B) the Committee on Appropriations of 

21 the Senate; 

22 (C) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of 

23 the House of Representatives; and 

24 (D) the Committee on Appropriations of 

25 the House of Representatives. 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
12 

•S 1025 RS

1 (2) ADDITIONAL ELEMENTS.—The strategy re2 quired under paragraph (1) shall be based on inde3 pendent assessments of the humanitarian crisis in 

4 Venezuela, including assessments by nongovern5 mental organizations and the United Nations hu6 manitarian agencies listed in section 204(a). 

7 (d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 

8 (1) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be 

9 appropriated to the Secretary of State $200,000,000 

10 for fiscal year 2019 to carry out the activities set 

11 forth in subsection (b) in accordance with this sec12 tion. 

13 (2) NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENT.— 

14 (A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided 

15 under subparagraph (B), amounts appropriated 

16 or otherwise made available pursuant to para17 graph (1) may not be obligated until 15 days 

18 after the date on which the President provides 

19 notice to the committees listed in subsection 

20 (c)(1) of the intent to obligate such funds. 

21 (B) WAIVER.— 

22 (i) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of 

23 State may waive the requirement under 

24 subparagraph (A) if the Secretary of State 

25 determines that such requirement would 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
13 

•S 1025 RS

1 pose a substantial risk to human health or 

2 welfare. 

3 (ii) NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENT.—If 

4 a waiver is invoked under clause (i), the 

5 President shall notify the committees listed 

6 in subsection (c)(1) of the intention to obli7 gate funds under this section as early as 

8 practicable, but not later than 3 days after 

9 taking the action to which such notification 

10 requirement was applicable in the context 

11 of the circumstances necessitating such 

12 waiver. 

13 SEC. 202. HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO VENEZUELANS 

14 IN NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES. 

15 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of State, in coordi16 nation with the Administrator of the United States Agen17 cy for International Development, shall work through 

18 international and nongovernmental organizations to pro19 vide Venezuelans in neighboring countries with humani20 tarian aid, such as— 

21 (1) urgently needed health and nutritional as22 sistance, including logistical and technical assistance 

23 to hospitals and health centers in affected commu24 nities; 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
14 

•S 1025 RS

1 (2) food assistance for vulnerable individuals, 

2 including assistance to improve food security for af3 fected communities; and 

4 (3) hygiene supplies and sanitation services. 

5 (b) ADDITIONAL ELEMENTS.—The assistance de6 scribed in subsection (a)— 

7 (1) may be provided— 

8 (A) directly to Venezuelans in neighboring 

9 countries; or 

10 (B) indirectly through the communities in 

11 which the Venezuelans reside; and 

12 (2) should focus on the most vulnerable Ven13 ezuelans in neighboring countries. 

14 (c) STRATEGY REQUIREMENT.—The strategy re15 quired under section 201(c) shall include a strategy for 

16 carrying out the activities described in subsection (a). 

17 (d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 

18 (1) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be 

19 appropriated to the Secretary of State $200,000,000 

20 for fiscal year 2019 to carry out the activities set 

21 forth in subsection (a) in accordance with this sec22 tion. 

23 (2) NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENT.— 

24 (A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided 

25 under subparagraph (B), amounts appropriated 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
15 

•S 1025 RS

1 or otherwise made available pursuant to para2 graph (1) may not be obligated until 15 days 

3 after the date on which the President provides 

4 notice to the committees listed in section 

5 201(c)(1) of the intent to obligate such funds. 

6 (B) WAIVER.— 

7 (i) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of 

8 State may waive the requirement under 

9 subparagraph (A) if the Secretary deter10 mines that such requirement would pose a 

11 substantial risk to human health or wel12 fare. 

13 (ii) NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENT.—If 

14 a waiver is invoked under clause (i), the 

15 President shall notify the committees listed 

16 in section 201(c)(1) of the intention to ob17 ligate funds under this section as early as 

18 practicable, but not later than 3 days after 

19 taking the action to which such notification 

20 requirement was applicable in the context 

21 of the circumstances necessitating such 

22 waiver. 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
16 

•S 1025 RS

1 SEC. 203. REQUIREMENT FOR STRATEGY TO COORDINATE 

2 INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN ASSIST3 ANCE. 

4 (a) STRATEGY.—The strategy required under section 

5 201(c) shall include a multiyear strategy that— 

6 (1) describes United States diplomatic efforts to 

7 ensure support from international donors, including 

8 regional partners in Latin America and the Carib9 bean, for the provision of humanitarian assistance to 

10 the people of Venezuela; 

11 (2) identifies governments that are willing to 

12 provide financial and technical assistance for the 

13 provision of such humanitarian assistance to the 

14 people of Venezuela and a description of such assist15 ance; and 

16 (3) identifies the financial and technical assist17 ance to be provided by multilateral institutions, in18 cluding the United Nations humanitarian agencies 

19 listed in section 104(a), the Pan American Health 

20 Organization, the Inter-American Development 

21 Bank, and the World Bank, and a description of 

22 such assistance. 

23 (b) DIPLOMATIC ENGAGEMENT.—The Secretary of 

24 State, in consultation with the Administrator of the 

25 United States Agency for International Development, shall 

26 work with relevant foreign governments and multilateral 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
17 

•S 1025 RS

1 organizations to coordinate a donors summit and carry out 

2 diplomatic engagement to advance the strategy described 

3 in subsection (a). 

4 SEC. 204. SUPPORT FOR EFFORTS AT THE UNITED NATIONS 

5 ON THE HUMANITARIAN CRISIS IN VENEZU6 ELA. 

7 (a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con8 gress that the United Nations humanitarian agencies, in9 cluding the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian 

10 Affairs, the World Health Organization, the Pan Amer11 ican Health Organization, the Food and Agriculture Orga12 nization, UNICEF, and the United Nations High Com13 missioner for Refugees, should conduct and publish inde14 pendent assessments regarding— 

15 (1) the extent and impact of the shortages of 

16 food, medicine, and medical supplies in Venezuela; 

17 (2) basic health indicators in Venezuela, such 

18 as maternal and child mortality rates and the preva19 lence and treatment of communicable diseases; and 

20 (3) the efforts needed to resolve the shortages 

21 identified in paragraph (1) and to improve the 

22 health indicators referred to in paragraph (2). 

23 (b) INITIAL EFFORTS.—The President shall instruct 

24 the Permanent Representative of the United States to the 

25 United Nations to use the voice and vote of the United 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
18 

•S 1025 RS

1 States in the United Nations Security Council to secure 

2 the necessary votes— 

3 (1) to place the humanitarian and political cri4 sis in Venezuela on the United Nations Security 

5 Council’s Programme of Work; and 

6 (2) to secure a Presidential Statement from the 

7 President of the United Nations Security Council 

8 urging the Maduro regime— 

9 (A) to allow the delivery of humanitarian 

10 relief; and 

11 (B) to lift bureaucratic impediments or 

12 any other obstacles preventing independent non13 governmental organizations from providing the 

14 proper assistance to the people of Venezuela 

15 without any interference by the Maduro regime. 

16 (c) UNITED NATIONS HUMANITARIAN COORDI17 NATOR.—The President shall instruct the Permanent Rep18 resentative to the United Nations to use the voice and in19 fluence of the United States to advance the appointment 

20 of a United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator for Ven21 ezuela to lead and coordinate the efforts of humanitarian 

22 organizations in a manner that contributes to Venezuela’s 

23 long-term recovery. 

24 (d) ADDITIONAL EFFORTS.— 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
19 

•S 1025 RS

1 (1) IN GENERAL.—If the Maduro regime re2 fuses to allow the delivery of humanitarian relief and 

3 to lift bureaucratic impediments and any other ob4 stacles described in subsection (b)(2)(B), the Presi5 dent, beginning not later than 30 days after the con6 clusion of the efforts of the United Nations de7 scribed in such subsection, shall instruct the Perma8 nent Representative of the United States to the 

9 United Nations to use the voice and vote of the 

10 United States to secure the adoption of a resolution 

11 described in paragraph (2). 

12 (2) RESOLUTION DESCRIBED.—The resolution 

13 described in this paragraph is a Resolution of the 

14 United Nations Security Council that— 

15 (A) requires the Maduro regime to prompt16 ly allow safe and unhindered access for humani17 tarian agencies and their implementing part18 ners, including possible support from neigh19 boring countries; and 

20 (B) calls on the Maduro regime— 

21 (i) to allow the delivery of food and 

22 medicine to the people of Venezuela; 

23 (ii) to end human rights violations 

24 against the people of Venezuela; 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
20 

•S 1025 RS

1 (iii) to agree to free, fair, and trans2 parent elections with credible international 

3 observers; 

4 (iv) to cease violence against the peo5 ple of Venezuela; and 

6 (v) to release all political prisoners 

7 held by the Maduro regime. 

8 SEC. 205. SANCTIONS EXCEPTIONS FOR HUMANITARIAN AS9 SISTANCE. 

10 (a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

11 (1) AGRICULTURAL COMMODITY.—The term 

12 ‘‘agricultural commodity’’ has the meaning given 

13 that term in section 102 of the Agricultural Trade 

14 Act of 1978 (7 U.S.C. 5602). 

15 (2) MEDICAL DEVICE.—The term ‘‘medical de16 vice’’ has the meaning given the term ‘‘device’’ in 

17 section 201 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cos18 metic Act (21 U.S.C. 321). 

19 (3) MEDICINE.—The term ‘‘medicine’’ has the 

20 meaning given the term ‘‘drug’’ in section 201 of the 

21 Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 

22 321). 

23 (b) IN GENERAL.—Any transaction for the sale of ag24 ricultural commodities, food, medicine, or medical devices 

25 to Venezuela or for the provision of humanitarian assistVerDate Sep 11 2014 00:01 Jun 04, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00020 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6401 E:\BILLS\S1025.RS S1025

kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
21 

•S 1025 RS

1 ance to the people of Venezuela, and any transaction that 

2 is incidental or necessary to any such transaction, regard3 less of whether the transactions or provision of humani4 tarian assistance originate in, or have a connection to, the 

5 United States, shall be exempt from United States sanc6 tions, including sanctions described in— 

7 (1) sections 603, 605, 606, 608, and 701; 

8 (2) the Venezuela Defense of Human Rights 

9 and Civil Society Act of 2014 (Public Law 113– 

10 278); or 

11 (3) Executive Orders 13692, 13808, 13827, 

12 13835, 13850, and 13857. 

13 TITLE III—ADDRESSING REGIME 

14 COHESION 

15 SEC. 301. CLASSIFIED REPORT ON DECLINING COHESION 

16 INSIDE THE VENEZUELAN MILITARY AND 

17 THE MADURO REGIME. 

18 (a) REPORTING REQUIREMENT.—Not later than 30 

19 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec20 retary of State, acting through the Bureau of Intelligence 

21 and Research, and in coordination with the Director of 

22 National Intelligence, shall submit a classified report to 

23 the appropriate congressional committees that assesses 

24 the declining cohesion inside the Venezuelan military and 

25 security forces and the Maduro regime. 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
22 

•S 1025 RS

1 (b) ADDITIONAL ELEMENTS.—The report submitted 

2 under subsection (a) shall— 

3 (1) identify senior members of the Venezuelan 

4 military and the Maduro regime, including generals, 

5 admirals, cabinet ministers, deputy cabinet min6 isters, and the heads of intelligence agencies, whose 

7 loyalty to Nicol ́as Maduro is declining; 

8 (2) describe the factors that would accelerate 

9 the decision making of individuals identified in para10 graph (1)— 

11 (A) to break with the Maduro regime; and 

12 (B) to recognize the Interim President of 

13 Venezuela and his government; and 

14 (3) assess and detail the massive number of de15 sertions and defections that have occurred at the of16 ficer and enlisted levels inside the Venezuelan mili17 tary and security forces. 

18 (c) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES.— 

19 In this section, the term ‘‘appropriate congressional com20 mittees’’ means— 

21 (1) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the 

22 Senate; 

23 (2) the Select Committee on Intelligence of the 

24 Senate; 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
23 

•S 1025 RS

1 (3) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the 

2 House of Representatives; and 

3 (4) the Permanent Select Committee on Intel4 ligence of the House of Representatives. 

5 SEC. 302. ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON VISAS. 

6 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of State shall im7 pose the visa restrictions described in subsection (c) on 

8 any current or former official of the Maduro regime, or 

9 any foreign person acting on behalf of such regime, who 

10 the Secretary determines— 

11 (1) is responsible for, is complicit in, is respon12 sible for ordering, controlling, or otherwise directing, 

13 or is knowingly participating in (directly or indi14 rectly) any activity in or in relation to Venezuela, on 

15 or after January 23, 2019, that undermines or 

16 threatens the integrity of— 

17 (A) the democratically elected National As18 sembly of Venezuela; or 

19 (B) the President of such National Assem20 bly, while serving as Interim President of Ven21 ezuela, or the government officials under the 

22 supervision of such President; 

23 (2) is the spouse or child of a foreign person 

24 described in paragraph (1); or 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
24 

•S 1025 RS

1 (3) is the spouse or child of a foreign person 

2 described or identified under— 

3 (A) section 5(a) of the Venezuela Defense 

4 of Human Rights and Civil Society Act of 2014 

5 (Public Law 113–278), as amended by section 

6 603 of this Act; 

7 (B) section 804(b) of the Foreign Nar8 cotics Kingpin Designation Act (21 U.S.C. 

9 1903(b)); or 

10 (C) Executive Orders 13692 (50 U.S.C. 

11 1701 note) and 13850. 

12 (b) REMOVAL FROM VISA REVOCATION LIST.—If a 

13 person described in subsection (a)(1) or in subparagraphs 

14 (A) through (C) of subsection (a)(3) publicly recognizes 

15 and pledges supports for the Interim President of Ven16 ezuela and the government officials supervised by such In17 terim President, any family members of such person who 

18 were subject to visa restrictions pursuant to paragraph (2) 

19 or (3) of such subsection shall no longer be subject to such 

20 visa restrictions. 

21 (c) VISA RESTRICTIONS DESCRIBED.— 

22 (1) EXCLUSION FROM THE UNITED STATES

23 AND REVOCATION OF VISA OR OTHER DOCUMENTA24 TION.—Subject to paragraph (2) and subsection (b), 

25 an alien described in subsection (a)— 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
25 

•S 1025 RS

1 (A) is inadmissible to the United States; 

2 (B) is ineligible to receive a visa or other 

3 documentation authorizing entry into the 

4 United States; 

5 (C) is otherwise ineligible to be admitted or 

6 paroled into the United States or to receive any 

7 benefit under the Immigration and Nationality 

8 Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.); and 

9 (D) shall, in accordance with section 221(i) 

10 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 

11 U.S.C. 1201(i)), have his or her visa or other 

12 documentation revoked, regardless of when the 

13 visa or other documentation was issued. 

14 (2) EXCEPTION TO COMPLY WITH UNITED NA15 TIONS HEADQUARTERS AGREEMENT.—Sanctions 

16 under paragraph (1) shall not apply to an alien if 

17 admitting the alien into the United States is nec18 essary to permit the United States to comply with 

19 the Agreement regarding the Headquarters of the 

20 United Nations, signed at Lake Success June 26, 

21 1947, and entered into force November 21, 1947, 

22 between the United Nations and the United States, 

23 or other applicable international obligations. 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
26 

•S 1025 RS

1 (d) RULEMAKING.—The President shall issue such 

2 regulations, licenses, and orders as may be necessary to 

3 carry out this section. 

4 SEC. 303. WAIVER FOR SANCTIONED OFFICIALS THAT REC5 OGNIZE THE INTERIM PRESIDENT OF VEN6 EZUELA. 

7 (a) REMOVAL FROM VISA REVOCATION LIST.—If a 

8 person sanctioned under any of the provisions of law de9 scribed in subsection (b) publicly recognizes and pledges 

10 supports for the Interim President of Venezuela and the 

11 government officials supervised by such Interim President, 

12 the person shall no longer be subject to such sanctions. 

13 (b) SANCTIONS DESCRIBED.—The sanctions de14 scribed in this subsection are set forth in the following 

15 provisions of law: 

16 (1)(A) Paragraphs (3) and (4) of section 5(a) 

17 of the Venezuela Defense of Human Rights and Civil 

18 Society Act of 2014 (Public Law 113–278), as 

19 amended by section 603 of this Act. 

20 (B) Paragraph (5) of section 5(a) of such Act, 

21 to the extent such paragraph relates to the sanctions 

22 described in paragraph (3) or (4) of such subsection. 

23 (2)(A) Clauses (1) and (4) of section 1(a)(ii)(A) 

24 of Executive Order 13692 (50 U.S.C. 1701 note). 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
27 

•S 1025 RS

1 (B) Subparagraph (D)(2) of section 1(a)(ii) of 

2 such Executive Order, to the extent such subpara3 graph relates to the provisions of law cited in sub4 paragraph (A). 

5 (3)(A) Section 1(a)(ii) of Executive Order 

6 13850. 

7 (B) Paragraph (iii) of section 1(a) of such Ex8 ecutive Order, to the extent such paragraph relates 

9 to the provision of law cited in subparagraph (A). 

10 (c) RULEMAKING.—The President shall issue such 

11 regulations, licenses, and orders as may be necessary to 

12 carry out this section. 

13 TITLE IV—RESTORING DEMOC14 RACY AND ADDRESSING THE 

15 POLITICAL CRISIS IN VEN16 EZUELA 

17 SEC. 401. SPECIAL ENVOY FOR VENEZUELA AND TASK 

18 FORCE ON VENEZUELA. 

19 (a) DESIGNATION.—Not later than 30 days after the 

20 date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State 

21 shall designate a Special Envoy for Venezuela (referred 

22 to in this section as the ‘‘Special Envoy’’), who shall— 

23 (1) have the rank and status of ambassador; 

24 and 

25 (2) report directly to the Secretary of State. 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
28 

•S 1025 RS

1 (b) DUTIES.—The Special Envoy shall— 

2 (1) coordinate United States policy towards 

3 Venezuela between relevant departments and agen4 cies, including the Department of State, the Depart5 ment of the Treasury, the Department of Justice, 

6 the Department of Defense, the United States Agen7 cy for International Development, and the intel8 ligence community; 

9 (2) develop and conduct oversight of United 

10 States programs and operations related to Ven11 ezuela, including humanitarian assistance, support 

12 for regional migration systems, and assistance to 

13 democratic actors and independent civil society in 

14 Venezuela; 

15 (3) advance efforts— 

16 (A) to recover the assets described in sec17 tion 502(a)(2) that were stolen from the Ven18 ezuelan people; and 

19 (B) to coordinate sanctions with the 

20 United States partners referred to in section 

21 601; 

22 (4) engage and coordinate policy matters re23 lated to Venezuela with the international community, 

24 including the Organization of American States, the 

25 United Nations and its agencies, the Lima Group, 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
29 

•S 1025 RS

1 the European Union, and other governments and or2 ganizations with interest in Venezuela; 

3 (5) engage and coordinate with actors sup4 porting the restoration of democracy in Venezuela, 

5 including the Venezuelan diaspora and the demo6 cratic political opposition in Venezuela; and 

7 (6) communicate and coordinate engagement 

8 with the Maduro regime. 

9 (c) AUTHORIZATION.—Notwithstanding any other 

10 provision of law, the Special Envoy is authorized to di11 rectly engage with the Maduro regime and its officers. 

12 (d) TASK FORCE ON VENEZUELA.— 

13 (1) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established an 

14 interagency task force, to be known as the ‘‘Task 

15 Force on Venezuela’’ (referred to in this subsection 

16 as the ‘‘Task Force’’. 

17 (2) MISSION.—The primary mission of the 

18 Task Force is to support the Special Envoy in the 

19 exercise of the duties described in subsection (b). 

20 (3) COMPOSITION.—The Task Force shall in21 clude representatives of, or liaison officers from, the 

22 Department of State, the Department of the Treas23 ury, the Department of Justice, the Department of 

24 Defense, the United States Agency for International 

25 Development, and the Central Intelligence Agency. 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
30 

•S 1025 RS

1 Members of the Task Force shall be selected from 

2 among existing employees of their respective depart3 ments. 

4 (e) MONTHLY CONSULTATION.—Not later than 30 

5 days after being designated under subsection (a), and 

6 every 30 days thereafter, the Special Envoy shall brief and 

7 consult with— 

8 (1) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the 

9 Senate; 

10 (2) the Committee on Appropriations of the 

11 Senate; 

12 (3) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the 

13 House of Representatives; and 

14 (4) the Committee on Appropriations of the 

15 House of Representatives. 

16 SEC. 402. SUPPORT FOR THE LIMA GROUP. 

17 (a) FINDINGS.—Congress makes the following find18 ings: 

19 (1) The Lima Group is a diplomatic bloc whose 

20 members include Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, 

21 Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Guyana, Hon22 duras, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, and Saint Lucia. 

23 (2) The Lima Group— 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
31 

•S 1025 RS

1 (A) has recognized National Assembly 

2 President Juan Guaid ́o as the Interim Presi3 dent of Venezuela; 

4 (B) has reaffirmed the authority of the 

5 democratically elected National Assembly of 

6 Venezuela; 

7 (C) has stated that it does not recognize 

8 the legitimacy of Nicol ́as Maduro’s tenure in of9 fice beyond January 10, 2019; 

10 (D) has stated that it does not recognize 

11 the legitimacy of Venezuela’s May 20, 2018, 

12 presidential election as it did not comply with 

13 international standards for a democratic, free, 

14 fair, and transparent process; 

15 (E) has called on Nicol ́as Maduro to provi16 sionally transfer executive powers to the Na17 tional Assembly of Venezuela until new demo18 cratic elections are held; 

19 (F) has condemned the rupture of the 

20 democratic order in Venezuela; 

21 (G) has called on the Maduro regime to ac22 cept humanitarian assistance in order to ad23 dress the country’s growing economic crisis; and 

24 (H) reiterated its ‘‘conviction that the 

25 transition to democracy must be conducted by 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
32 

•S 1025 RS

1 Venezuelans themselves, peacefully and within 

2 the framework of the Constitution and inter3 national law, supported by political and diplo4 matic means, without the use of force.’’. 

5 (b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con6 gress that the Secretary of State should conduct diplo7 matic engagement in support of efforts by the Lima Group 

8 to restore democracy and the rule of law in Venezuela and 

9 facilitate the delivery of humanitarian assistance for the 

10 Venezuelan people. 

11 SEC. 403. ACCOUNTABILITY FOR CRIMES AGAINST HUMAN12 ITY. 

13 (a) FINDINGS.—Congress makes the following find14 ings: 

15 (1) On July 25, 2017, the Secretary General of 

16 the Organization of American States stated ‘‘the 

17 systematic attack against the civilian population [of 

18 Venezuela] includes murders, imprisonment and tor19 ture, and it is evident in the eyes of the inter20 national community that we are in the presence of 

21 crimes against humanity.’’. 

22 (2) On September 11, 2017, the United Na23 tions High Commissioner for Human Rights stated 

24 that Venezuelan security forces may have committed 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
33 

•S 1025 RS

1 crimes against humanity against protesters and 

2 called for a credible international investigation. 

3 (3) A November 29, 2017, report by Human 

4 Rights Watch documented that Venezuelan security 

5 forces had used extreme and, at times, lethal forces 

6 against protesters and, once detained, subjected 

7 them to abuses ranging from severe beatings to tor8 ture involving electric shocks, asphyxiation, and 

9 other techniques. 

10 (4) On February 8, 2018, the Prosecutor of the 

11 International Criminal Court opened a preliminary 

12 examination of the situation in Venezuela as it re13 lates to Venezuelan security forces using excessive 

14 force against civilians and the political opposition. 

15 (5) On May 29, 2018, a panel of independent 

16 international experts convened by the Secretary Gen17 eral of the Organization of American States found 

18 that ‘‘there are reasonable grounds that satisfy the 

19 standard of proof required by Article 53 of the 

20 Rome Statute for considering that acts to which the 

21 civilian population of Venezuela was subjected . . . 

22 constitute crimes against humanity’’. 

23 (b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con24 gress that the Secretary of State should conduct robust 

25 diplomatic engagement in support of efforts in Venezuela, 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
34 

•S 1025 RS

1 and on the part of the international community, to ensure 

2 accountability for possible crimes against humanity and 

3 other violations of international humanitarian law and vio4 lations and abuses of human rights. 

5 (c) REPORT.—Not later than 90 days after the date 

6 of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall 

7 submit a report to Congress that— 

8 (1) evaluates the degree to which the Maduro 

9 regime and its officials, including members of the 

10 Venezuelan security force, have engaged in actions 

11 that constitute crimes against humanity and viola12 tions of internationally recognized humanitarian 

13 rights; and 

14 (2) provides options for holding accountable the 

15 perpetrators identified under paragraph (1). 

16 SEC. 404. UPHOLDING THE ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN 

17 STATES INTER-AMERICAN DEMOCRATIC 

18 CHARTER. 

19 (a) FINDINGS.—Congress makes the following find20 ings: 

21 (1) Article 1 of the Inter-American Democratic 

22 Charter, which was adopted by the Organization of 

23 American States in Lima on September 11, 2001, 

24 states: ‘‘The peoples of the Americas have a right to 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
35 

•S 1025 RS

1 democracy and their governments have an obligation 

2 to promote and defend it.’’. 

3 (2) Article 19 of the Inter-American Demo4 cratic Charter states ‘‘an unconstitutional interrup5 tion of the democratic order or an unconstitutional 

6 alteration of the constitutional regime that seriously 

7 impairs the democratic order in a member state, 

8 constitutes, while it persists, an insurmountable ob9 stacle to its government’s participation in sessions of 

10 the General Assembly . . . and other bodies of the 

11 Organization.’’. 

12 (3) Article 20 of the Inter-American Demo13 cratic Charter states the following: 

14 (A) ‘‘In the event of an unconstitutional al15 teration of the constitutional regime that seri16 ously impairs the democratic order in a member 

17 state, any member state or the Secretary Gen18 eral may request the immediate convocation of 

19 the Permanent Council to undertake a collective 

20 assessment of the situation and to take such de21 cisions as it deems appropriate.’’. 

22 (B) ‘‘The Permanent Council, depending 

23 on the situation, may undertake the necessary 

24 diplomatic initiatives, including good offices, to 

25 foster the restoration of democracy.’’. 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
36 

•S 1025 RS

1 (4) Article 21 of the Inter-American Demo2 cratic Charter states ‘‘When the special session of 

3 the General Assembly determines that there has 

4 been an unconstitutional interruption of the demo5 cratic order of a member state, and that diplomatic 

6 initiatives have failed, the special session shall take 

7 the decision to suspend said member state.’’. 

8 (b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con9 gress that— 

10 (1) Nicol ́as Maduro and the Supreme Tribunal 

11 of Justice of Venezuela have carried out systematic 

12 efforts to undermine, block, and circumvent the au13 thorities and responsibilities of the Venezuelan Na14 tional Assembly, as mandated in the Constitution of 

15 the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela; 

16 (2) the electoral process convened by the Na17 tional Electoral Council of Venezuela on May 20, 

18 2018 was not democratic, free, fair, or transparent; 

19 (3) Nicol ́as Maduro’s attempt to inaugurate 

20 himself for a second term in office on January 10, 

21 2019, was not legitimate; 

22 (4) such events constitute an unconstitutional 

23 alteration of the constitutional regime that seriously 

24 impairs the democratic order in Venezuela; and 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
37 

•S 1025 RS

1 (5) the Secretary of State, working through the 

2 United States Permanent Representative to the Or3 ganization of American States, should take addi4 tional steps to support ongoing efforts by the Sec5 retary General— 

6 (A) to invoke the Inter-American Demo7 cratic Charter; and 

8 (B) to promote diplomatic initiatives to 

9 foster the restoration of Venezuelan democracy. 

10 SEC. 405. SUPPORT FOR INTERNATIONAL ELECTION OB11 SERVATION AND DEMOCRATIC CIVIL SOCI12 ETY. 

13 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of State, in coordi14 nation with the Administrator of the United States Agen15 cy for International Development— 

16 (1) shall work with the Organization of Amer17 ican States to ensure credible international observa18 tion of future elections in Venezuela that contributes 

19 to free, fair, and transparent democratic electoral 

20 processes; and 

21 (2) shall work through nongovernmental organi22 zations— 

23 (A) to strengthen democratic governance 

24 and institutions, including the democratically 

25 elected National Assembly of Venezuela; 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
38 

•S 1025 RS

1 (B) to defend internationally recognized 

2 human rights for the people of Venezuela, in3 cluding support for efforts to document crimes 

4 against humanity and violations of human 

5 rights; 

6 (C) to support the efforts of independent 

7 media outlets to broadcast, distribute, and 

8 share information beyond the limited channels 

9 made available by the Maduro regime; and 

10 (D) to combat corruption and improve the 

11 transparency and accountability of institutions 

12 that are part of the Maduro regime. 

13 (b) VOICE AND VOTE AT THE ORGANIZATION OF

14 AMERICAN STATES.—The Secretary of State, acting 

15 through the United States Permanent Representative to 

16 the Organization of American States, should advocate and 

17 build diplomatic support for sending an election observa18 tion mission to Venezuela to ensure that democratic elec19 toral processes are organized and carried out in a free, 

20 fair, and transparent manner. 

21 (c) STRATEGY REQUIREMENT.—Not later than 180 

22 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec23 retary of State, in coordination with the Administrator of 

24 the United States Agency for International Development, 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
39 

•S 1025 RS

1 shall submit a strategy to carry out the activities described 

2 in subsection (a) to— 

3 (1) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the 

4 Senate; 

5 (2) the Committee on Appropriations of the 

6 Senate; 

7 (3) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the 

8 House of Representatives; and 

9 (4) the Committee on Appropriations of the 

10 House of Representatives. 

11 (d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 

12 (1) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be 

13 appropriated to the Secretary of State for fiscal year 

14 2019— 

15 (A) $500,000 to carry out the activities de16 scribed in subsection (a)(1); and 

17 (B) $14,500,000 to carry out the activities 

18 described in subsection (a)(2). 

19 (2) NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENT.— 

20 (A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided 

21 under subparagraph (B), amounts appropriated 

22 or otherwise made available pursuant to para23 graph (1) may not be obligated until 15 days 

24 after the date on which the President provides 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
40 

•S 1025 RS

1 notice to the committees listed in subsection (c) 

2 of intent to obligate such funds. 

3 (B) WAIVER.— 

4 (i) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of 

5 State may waive the notification require6 ment under subparagraph (A) if the Sec7 retary determines that such waiver is in 

8 the national security interest of the United 

9 States. 

10 (ii) NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENT.—If 

11 a waiver is invoked under clause (i), the 

12 Secretary of State shall notify the commit13 tees listed in subsection (c) of the intention 

14 to obligate funds under this section as 

15 early as practicable, but not later than 3 

16 days after taking the action to which such 

17 notification requirement was applicable in 

18 the context of the circumstances necessi19 tating such waiver. 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
41 

•S 1025 RS

1 TITLE V—SUPPORTING THE RE2 CONSTRUCTION OF VENEZU3 ELA 

4 SEC. 501. ENGAGING INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL INSTITU5 TIONS TO ADVANCE THE RECONSTRUCTION 

6 OF VENEZUELA’S ECONOMY AND ENERGY IN7 FRASTRUCTURE. 

8 (a) IN GENERAL.—The President shall engage the 

9 International Monetary Fund and the Multilateral Devel10 opment Banks to create a framework for the economic re11 construction of Venezuela, contingent upon the restoration 

12 of democracy and the rule of law in the country. 

13 (b) ADDITIONAL ELEMENTS.—The framework cre14 ated under subsection (a) should include policy pro15 posals— 

16 (1) to provide Venezuelans with humanitarian 

17 assistance, poverty alleviation, and a social safety 

18 net; 

19 (2) to advance debt restructuring and debt sus20 tainability measures; 

21 (3) to restore the production and efficient man22 agement of Venezuela’s oil industry, including re23 building energy infrastructure; 

24 (4) to eliminate price controls and market dis25 torting subsidies in the Venezuelan economy; and 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
42 

•S 1025 RS

1 (5) to address hyperinflation in Venezuela. 

2 (c) CONSULTATION.—In creating the framework 

3 under subsection (a), the President shall consult with rel4 evant stakeholders in the humanitarian (including inter5 national and nongovernmental organizations), financial, 

6 and energy sectors. 

7 (d) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con8 gress that any effort to conduct debt restructuring 

9 should— 

10 (1) include discussions with China, which is 

11 Venezuela’s biggest creditor; and 

12 (2) appropriately account for China’s and Rus13 sia’s high-risk lending to Venezuela. 

14 (e) CERTIFICATION.—The President may not support 

15 lending or financing for Venezuela from the International 

16 Monetary Fund and the Multilateral Development Banks 

17 until the Secretary of State submits a report to the Com18 mittee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and Committee 

19 on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives certi20 fying that any such lending or financing— 

21 (1) would be managed by the Interim President 

22 of Venezuela or a new, democratically elected Presi23 dent; 

24 (2) would not be used to repay external credi25 tors who are not members of the Group of Seven unVerDate Sep 11 2014 00:01 Jun 04, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00042 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6401 E:\BILLS\S1025.RS S1025

kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
43 

•S 1025 RS

1 less such payments are essential to the restoration 

2 of economic stability and democracy in Venezuela; 

3 and 

4 (3) would not benefit the Maduro regime. 

5 SEC. 502. RECOVERING ASSETS STOLEN FROM THE VEN6 EZUELAN PEOPLE. 

7 (a) FINDINGS.—Congress makes the following find8 ings: 

9 (1) Venezuela ranked 169th out of 180 coun10 tries in Transparency International’s Corruption 

11 Perception Index 2017. 

12 (2) In March 2015, the Department of the 

13 Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network 

14 determined that approximately $2,000,000,000 had 

15 been siphoned from Venezuela’s public oil company, 

16 Petr ́oleos de Venezuela, S.A., in conjunction with its 

17 designation of the Banca Privada d’Andorra as a 

18 Foreign Financial Institution of Primary Money 

19 Laundering Concern. 

20 (b) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of State, in coordi21 nation with the Secretary of the Treasury and the Attor22 ney General, shall advance a coordinated international ef23 fort— 

24 (1) to carry out special financial investigations 

25 to identify and track assets taken from the people 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
44 

•S 1025 RS

1 and institutions of Venezuela through theft, corrup2 tion, money laundering, or other illicit means; and 

3 (2) work with foreign governments— 

4 (A) to share financial investigations intel5 ligence, as appropriate; 

6 (B) to block the assets identified pursuant 

7 to paragraph (1); and 

8 (C) to advance necessary civil forfeiture 

9 litigation, including providing technical assist10 ance to help governments establish the nec11 essary legal framework to carry out asset for12 feitures. 

13 (c) ADDITIONAL ELEMENTS.—The coordinated inter14 national effort described in subsection (b) shall— 

15 (1) include input from— 

16 (A) the Office of Foreign Assets Control of 

17 the Department of the Treasury; 

18 (B) the Financial Crimes Enforcement 

19 Network of the Department of the Treasury; 

20 and 

21 (C) the Money Laundering and Asset Re22 covery Section of the Department of Justice; 

23 (2) identify appropriate steps to advance nec24 essary civil forfeiture litigation in the United States; 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
45 

•S 1025 RS

1 (3) include an assessment of whether the 

2 United States or another member of the inter3 national community should establish a managed 

4 fund to hold the assets identified pursuant to sub5 section (b)(1) that could be returned to a future 

6 democratic government in Venezuela; and 

7 (4) include recommendations for new legislative 

8 and regulatory measures in the United States that 

9 would be needed to establish and manage the fund 

10 described in paragraph (3). 

11 (d) STRATEGY REQUIREMENT.—Not later than 180 

12 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec13 retary of State shall submit a strategy for carrying out 

14 the activities described in subsection (b) to— 

15 (1) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the 

16 Senate; 

17 (2) the Committee on Banking, Housing, and 

18 Urban Affairs of the Senate; 

19 (3) the Committee on the Judiciary of the Sen20 ate; 

21 (4) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the 

22 House of Representatives; 

23 (5) the Committee on Financial Services of the 

24 House of Representatives; and 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
46 

•S 1025 RS

1 (6) the Committee on the Judiciary of the 

2 House of Representatives. 

3 TITLE VI—RESTORING THE 

4 RULE OF LAW IN VENEZUELA 

5 SEC. 601. DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING A COORDI6 NATED SANCTIONS STRATEGY WITH PART7 NERS IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE AND 

8 THE EUROPEAN UNION. 

9 (a) STRENGTHENING SANCTIONS CAPACITY IN LATIN

10 AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN.—The Secretary of State, 

11 working through the Assistant Secretary of State for 

12 International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs and 

13 the Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Busi14 ness Affairs, and in consultation with the Secretary of the 

15 Treasury, shall provide technical assistance to partner 

16 governments in Latin America and the Caribbean to assist 

17 such governments in establishing the legislative and regu18 latory frameworks needed to impose targeted sanctions on 

19 officials of the Maduro regime who— 

20 (1) are responsible for human rights abuses; 

21 (2) have engaged in public corruption; or 

22 (3) are undermining democratic institutions and 

23 processes in Venezuela. 

24 (b) COORDINATING INTERNATIONAL SANCTIONS.— 

25 The Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
47 

•S 1025 RS

1 of the Treasury, shall engage in diplomatic efforts with 

2 partner governments, including the Government of Can3 ada, governments in the European Union, and govern4 ments in Latin America and the Caribbean, to impose tar5 geted sanctions on the officials described in subsection (a). 

6 (c) STRATEGY REQUIREMENT.—Not later than 90 

7 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec8 retary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of the 

9 Treasury, shall submit a strategy for carrying out the ac10 tivities described in subsection (a) to— 

11 (1) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the 

12 Senate; 

13 (2) the Committee on Appropriations of the 

14 Senate; 

15 (3) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the 

16 House of Representatives; and 

17 (4) the Committee on Appropriations of the 

18 House of Representatives. 

19 (d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 

20 (1) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be 

21 appropriated, to the Department of State, 

22 $3,000,000 for fiscal year 2019 to carry out the ac23 tivities set forth in subsection (a) in accordance with 

24 this section. 

25 (2) NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENT.— 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
48 

•S 1025 RS

1 (A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided 

2 under subparagraph (B), amounts appropriated 

3 or otherwise made available pursuant to para4 graph (1) may not be obligated until 15 days 

5 after the date on which the President provides 

6 notice to the committees listed in subsection (c) 

7 of the intent to obligate such funds. 

8 (B) WAIVER.— 

9 (i) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of 

10 State may waive the requirement under 

11 subparagraph (A) if the Secretary of State 

12 determines that such waiver is in the na13 tional security interest of the United 

14 States. 

15 (ii) NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENT.—If 

16 a waiver is invoked under clause (i), the 

17 President shall notify the committees listed 

18 in subsection (c) of the intention to obli19 gate funds under this section as early as 

20 practicable, but not later than 3 days after 

21 taking the action to which such notification 

22 requirement was applicable in the context 

23 of the circumstances necessitating such 

24 waiver. 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
49 

•S 1025 RS

1 SEC. 602. CLASSIFIED BRIEFING ON THE INVOLVEMENT OF 

2 VENEZUELAN OFFICIALS IN CORRUPTION 

3 AND ILLICIT NARCOTICS TRAFFICKING. 

4 (a) BRIEFING REQUIREMENT.—Not later than 90 

5 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec6 retary of State, acting through the Bureau of Intelligence 

7 and Research, and in coordination with the Director of 

8 National Intelligence, shall brief the appropriate congres9 sional committees on the involvement of senior officials of 

10 the Maduro regime, including members of the National 

11 Electoral Council, the judicial system, and the Venezuelan 

12 security forces, in illicit narcotics trafficking and acts of 

13 corruption in Venezuela. 

14 (b) ADDITIONAL ELEMENTS.—The briefing provided 

15 under subsection (a) shall— 

16 (1) describe how the acts of corruption de17 scribed in the report pose challenges for United 

18 States national security and impact the rule of law 

19 and democratic governance in countries of the West20 ern Hemisphere; 

21 (2) identify individuals that frustrate the ability 

22 of the United States to combat illicit narcotics traf23 ficking; 

24 (3) include an assessment of the relationship 

25 between individuals identified under subsection (a) 

26 and Nicol ́as Maduro or members of his cabinet; and 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
50 

•S 1025 RS

1 (4) include input from the Drug Enforcement 

2 Administration, the Office of Foreign Assets Con3 trol, and the Financial Crimes Enforcement Net4 work. 

5 (c) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES.— 

6 In this section, the term ‘‘appropriate congressional com7 mittees’’ means— 

8 (1) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the 

9 Senate; 

10 (2) the Select Committee on Intelligence of the 

11 Senate; 

12 (3) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the 

13 House of Representatives; and 

14 (4) the Permanent Select Committee on Intel15 ligence of the House of Representatives. 

16 SEC. 603. SANCTIONS ON PERSONS RESPONSIBLE FOR PUB17 LIC CORRUPTION AND UNDERMINING DEMO18 CRATIC GOVERNANCE. 

19 (a) FINDING.—Executive Order 13692 (50 U.S.C. 

20 1701 note), which was signed on March 8, 2015, estab21 lished sanctions against individuals responsible for under22 mining democratic processes and institutions and involved 

23 in acts of public corruption that were not included in the 

24 Venezuela Defense of Human Rights and Civil Society Act 

25 of 2014 (Public Law 113–278). 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
51 

•S 1025 RS

1 (b) SANCTIONS.—Section 5(a) of the Venezuela De2 fense of Human Rights and Civil Society Act of 2014 

3 (Public Law 113–278) is amended— 

4 (1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1)— 

5 (A) by striking ‘‘Government of Ven6 ezuela’’ and inserting ‘‘Maduro regime (as de7 fined in section 4 of the Venezuela Emergency 

8 Relief, Democracy Assistance, and Development 

9 Act of 2019)’’; and 

10 (B) by striking ‘‘that Government’’ and in11 serting ‘‘that regime’’; 

12 (2) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘or’’ at the 

13 end; 

14 (3) by redesignating paragraph (3) as para15 graph (5); 

16 (4) by inserting after paragraph (2) the fol17 lowing: 

18 ‘‘(3) is responsible for, or complicit in, ordering, 

19 controlling, or otherwise directing, significant actions 

20 or policies that undermine democratic processes or 

21 institutions; 

22 ‘‘(4) is a government official, or a senior asso23 ciate of such an official, that is responsible for, or 

24 complicit in, ordering, controlling, or otherwise di25 recting, acts of significant corruption, including the 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
52 

•S 1025 RS

1 expropriation of private or public assets for personal 

2 gain, corruption related to government contracts or 

3 the extraction of natural resources, bribery, or the 

4 facilitation or transfer of the proceeds of corruption 

5 to foreign jurisdictions; or’’; and 

6 (5) in paragraph (5), as redesignated, by strik7 ing ‘‘paragraph (1) or (2)’’ and inserting ‘‘para8 graph (1), (2), (3), or (4)’’. 

9 SEC. 604. PUBLIC INFORMATION ABOUT SANCTIONED OFFI10 CIALS. 

11 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after the 

12 date of the enactment of this Act, and every 180 days 

13 thereafter, except as provided in subsection (c), the Sec14 retary of Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of 

15 State, shall submit a report to Congress that describes the 

16 total assessed value of blocked assets of Venezuelans des17 ignated under sanctions authorized under— 

18 (1) the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation 

19 Act (title VIII of Public Law 106–120; 21 U.S.C. 

20 1901 et seq.); 

21 (2) the Venezuela Defense of Human Rights 

22 and Civil Society Act of 2014 (Public Law 113– 

23 278), as amended by section 603 of this Act; or 

24 (3) Executive Orders 13692 (50 U.S.C. 1701 

25 note) and 13850. 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
53 

•S 1025 RS

1 (b) ADDITIONAL ELEMENTS.—Reports submitted 

2 under subsection (a) should provide descriptions of specific 

3 cases that are most representative of the endemic corrup4 tion and illicit financial activities occurring in Venezuela. 

5 (c) SUBSEQUENT REPORTS.—The Secretary of 

6 Treasury is not required to submit an updated report to 

7 Congress under subsection (a) unless, since the submission 

8 of the preceding report— 

9 (1) there has been meaningful change in the 

10 value of blocked assets; or 

11 (2) additional individuals have been targeted for 

12 sanctions under the authorities listed in subsection 

13 (a). 

14 (d) BRIEFINGS.—If the Secretary of Treasury exer15 cises the exception described in subsection (c), the Sec16 retary of the Treasury, or designee, shall immediately brief 

17 Congress regarding— 

18 (1) the decision to exercise the exception; and 

19 (2) information related to the value of blocked 

20 assets described in subsection (a). 

21 (e) FORM.—Reports required under this section shall 

22 be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a clas23 sified annex. 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
54 

•S 1025 RS

1 SEC. 605. FINANCIAL SANCTIONS ON MADURO REGIME 

2 DEBT. 

3 (a) FINDING.—Executive Order 13808 (82 Fed. Reg. 

4 41155), which was signed on August 24, 2017, established 

5 sanctions against the Maduro regime’s ability to issue 

6 public debt. 

7 (b) DEFINITIONS.—In this section and in sections 

8 606 and 608: 

9 (1) ENTITY.—The term ‘‘entity’’ means a part10 nership, association, trust, joint venture, corpora11 tion, group, subgroup, or other organization. 

12 (2) PERSON.—The term ‘‘person’’ means an in13 dividual or entity. 

14 (3) UNITED STATES PERSON.—The term 

15 ‘‘United States person’’ means any— 

16 (A) United States citizen; 

17 (B) alien lawfully admitted for permanent 

18 residence to the United States; 

19 (C) entity organized under the laws of the 

20 United States or any jurisdiction within the 

21 United States (including a foreign branch of 

22 any such entity); and 

23 (D) any person physically located in the 

24 United States. 

25 (c) IN GENERAL.—The President may prohibit, in 

26 the United States or by a United States person— 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
55 

•S 1025 RS

1 (1) any transaction related to, provision of fi2 nancing for, or other dealing in— 

3 (A) debt instruments with a maturity of 

4 greater than 90 days issued by Petr ́oleos de 

5 Venezuela, S.A., on or after the date of the en6 actment of this Act; 

7 (B) debt instruments with a maturity of 

8 greater than 30 days or equity issued by the 

9 Maduro regime on or after the date of the en10 actment of this Act, excluding debt instruments 

11 issued by Petr ́oleos de Venezuela, S.A., that are 

12 not covered under subparagraph (A); 

13 (C) bonds issued by the Maduro regime be14 fore the date of the enactment of this Act; or 

15 (D) dividend payments or other distribu16 tions of profits to the Maduro regime from any 

17 entity owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, 

18 by the Maduro regime; 

19 (2) the direct or indirect purchase of securities 

20 from the Maduro regime, except for— 

21 (A) securities qualifying as debt instru22 ments issued by Petr ́oleos de Venezuela, S.A., 

23 on or after the date of the enactment of this 

24 Act that are not described in paragraph (1)(A); 

25 and 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
56 

•S 1025 RS

1 (B) securities qualifying as debt instru2 ments issued by the Maduro regime on or after 

3 the date of the enactment of this Act that are 

4 not described in paragraph (1)(B); 

5 (3) any transaction that evades or avoids, has 

6 the purpose of evading or avoiding, causes a viola7 tion of, or attempts to violate a prohibition under 

8 paragraph (1) or (2); and 

9 (4) any conspiracy to violate a prohibition 

10 under paragraph (1), (2), or (3). 

11 (d) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con12 gress that the President should waive the prohibitions de13 scribed in subsection (c) and in Executive Order 13808 

14 if the related debt instruments, bonds, or securities have 

15 been approved or ratified by the democratically elected 

16 National Assembly of the Bolivarian Republic of Ven17 ezuela. 

18 (e) IMPLEMENTATION; PENALTIES.— 

19 (1) IMPLEMENTATION.—The President may ex20 ercise all authorities described in sections 203 and 

21 205 of the International Emergency Economic Pow22 ers Act (50 U.S.C. 1702 and 1704) to carry out this 

23 section. 

24 (2) PENALTIES.—A person that violates, at25 tempts to violate, conspires to violate, or causes a 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
57 

•S 1025 RS

1 violation of this section or any regulation, license, or 

2 order issued to carry out this section shall be subject 

3 to the penalties set forth in subsections (b) and (c) 

4 of section 206 of the International Emergency Eco5 nomic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1705) to the same ex6 tent as a person that commits an unlawful act de7 scribed in subsection (a) of that section. 

8 SEC. 606. ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL SANCTIONS ON MADURO 

9 REGIME DEBT. 

10 (a) FINDING.—Executive Order 13835 (83 Fed. Reg. 

11 24001), which was signed on May 21, 2018, established 

12 additional sanctions against transactions involving the 

13 Maduro regime’s existing public debt. 

14 (b) PROHIBITION.—The President may prohibit a 

15 United States person or any person within the United 

16 States from— 

17 (1) purchasing any debt owed to the Maduro 

18 regime, including accounts receivable; 

19 (2) entering into any transaction related to any 

20 debt owed to the Maduro regime that is pledged as 

21 collateral after May 21, 2018, including accounts re22 ceivable; or 

23 (3) entering into any transaction involving the 

24 selling, transferring, assigning, or pledging as collat25 eral by the Maduro regime of any equity interest in 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
58 

•S 1025 RS

1 any entity in which the Maduro regime has a 50 

2 percent or greater ownership interest. 

3 (c) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con4 gress that the President should waive the prohibitions de5 scribed in subsection (a) and in Executive Order 13835 

6 if transactions involving related debt instruments, bonds, 

7 or securities have been approved or ratified by the demo8 cratically elected National Assembly of Venezuela. 

9 (d) ENFORCEMENT.—The Secretary of the Treasury, 

10 in consultation with the Secretary of State, may promul11 gate such regulations as may be necessary to enforce the 

12 prohibition set forth in subsection (b). 

13 SEC. 607. EXPANDING KINGPIN SANCTIONS ON NARCOTICS 

14 TRAFFICKING AND MONEY LAUNDERING. 

15 (a) FINDINGS.—Congress makes the following find16 ings: 

17 (1) On February 13, 2017, the Department of 

18 the Treasury designated Venezuelan nationals 

19 Tareck El Aissami (the current Vice President of 

20 Venezuela) and Samark L ́opez Bello pursuant to the 

21 Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act (21 

22 U.S.C. 1901 et seq.). 

23 (2) On May 7, 2018, the Department of the 

24 Treasury designated Venezuelan nationals Pedro 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
59 

•S 1025 RS

1 Luis Martin, Walter Alexander del Nogal, and Mario 

2 Antonio Rodr ́ıguez pursuant to such Act. 

3 (b) FINANCIAL SANCTIONS EXPANSION.— 

4 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the Treas5 ury, the Attorney General, the Secretary of State, 

6 the Secretary of Defense, and the Director of the 

7 Central Intelligence Agency shall expand investiga8 tions, intelligence collection, and analysis pursuant 

9 to the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act 

10 (21 U.S.C. 1901 et seq.) to facilitate the identifica11 tion and support the application of sanctions 

12 against— 

13 (A) significant foreign narcotics traf14 fickers, their organizations and networks; and 

15 (B) the foreign persons who provide mate16 rial, financial, or technological support to such 

17 traffickers, organizations, and networks. 

18 (2) TARGETS.—The efforts described in para19 graph (1) shall specifically target— 

20 (A) senior members of the Maduro regime, 

21 including military officers, involved in narcotics 

22 trafficking and money laundering; 

23 (B) foreign narcotics traffickers and their 

24 organizations and networks that are operating 

25 in Venezuela; and 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
60 

•S 1025 RS

1 (C) the foreign persons who provide mate2 rial, financial, or technological support to such 

3 traffickers, organizations, and networks that 

4 are operating in Venezuela. 

5 SEC. 608. SANCTIONS ON THE MADURO REGIME’S TRADE IN 

6 GOLD. 

7 (a) FINDING.—Executive Order 13850, which was 

8 signed on November 1, 2018, established sanctions 

9 against the gold sector of the Venezuelan economy. 

10 (b) SANCTIONS AUTHORIZED.—The President, in 

11 consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury and the 

12 Secretary of State, may block and prohibit the transfer, 

13 payment, exportation, withdrawal, or other disposition of 

14 all property and interests in property of any person that 

15 operates in the gold sector of the Venezuelan economy if 

16 such property is in the United States, comes into the 

17 United States, or is or comes within the possession or con18 trol of any United States person. 

19 SEC. 609. CONCERNS OVER PDVSA TRANSACTIONS WITH 

20 ROSNEFT. 

21 (a) FINDINGS.—Congress makes the following find22 ings: 

23 (1) In late 2016, Venezuelan state-owned oil 

24 company Petr ́oleos de Venezuela, S.A. (referred to in 

25 this section as ‘‘PDVSA’’), through a no compete 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
61 

•S 1025 RS

1 transaction, secured a loan from Russian govern2 ment-controlled oil company Rosneft, using 49.9 per3 cent of PDVSA’s American subsidiary, CITGO Pe4 troleum Corporation, including its assets in the 

5 United States, as collateral. As a result of this 

6 transaction, 100 percent of CITGO is held as collat7 eral by PDVSA’s creditors. 

8 (2) CITGO, a wholly owned subsidiary of 

9 PDVSA, is engaged in interstate commerce and 

10 owns and controls critical energy infrastructure in 

11 19 States of the United States, including an exten12 sive network of pipelines, 48 terminals, and 3 refin13 eries, with a combined oil refining capacity of 

14 749,000 barrels per day. CITGO’s refinery in Lake 

15 Charles, Louisiana, is the sixth largest refinery in 

16 the United States. 

17 (3) The Department of the Treasury imposed 

18 sanctions on Rosneft, which is controlled by the Gov19 ernment of the Russian Federation, and its Execu20 tive Chairman, Igor Sechin, following Russia’s mili21 tary invasion of Ukraine and its illegal annexation of 

22 Crimea in 2014. 

23 (4) The Department of Homeland Security has 

24 designated the energy sector as critical to United 

25 States infrastructure. 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
62 

•S 1025 RS

1 (5) The growing economic crisis in Venezuela 

2 raises the probability that the Maduro regime and 

3 PDVSA will default on their international debt obli4 gations, resulting in a scenario in which Rosneft 

5 could come into control of CITGO’s United States 

6 energy infrastructure holdings. 

7 (b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con8 gress that— 

9 (1) control of critical United States energy in10 frastructure by Rosneft, a Russian government-con11 trolled entity currently under United States sanc12 tions that is led by Igor Sechin, who is also under 

13 United States sanctions and is a close associate of 

14 Vladimir Putin, would pose a significant risk to 

15 United States national security and energy security; 

16 and 

17 (2) a default by PDVSA on its loan from 

18 Rosneft, resulting in Rosneft coming into possession 

19 of PDVSA’s United States CITGO assets, would 

20 warrant careful consideration by the Committee on 

21 Foreign Investment in the United States. 

22 (c) PREVENTING ROSNEFT FROM CONTROLLING

23 UNITED STATES ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE.—The Presi24 dent shall take all necessary steps to prevent Rosneft from 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
63 

•S 1025 RS

1 gaining control of critical United States energy infrastruc2 ture. 

3 (d) SECURITY RISK ASSESSMENT.— 

4 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Homeland 

5 Security, in consultation with the Secretary of State, 

6 shall conduct an assessment of the security risks 

7 posed by Russian control of CITGO’s United States 

8 energy infrastructure holdings. 

9 (2) REPORT.—Not later than 90 days after the 

10 date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 

11 Homeland Security shall submit a report to the 

12 Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate, the 

13 Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental 

14 Affairs of the Senate, the Committee on Foreign Af15 fairs of the House of Representatives, and the Com16 mittee on Homeland Security of the House of Rep17 resentatives that contains the results of the assess18 ment conducted pursuant to paragraph (1). 

19 (e) REVIEW OF CITGO TRANSACTIONS.—If PDVSA 

20 defaults on its debt obligations, the Secretary of the 

21 Treasury should review CITGO’s transactions with United 

22 States persons to assess and ensure compliance with 

23 United States sanctions policies and regulations. 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
64 

•S 1025 RS

1 SEC. 610. CLASSIFIED BRIEFING ON ACTIVITIES OF CER2 TAIN FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS AND ACTORS 

3 IN VENEZUELA. 

4 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after the 

5 date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, 

6 acting through the Bureau of Intelligence and Research 

7 of the Department of State, and in coordination with the 

8 Director of National Intelligence, shall brief the appro9 priate congressional committees on— 

10 (1) the full extent of cooperation by the Govern11 ment of the Russian Federation, the Government of 

12 the People’s Republic of China, the Government of 

13 Cuba, and the Government of Iran with the Maduro 

14 regime; and 

15 (2) the activities inside Venezuelan territory of 

16 foreign armed groups, including Colombian criminal 

17 organizations and defectors from the Colombian gue18 rilla group known as the Revolutionary Armed 

19 Forces of Colombia, and foreign terrorist organiza20 tions, including the Colombian guerilla group known 

21 as the National Liberation Army (ELN). 

22 (b) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES.— 

23 In this section, the term ‘‘appropriate congressional com24 mittees’’ means— 

25 (1) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the 

26 Senate; 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
65 

•S 1025 RS

1 (2) the Select Committee on Intelligence of the 

2 Senate; 

3 (3) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the 

4 House of Representatives; and 

5 (4) the Permanent Select Committee on Intel6 ligence of the House of Representatives. 

7 TITLE VII—CRYPTOCURRENCY 

8 SANCTIONS AND ENSURING 

9 THE EFFECTIVENESS OF 

10 UNITED STATES SANCTIONS 

11 SEC. 701. SANCTIONS ON VENEZUELA’S CRYPTOCURRENCY 

12 AND THE PROVISION OF RELATED TECH13 NOLOGIES. 

14 (a) FINDING.—Executive Order 13827 (83 Fed. Reg. 

15 12469), which was signed on March 19, 2018, established 

16 sanctions against the Maduro regime’s ability to issue a 

17 digital currency in an effort to circumvent United States 

18 sanctions. 

19 (b) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

20 (1) ENTITY.—The term ‘‘entity’’ means a part21 nership, association, trust, joint venture, corpora22 tion, group, subgroup, or other organization. 

23 (2) PERSON.—The term ‘‘person’’ means an in24 dividual or entity. 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
66 

•S 1025 RS

1 (3) UNITED STATES PERSON.—The term 

2 ‘‘United States person’’ means any— 

3 (A) United States citizen; 

4 (B) alien lawfully admitted for permanent 

5 residence to the United States; 

6 (C) entity organized under the laws of the 

7 United States or any jurisdiction within the 

8 United States (including a foreign branch of 

9 any such entity); and 

10 (D) any person physically located in the 

11 United States. 

12 (c) PROHIBITION OF CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS.— 

13 (1) IN GENERAL.—All transactions by a United 

14 States person or within the United States that relate 

15 to, provide financing for, provide software for, or 

16 otherwise deal in any digital currency, digital coin, 

17 or digital token, that was issued by, for, or on behalf 

18 of the Maduro regime are prohibited beginning on 

19 the date of the enactment of this Act. 

20 (2) APPLICABILITY.—The prohibitions under 

21 paragraph (1) shall apply to the extent provided by 

22 statutes, or in regulations, orders, directives, or li23 censes that may be issued pursuant to this Act, and 

24 notwithstanding any contract entered into or any liVerDate Sep 11 2014 00:01 Jun 04, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00066 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6401 E:\BILLS\S1025.RS S1025

kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
67 

•S 1025 RS

1 cense or permit granted before the date of the enact2 ment of this Act. 

3 (3) PROHIBITIONS.—Any transaction that 

4 evades or avoids, has the purpose of evading or 

5 avoiding, causes a violation of, or attempts to violate 

6 any of the prohibitions set forth in this subsection 

7 is prohibited. Any conspiracy formed to violate any 

8 of the prohibitions set forth in this subsection is pro9 hibited. 

10 (d) RULEMAKING.— 

11 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the Treas12 ury, in consultation with the Secretary of State, is 

13 authorized to take such actions, including promul14 gating rules and regulations, to implement this sec15 tion. 

16 (2) DELEGATION.—The Secretary of the Treas17 ury may redelegate any of the functions described in 

18 paragraph (1) to other officers and executive depart19 ments and agencies of the United States Govern20 ment. All agencies of the United States Government 

21 shall take all appropriate measures within their au22 thority to carry out the provisions of this section. 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
68 

•S 1025 RS

1 SEC. 702. REPORT ON THE IMPACT OF CRYPTOCURREN2 CIES ON UNITED STATES SANCTIONS. 

3 (a) DEFINED TERM.—In this section, the term ‘‘ap4 propriate congressional committees’’ means— 

5 (1) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the 

6 Senate; 

7 (2) the Committee on Banking, Housing, and 

8 Urban Affairs of the Senate; 

9 (3) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the 

10 House of Representatives; and 

11 (4) the Committee on Financial Services of the 

12 House of Representatives. 

13 (b) REPORTING REQUIREMENT.—Not later than 180 

14 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec15 retary of State, after consultation with the Secretary of 

16 the Treasury, the Chairman of the Securities and Ex17 change Commission, and the Chairman of the Commodity 

18 Futures Trading Commission, shall submit a report to the 

19 appropriate congressional committees that provides an as20 sessment on how digital currencies affect the effectiveness 

21 of United States sanctions around the world. 

22 (c) ADDITIONAL ELEMENTS.—The report submitted 

23 under subsection (b) shall— 

24 (1) describe any global efforts, including efforts 

25 by states, state-sponsored actors, and non-state26 sponsored actors, to utilize digital currencies to 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
69 

•S 1025 RS

1 evade or circumvent United States sanctions, includ2 ing through the direct or indirect use of products or 

3 services of United States based technology, software, 

4 or financial services firms; and 

5 (2) include recommendations for new legislative 

6 and regulatory measures needed to strengthen the 

7 United States Government’s ability to prevent 

8 states, state-sponsored actors, and non-state-spon9 sored actors from using digital currencies to evade 

10 or circumvent United States sanctions, including 

11 through the direct or indirect use of products or 

12 services of United States based technology, software, 

13 or financial services firms. 

14 (d) FORM.—The report submitted under subsection 

15 (b) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may in16 clude a classified annex. 

17 TITLE VIII—MISCELLANEOUS 

18 PROVISIONS 

19 SEC. 801. CONGRESSIONAL BRIEFINGS. 

20 (a) HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE; SANCTIONED CO21 ORDINATION.— 

22 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 15 days after 

23 any congressional committee listed under paragraph 

24 (2) requests a briefing regarding the implementation 

25 of section 201, 202, 203, or 601, the Secretary of 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
70 

•S 1025 RS

1 State and the Administrator of the United States 

2 Agency for International Development shall provide 

3 such briefing to such committee. 

4 (2) CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES.—The com5 mittees listed under this paragraph are— 

6 (A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of 

7 the Senate; 

8 (B) the Committee on Appropriations of 

9 the Senate; 

10 (C) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of 

11 the House of Representatives; and 

12 (D) the Committee on Appropriations of 

13 the House of Representatives. 

14 (b) UNITED NATIONS; NEGOTIATED SOLUTION; 

15 CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY.— 

16 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 15 days after 

17 any congressional committee listed under paragraph 

18 (2) requests a briefing regarding the implementation 

19 of section 103, 204, or 403, the Secretary of State 

20 shall provide such briefing to such committee. 

21 (2) CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES.—The con22 gressional committees listed under this paragraph 

23 are— 

24 (A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of 

25 the Senate; and 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
71 

•S 1025 RS

1 (B) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of 

2 the House of Representatives. 

3 (c) REGIME COHESION; CORRUPTION AND NAR4 COTICS TRAFFICKING; FOREIGN GOVERNMENT ACTIVI5 TIES.— 

6 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 15 days after 

7 a congressional committee listed under paragraph 

8 (2) requests a briefing regarding the implementation 

9 of section 301, 602, or 610, the Secretary of State 

10 and the Director of National Intelligence shall pro11 vide such briefing to such committee. 

12 (2) CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES.—The con13 gressional committees listed under this paragraph 

14 are— 

15 (A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of 

16 the Senate; 

17 (B) the Select Committee on Intelligence 

18 of the Senate; 

19 (C) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of 

20 the House of Representatives; and 

21 (D) the Permanent Select Committee on 

22 Intelligence of the House of Representatives. 

23 (d) INTERNATIONAL ELECTION OBSERVATION.—Not 

24 later than 15 days after a congressional committee listed 

25 under subsection (a)(2) requests a briefing regarding the 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
72 

•S 1025 RS

1 implementation of section 405, the Secretary of State, the 

2 Administrator of the United States Agency for Inter3 national Development, and the United States Ambassador 

4 to the Organization of American States shall provide such 

5 briefing to such committee. 

6 (e) VISA RESTRICTIONS; SANCTIONS WAIVER.—Not 

7 later than 15 days after a congressional committee listed 

8 under subsection (b)(2) requests a briefing regarding the 

9 implementation of section 302 or 303, the Secretary of 

10 State shall provide such briefing to such committee. 

11 (f) RECONSTRUCTION OF VENEZUELA’S ENERGY IN12 FRASTRUCTURE.— 

13 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 15 days after 

14 a congressional committee listed under paragraph 

15 (2) requests a briefing regarding the implementation 

16 of section 501, the Secretary of State, the Secretary 

17 of Energy, and the Secretary of the Treasury shall 

18 provide such briefing to such committee. 

19 (2) CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES.—The con20 gressional committees listed under this paragraph 

21 are— 

22 (A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of 

23 the Senate; 

24 (B) the Committee on Energy and Natural 

25 Resources of the Senate; 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
73 

•S 1025 RS

1 (C) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of 

2 the House of Representatives; and 

3 (D) the Committee on Energy and Com4 merce of the House of Representatives. 

5 (g) RECOVERY OF STOLEN ASSETS.— 

6 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 15 days after 

7 a congressional committee listed under paragraph 

8 (2) requests a briefing regarding the implementation 

9 of section 502, the Secretary of State, the Secretary 

10 of the Treasury, and the Attorney General shall pro11 vide such briefing to such committee. 

12 (2) CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES.—The con13 gressional committees listed under this paragraph 

14 are— 

15 (A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of 

16 the Senate; 

17 (B) the Committee on Banking, Housing, 

18 and Urban Affairs of the Senate; 

19 (C) the Committee on the Judiciary of the 

20 Senate; 

21 (D) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of 

22 the House of Representatives; 

23 (E) the Committee on Financial Services 

24 of the House of Representatives; and 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
74 

•S 1025 RS

1 (F) the Committee on the Judiciary of the 

2 House of Representatives. 

3 (h) FINANCIAL SANCTIONS.— 

4 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 15 days after 

5 a congressional committee listed under paragraph 

6 (2) requests a briefing regarding the implementation 

7 of section 605, 606, or 608, the Secretary of the 

8 Treasury shall provide such briefing to such com9 mittee. 

10 (2) CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES.—The con11 gressional committees listed under this paragraph 

12 are— 

13 (A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of 

14 the Senate; 

15 (B) the Committee on Banking, Housing, 

16 and Urban Affairs of the Senate; 

17 (C) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of 

18 the House of Representatives; and 

19 (D) the Committee on Financial Services 

20 of the House of Representatives. 

21 (i) KINGPIN SANCTIONS.—Not later than 15 days 

22 after a congressional committee listed under subsection 

23 (h)(2) requests a briefing regarding the implementation 

24 of section 607, the Secretary of the Treasury, the Attorney 

25 General, the Secretary of State, and the Director of the 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
75 

•S 1025 RS

1 Central Intelligence Agency shall provide such briefing to 

2 such committee. 

3 (j) PDVSA TRANSACTIONS WITH ROSNEFT.— 

4 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 15 days after 

5 a congressional committee listed under paragraph 

6 (2) requests a briefing regarding the implementation 

7 of section 609, the Secretary of State, the Secretary 

8 of the Treasury, and the Secretary of Homeland Se9 curity shall provide such briefing to such committee. 

10 (2) CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES.—The con11 gressional committees listed under this paragraph 

12 are— 

13 (A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of 

14 the Senate; 

15 (B) the Committee on Homeland Security 

16 and Governmental Affairs of the Senate; 

17 (C) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of 

18 the House of Representatives; and 

19 (D) the Committee on Homeland Security 

20 of the House of Representatives. 

21 (k) CRYPTOCURRENCY SANCTIONS.—Not later than 

22 15 days after a congressional committee listed under sub23 section (h)(2) requests a briefing regarding the implemen24 tation of section 701 or 702, the Secretary of State, the 

25 Secretary of the Treasury, and the Chairman of the ComVerDate Sep 11 2014 00:01 Jun 04, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00075 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6401 E:\BILLS\S1025.RS S1025

kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
76 

•S 1025 RS

1 modity Futures Trading Commission shall provide such 

2 briefing to such committee. 

3 SEC. 802. EXTENSION AND TERMINATION OF SANCTIONS 

4 AGAINST VENEZUELA. 

5 (a) AMENDMENT.—Section 5(e) of the Venezuela De6 fense of Human Rights and Civil Society Act of 2014 

7 (Public Law 113–278; 50 U.S.C. 1701 note) is amended 

8 by striking ‘‘December 31, 2019’’ and inserting ‘‘Decem9 ber 31, 2025’’. 

10 (b) TERMINATION.—The requirement to impose sanc11 tions under this Act shall terminate on December 31, 

12 2025. 

13 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLES; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

14 (a) SHORT TITLES.—This Act may be cited as the 

15 ‘‘Venezuela Emergency Relief, Democracy Assistance, and 

16 Development Act of 2019’’ or the ‘‘VERDAD Act of 2019’’. 

17 (b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 

18 this Act is as follows: 

Sec. 1. Short titles; table of contents. 

TITLE I—SUPPORT FOR THE INTERIM PRESIDENT OF VENEZUELA 

AND RECOGNITION OF THE VENEZUELAN NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 

Sec. 101. Findings; sense of Congress in support of the Interim President of Venezuela. 

Sec. 102. Recognition of Venezuela’s democratically elected National Assembly. 

Sec. 103. Advancing a negotiated solution to Venezuela’s crisis. 

TITLE II—HUMANITARIAN RELIEF FOR VENEZUELA 

Sec. 201. Humanitarian relief for the Venezuelan people. 

Sec. 202. Support for efforts at the United Nations on the humanitarian crisis 

in Venezuela. 

Sec. 203. Sanctions exceptions for humanitarian assistance. 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
77 

•S 1025 RS

Sec. 204. Coordination and distribution of humanitarian assistance to the people 

of Venezuela. 

TITLE III—ADDRESSING REGIME COHESION 

Sec. 301. Classified report on declining cohesion inside the Venezuelan military 

and the Maduro regime. 

Sec. 302. Additional restrictions on visas. 

Sec. 303. Waiver for sanctioned officials that recognize the Interim President of 

Venezuela. 

TITLE IV—RESTORING DEMOCRACY AND ADDRESSING THE 

POLITICAL CRISIS IN VENEZUELA 

Sec. 401. Support for the Organization of American States and the Lima Group. 

Sec. 402. Accountability for crimes against humanity. 

Sec. 403. Support for international election observation and democratic civil society. 

TITLE V—SUPPORTING THE RECONSTRUCTION OF VENEZUELA 

Sec. 501. Engaging international financial institutions to advance the reconstruction of Venezuela’s economy and energy infrastructure. 

Sec. 502. Recovering assets stolen from the Venezuelan people. 

TITLE VI—RESTORING THE RULE OF LAW IN VENEZUELA 

Sec. 601. Developing and implementing a coordinated sanctions strategy with 

partners in the Western Hemisphere and the European Union. 

Sec. 602. Classified briefing on the involvement of Venezuelan officials in corruption and illicit narcotics trafficking. 

Sec. 603. Sanctions on persons responsible for public corruption and undermining democratic governance. 

Sec. 604. Public information about sanctioned officials. 

Sec. 605. Financial sanctions on Maduro regime debt. 

Sec. 606. Additional financial sanctions on Maduro regime debt. 

Sec. 607. Expanding kingpin sanctions on narcotics trafficking and money laundering. 

Sec. 608. Sanctions on the Maduro regime’s trade in gold. 

Sec. 609. Concerns over PDVSA transactions with Rosneft. 

Sec. 610. Classified briefing on activities of certain foreign governments and actors in Venezuela. 

Sec. 611. Countering Russian influence in Venezuela. 

Sec. 612. Restriction on export of covered articles and services to certain security 

forces of Venezuela. 

TITLE VII—CRYPTOCURRENCY SANCTIONS AND ENSURING THE 

EFFECTIVENESS OF UNITED STATES SANCTIONS 

Sec. 701. Sanctions on Venezuela’s cryptocurrency and the provision of related 

technologies. 

Sec. 702. Briefing on the impact of cryptocurrencies on United States sanctions. 

TITLE VIII—MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS 

Sec. 801. Congressional briefings. 

Sec. 802. Sanctions implementation and penalties. 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
78 

•S 1025 RS

Sec. 803. Prohibition on construction of provisions of this Act as an authorization for the use of military force. 

Sec. 804. Extension and termination of sanctions against Venezuela. 

1 TITLE I—SUPPORT FOR THE IN2 TERIM PRESIDENT OF VEN3 EZUELA AND RECOGNITION 

4 OF THE VENEZUELAN NA5 TIONAL ASSEMBLY 

6 SEC. 101. FINDINGS; SENSE OF CONGRESS IN SUPPORT OF 

7 THE INTERIM PRESIDENT OF VENEZUELA. 

8 (a) FINDINGS.—Congress makes the following findings: 

9 (1) Venezuela’s electoral event on May 20, 2018 

10 was characterized by widespread fraud and did not 

11 comply with international standards for a free, fair, 

12 and transparent electoral process. 

13 (2) Given the fraudulent nature of Venezuela’s 

14 May 20, 2018 electoral event, Nicola ́s Maduro’s tenure 

15 as President of Venezuela ended on January 10, 2019. 

16 (3) The National Assembly of Venezuela ap17 proved a resolution on January 15, 2019 that termi18 nated Nicola ́s Maduro’s authority as the President of 

19 Venezuela. 

20 (4) On January 23, 2019, the President of the 

21 National Assembly of Venezuela was sworn in as the 

22 Interim President of Venezuela. 

23 (b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con24 gress— 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
79 

•S 1025 RS

1 (1) to support the decisions by the United States 

2 Government, more than 50 governments around the 

3 world, the Organization of American States, the 

4 Inter-American Development Bank, and the Euro5 pean Parliament to recognize National Assembly 

6 President Juan Guaido ́ as the Interim President of 

7 Venezuela; 

8 (2) to encourage the Interim President of Ven9 ezuela to advance efforts to hold democratic presi10 dential elections in the shortest possible period; and 

11 (3) that the Organization of American States, 

12 with support from the United States Government and 

13 partner governments, should provide diplomatic, tech14 nical, and financial support for a new presidential 

15 election in Venezuela that complies with international 

16 standards for a free, fair, and transparent electoral 

17 process. 

18 SEC. 102. RECOGNITION OF VENEZUELA’S DEMOCRAT19 ICALLY ELECTED NATIONAL ASSEMBLY. 

20 (a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds that Venezuela’s uni21 cameral National Assembly convened on January 6, 2016, 

22 following democratic elections that were held on December 

23 6, 2015. 

24 (b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Congress 

25 that Venezuela’s democratically elected National Assembly 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
80 

•S 1025 RS

1 is the only national level democratic institution remaining 

2 in the country. 

3 (c) POLICY.—It is the policy of the United States to 

4 recognize the democratically elected National Assembly of 

5 Venezuela as the only legitimate national legislative body 

6 in Venezuela. 

7 (d) ASSISTANCE TO VENEZUELA’S NATIONAL ASSEM8 BLY.—The Secretary of State, in coordination with the Ad9 ministrator of the United States Agency for International 

10 Development, shall prioritize efforts to provide technical as11 sistance to support the democratically elected National As12 sembly of Venezuela in accordance with section 404. 

13 SEC. 103. ADVANCING A NEGOTIATED SOLUTION TO VEN14 EZUELA’S CRISIS. 

15 (a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Congress 

16 that— 

17 (1) direct, credible negotiations led by the In18 terim President of Venezuela and members of Ven19 ezuela’s democratically elected National Assembly— 

20 (A) are supported by stakeholders in the 

21 international community that have recognized 

22 the Interim President of Venezuela; 

23 (B) include the input and interests of Ven24 ezuelan civil society; and 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
81 

•S 1025 RS

1 (C) represent the best opportunity to reach 

2 a solution to the Venezuelan crisis that in3 cludes— 

4 (i) holding a new presidential election 

5 that complies with international standards 

6 for a free, fair, and transparent electoral 

7 process; 

8 (ii) ending Nicola ́s Maduro’s usurpa9 tion of presidential authorities; 

10 (iii) restoring democracy and the rule 

11 of law; 

12 (iv) freeing political prisoners; and 

13 (v) facilitating the delivery of humani14 tarian aid; 

15 (2) dialogue between the Maduro regime and rep16 resentatives of the political opposition that com17 menced in October 2017, and were supported by the 

18 Governments of Mexico, of Chile, of Bolivia, and of 

19 Nicaragua, did not result in an agreement because the 

20 Maduro regime failed to credibly participate in the 

21 process; and 

22 (3) negotiations between the Maduro regime and 

23 representatives of the political opposition that com24 menced in October 2016, and were supported by the 

25 Vatican, did not result in an agreement because the 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
82 

•S 1025 RS

1 Maduro regime failed to credibly participate in the 

2 process. 

3 (b) POLICY.—It is the policy of the United States to 

4 support diplomatic engagement in order to advance a nego5 tiated and peaceful solution to Venezuela’s political, eco6 nomic, and humanitarian crisis that is described in sub7 section (a)(1). 

8 TITLE II—HUMANITARIAN 

9 RELIEF FOR VENEZUELA 

10 SEC. 201. HUMANITARIAN RELIEF FOR THE VENEZUELAN 

11 PEOPLE. 

12 (a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Congress 

13 that— 

14 (1) the United States Government should expand 

15 efforts to peacefully address Venezuela’s humanitarian 

16 crisis; and 

17 (2) humanitarian assistance— 

18 (A) should be targeted toward those most in 

19 need and delivered through partners that uphold 

20 internationally recognized humanitarian prin21 ciples; and 

22 (B) should not be passed through the control 

23 or distribution mechanisms of the Maduro re24 gime. 

25 (b) HUMANITARIAN RELIEF.— 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
83 

•S 1025 RS

1 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of State, in co2 ordination with the Administrator of the United 

3 States Agency for International Development, shall 

4 provide— 

5 (A) humanitarian assistance to individuals 

6 and communities in Venezuela, including— 

7 (i) public health commodities and serv8 ices, including medicines and basic medical 

9 supplies and equipment; 

10 (ii) basic food commodities and nutri11 tional supplements needed to address grow12 ing malnutrition and improve food security 

13 for the people of Venezuela, with a specific 

14 emphasis on the most vulnerable popu15 lations; and 

16 (iii) technical assistance to ensure that 

17 health and food commodities are appro18 priately selected, procured, targeted, and 

19 distributed; and 

20 (B) Venezuelans and hosting communities, 

21 as appropriate, in neighboring countries with 

22 humanitarian aid, such as— 

23 (i) urgently needed health and nutri24 tional assistance, including logistical and 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
84 

•S 1025 RS

1 technical assistance to hospitals and health 

2 centers in affected communities; 

3 (ii) food assistance for vulnerable indi4 viduals, including assistance to improve 

5 food security for affected communities; and 

6 (iii) hygiene supplies and sanitation 

7 services. 

8 (2) AID TO VENEZUELANS IN NEIGHBORING

9 COUNTRIES.—The aid described in paragraph 

10 (1)(B)— 

11 (A) may be provided— 

12 (i) directly to Venezuelans in neigh13 boring countries, including countries of the 

14 Caribbean; or 

15 (ii) indirectly through the communities 

16 in which the Venezuelans reside; and 

17 (B) should focus on the most vulnerable 

18 Venezuelans in neighboring countries. 

19 (c) HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE STRATEGY UP20 DATE.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the enact21 ment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in coordination 

22 with the Administrator of the United States Agency for 

23 International Development, shall submit, to the appropriate 

24 congressional committees, an update to the Venezuela hu25 manitarian assistance strategy described in the conference 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
85 

•S 1025 RS

1 report accompanying the Consolidated Appropriations Act 

2 (Public Law 116–6), to cover a 2-year period and include— 

3 (1) a description of the United States humani4 tarian assistance provided under this section; 

5 (2) a description of United States diplomatic ef6 forts to ensure support from international donors, in7 cluding regional partners in Latin America and the 

8 Caribbean, for the provision of humanitarian assist9 ance to the people of Venezuela; 

10 (3) the identification of governments that are 

11 willing to provide financial and technical assistance 

12 for the provision of such humanitarian assistance to 

13 the people of Venezuela and a description of such as14 sistance; and 

15 (4) the identification of the financial and tech16 nical assistance to be provided by multilateral insti17 tutions, including the United Nations humanitarian 

18 agencies, the Pan American Health Organization, the 

19 Inter-American Development Bank, and the World 

20 Bank, and a description of such assistance. 

21 (d) DIPLOMATIC ENGAGEMENT.—The Secretary of 

22 State, in consultation with the Administrator of the United 

23 States Agency for International Development, shall work 

24 with relevant foreign governments and multilateral organi25 zations to coordinate a donors summit and carry out diploVerDate Sep 11 2014 00:01 Jun 04, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00085 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6203 E:\BILLS\S1025.RS S1025

kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
86 

•S 1025 RS

1 matic engagement to advance the strategy required under 

2 subsection (c). 

3 (e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 

4 authorized to be appropriated $400,000,000 for fiscal year 

5 2020 to carry out the activities set forth in subsection (b). 

6 (f) DEFINED TERM.—In this section, the term ‘‘appro7 priate congressional committees’’ means— 

8 (1) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the 

9 Senate; 

10 (2) the Committee on Appropriations of the Sen11 ate; 

12 (3) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the 

13 House of Representatives; and 

14 (4) the Committee on Appropriations of the 

15 House of Representatives. 

16 SEC. 202. SUPPORT FOR EFFORTS AT THE UNITED NATIONS 

17 ON THE HUMANITARIAN CRISIS IN VEN18 EZUELA. 

19 (a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Congress 

20 that the United Nations humanitarian agencies should con21 duct and publish independent assessments of the humani22 tarian situation in Venezuela, including— 

23 (1) the extent and impact of the shortages of 

24 food, medicine, and medical supplies in Venezuela; 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
87 

•S 1025 RS

1 (2) basic health indicators in Venezuela, such as 

2 maternal and child mortality rates and the preva3 lence and treatment of communicable diseases; and 

4 (3) the efforts needed to resolve the shortages 

5 identified in paragraph (1) and to improve the health 

6 indicators referred to in paragraph (2). 

7 (b) UNITED NATIONS RESIDENT COORDINATOR.—The 

8 President should instruct the Permanent Representative to 

9 the United Nations to use the voice, vote, and influence of 

10 the United States at the United Nations to support the ef11 forts of the Resident Coordinator for Venezuela in a manner 

12 that— 

13 (1) contributes to Venezuela’s long-term recovery; 

14 and 

15 (2) advances humanitarian efforts in Venezuela 

16 and for Venezuelans residing in neighboring coun17 tries. 

18 SEC. 203. SANCTIONS EXCEPTIONS FOR HUMANITARIAN AS19 SISTANCE. 

20 (a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

21 (1) AGRICULTURAL COMMODITY.—The term ‘‘ag22 ricultural commodity’’ has the meaning given that 

23 term in section 102 of the Agricultural Trade Act of 

24 1978 (7 U.S.C. 5602). 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
88 

•S 1025 RS

1 (2) MEDICAL DEVICE.—The term ‘‘medical de2 vice’’ has the meaning given the term ‘‘device’’ in sec3 tion 201 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act 

4 (21 U.S.C. 321). 

5 (3) MEDICINE.—The term ‘‘medicine’’ has the 

6 meaning given the term ‘‘drug’’ in section 201 of the 

7 Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 

8 321). 

9 (b) IN GENERAL.—Any transaction, not otherwise pro10 hibited by under part V of title 31, Code of Federal Regula11 tions, or any Executive order relating to the national emer12 gency declared in Executive Order 13692 (50 U.S.C. 1701 

13 note), for the sale of agricultural commodities, food, medi14 cine, or medical devices to Venezuela, or for the provision 

15 of humanitarian assistance to the people of Venezuela, and 

16 any transaction that is ordinarily incidental or necessary 

17 to any such transaction, regardless of whether the trans18 action or provision of humanitarian assistance originate 

19 in, or have a connection to, the United States, shall be ex20 empt from United States sanctions, including sanctions de21 scribed in— 

22 (1) sections 603, 605, 606, 608, and 701; 

23 (2) the Venezuela Defense of Human Rights and 

24 Civil Society Act of 2014 (Public Law 113–278); or 

25 (3) Executive Orders 13808 and 13850. 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
89 

•S 1025 RS

1 SEC. 204. COORDINATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF HUMANI2 TARIAN ASSISTANCE TO THE PEOPLE OF VEN3 EZUELA. 

4 (a) SHORT TITLE.—This section may be cited as the 

5 ‘‘Humanitarian Assistance to the Venezuelan People Act of 

6 2019’’. 

7 (b) DEFINED TERM.—In this section, the term ‘‘appro8 priate congressional committees’’ means— 

9 (1) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the 

10 Senate; 

11 (2) the Committee on Appropriations of the Sen12 ate; 

13 (3) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the 

14 House of Representatives; and 

15 (4) the Committee on Appropriations of the 

16 House of Representatives. 

17 (c) REPORT ON THE COORDINATION AND DISTRIBU18 TION OF HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO THE PEOPLE OF

19 VENEZUELA INCLUDING STRATEGY ON FUTURE EF20 FORTS.— 

21 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after 

22 the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 

23 State, in coordination with the Administrator of the 

24 United States Agency for International Development, 

25 shall submit a report to the appropriate congressional 

26 committees that evaluates the delivery and coordinaVerDate Sep 11 2014 00:01 Jun 04, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00089 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6203 E:\BILLS\S1025.RS S1025

kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
90 

•S 1025 RS

1 tion of humanitarian assistance to the people of Ven2 ezuela, whether residing in Venezuela or elsewhere in 

3 the Western Hemisphere. 

4 (2) MATTERS TO BE INCLUDED.—The report re5 quired under paragraph (1) shall— 

6 (A) identify how United States Agency for 

7 International Development and Department of 

8 State best practices are being utilized in pro9 viding humanitarian assistance to Venezuela 

10 and countries in the region; 

11 (B) describe the current and anticipated 

12 challenges to distributing humanitarian assist13 ance in Venezuela and countries hosting Ven14 ezuelan migrants; and 

15 (C) describe how the distribution of human16 itarian assistance is being monitored and evalu17 ated, including— 

18 (i) the number of beneficiaries receiv19 ing such assistance; 

20 (ii) an assessment of how humani21 tarian and development assistance is bene22 fitting Venezuelan migrants inside and out23 side of the country; and 

24 (iii) what additional staff may be nec25 essary to manage such assistance. 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
91 

•S 1025 RS

1 TITLE III—ADDRESSING REGIME 

2 COHESION 

3 SEC. 301. CLASSIFIED REPORT ON DECLINING COHESION 

4 INSIDE THE VENEZUELAN MILITARY AND THE 

5 MADURO REGIME. 

6 (a) REPORTING REQUIREMENT.—Not later than 90 

7 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec8 retary of State, acting through the Bureau of Intelligence 

9 and Research, and in coordination with the Director of Na10 tional Intelligence, shall submit a classified report to the 

11 appropriate congressional committees that assesses the de12 clining cohesion inside the Venezuelan military and secu13 rity forces and the Maduro regime. 

14 (b) ADDITIONAL ELEMENTS.—The report submitted 

15 under subsection (a) shall— 

16 (1) identify senior members of the Venezuelan 

17 military and the Maduro regime, including generals, 

18 admirals, cabinet ministers, deputy cabinet ministers, 

19 and the heads of intelligence agencies, whose loyalty 

20 to Nicola ́s Maduro is declining; 

21 (2) describe the factors that would accelerate the 

22 decision making of individuals identified in para23 graph (1)— 

24 (A) to break with the Maduro regime; and 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
92 

•S 1025 RS

1 (B) to recognize the Interim President of 

2 Venezuela and his government; and 

3 (3) assess and detail the massive number of de4 sertions and defections that have occurred at the offi5 cer and enlisted levels inside the Venezuelan military 

6 and security forces. 

7 (c) BRIEFING REQUIREMENT.—Not later than 30 days 

8 after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 

9 of State, acting through the Bureau of Intelligence and Re10 search, and in coordination with the Director of National 

11 Intelligence, shall provide a classified briefing to appro12 priate congressional committees on the subject matter de13 scribed in subsections (a) and (b). 

14 (d) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES.—In 

15 this section, the term ‘‘appropriate congressional commit16 tees’’ means— 

17 (1) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the 

18 Senate; 

19 (2) the Select Committee on Intelligence of the 

20 Senate; 

21 (3) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the 

22 House of Representatives; and 

23 (4) the Permanent Select Committee on Intel24 ligence of the House of Representatives. 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
93 

•S 1025 RS

1 SEC. 302. ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON VISAS. 

2 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of State shall impose 

3 the visa restrictions described in subsection (c) on any for4 eign person who the Secretary determines— 

5 (1) is a current or former senior official of the 

6 Maduro regime, or any foreign person acting on be7 half of such regime, who is knowingly responsible for, 

8 complicit in, responsible for ordering, controlling, or 

9 otherwise directing, or participating in (directly or 

10 indirectly) any activity in or in relation to Ven11 ezuela, on or after January 23, 2019, that signifi12 cantly undermines or threatens the integrity of— 

13 (A) the democratically-elected National As14 sembly of Venezuela; or 

15 (B) the President of such National Assem16 bly, while serving as Interim President of Ven17 ezuela, or the senior government officials under 

18 the supervision of such President; 

19 (2) is the spouse or child of a foreign person de20 scribed in paragraph (1); or 

21 (3) is the spouse or child of Venezuelan person 

22 sanctioned under— 

23 (A) section 5(a) of the Venezuela Defense of 

24 Human Rights and Civil Society Act of 2014 

25 (Public Law 113–278), as amended by section 

26 603 of this Act; 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
94 

•S 1025 RS

1 (B) section 804(b) of the Foreign Narcotics 

2 Kingpin Designation Act (21 U.S.C. 1903(b)); or 

3 (C) Executive Orders 13692 (50 U.S.C. 

4 1701 note) and 13850. 

5 (b) REMOVAL FROM VISA REVOCATION LIST.—Pursu6 ant to such procedures as the Secretary of State may estab7 lish to implement this section— 

8 (1) if any person described in subsection (a)(1) 

9 recognizes and pledges support for the Interim Presi10 dent of Venezuela or a subsequent democratically 

11 elected government of Venezuela, that person and any 

12 family members of that person who were subject to 

13 visa restrictions pursuant to subsection (a)(2) shall 

14 no longer be subject to such visa restrictions; and 

15 (2) if any person described in subparagraphs (A) 

16 through (C) of subsection (a)(3) recognizes and 

17 pledges support for the Interim President of Venezuela 

18 or a subsequent democratically elected government of 

19 Venezuela, any family members of that person who 

20 were subject to visa restrictions pursuant to sub21 section (a)(3) shall no longer be subject to such visa 

22 restrictions. 

23 (c) VISA RESTRICTIONS DESCRIBED.— 

24 (1) EXCLUSION FROM THE UNITED STATES AND

25 REVOCATION OF VISA OR OTHER DOCUMENTATION.— 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
95 

•S 1025 RS

1 Subject to paragraph (2) and subsection (b), an alien 

2 described in subsection (a)— 

3 (A) is inadmissible to the United States; 

4 (B) is ineligible to receive a visa or other 

5 documentation authorizing entry into the United 

6 States; 

7 (C) is otherwise ineligible to be admitted 

8 into the United States or to receive any benefit 

9 under the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 

10 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.); and 

11 (D) shall, in accordance with section 221(i) 

12 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 

13 U.S.C. 1201(i), have his or her visa or other doc14 umentation revoked, regardless of when the visa 

15 or other documentation was issued. 

16 (2) EXCEPTION TO COMPLY WITH UNITED NA17 TIONS HEADQUARTERS AGREEMENT.—Sanctions 

18 under paragraph (1) shall not apply to an alien if 

19 admitting the alien into the United States is nec20 essary to permit the United States to comply with the 

21 Agreement regarding the Headquarters of the United 

22 Nations, signed at Lake Success June 26, 1947, and 

23 entered into force November 21, 1947, between the 

24 United Nations and the United States, or other appli25 cable international obligations. 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
96 

•S 1025 RS

1 (d) RULEMAKING.—The President shall issue such reg2 ulations, licenses, and orders as may be necessary to carry 

3 out this section. 

4 SEC. 303. WAIVER FOR SANCTIONED OFFICIALS THAT REC5 OGNIZE THE INTERIM PRESIDENT OF VEN6 EZUELA. 

7 (a) REMOVAL OF SANCTIONS.—If a person sanctioned 

8 under any of the provisions of law described in subsection 

9 (b) recognizes and pledges supports for the Interim Presi10 dent of Venezuela or a subsequent democratically elected 

11 government, the person shall no longer be subject to such 

12 sanctions, pursuant to such procedures as the Secretary of 

13 State and the Secretary of the Treasury may establish to 

14 implement this section. 

15 (b) SANCTIONS DESCRIBED.—The sanctions described 

16 in this subsection are set forth in the following provisions 

17 of law: 

18 (1)(A) Paragraphs (3) and (4) of section 5(a) of 

19 the Venezuela Defense of Human Rights and Civil So20 ciety Act of 2014 (Public Law 113–278), as amended 

21 by section 603 of this Act. 

22 (B) Paragraph (5) of section 5(a) of such Act, to 

23 the extent such paragraph relates to the sanctions de24 scribed in paragraph (3) or (4) of such subsection. 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
97 

•S 1025 RS

1 (2)(A) Clauses (1) and (4) of section 1(a)(ii)(A) 

2 of Executive Order 13692 (50 U.S.C. 1701 note). 

3 (B) Subparagraph (D)(2) of section 1(a)(ii) of 

4 such Executive Order, to the extent such subpara5 graph relates to the provisions of law cited in sub6 paragraph (A). 

7 (3)(A) Section 1(a)(ii) of Executive Order 13850. 

8 (B) Paragraph (iii) of section 1(a) of such Exec9 utive Order, to the extent such paragraph relates to 

10 the provision of law cited in subparagraph (A). 

11 (c) RULEMAKING.—The President shall issue such reg12 ulations, licenses, and orders as may be necessary to carry 

13 out this section. 

14 TITLE IV—RESTORING DEMOC15 RACY AND ADDRESSING THE 

16 POLITICAL CRISIS IN VEN17 EZUELA 

18 SEC. 401. SUPPORT FOR THE ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN 

19 STATES AND THE LIMA GROUP. 

20 (a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Congress 

21 that the Secretary of State should— 

22 (1) take additional steps to support ongoing ef23 forts by the Secretary General of the Organization of 

24 American States to promote diplomatic initiatives to 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
98 

•S 1025 RS

1 foster the restoration of democracy and the rule of law 

2 in Venezuela; 

3 (2) conduct diplomatic engagement in support of 

4 efforts by the Lima Group to restore democracy and 

5 the rule of law in Venezuela and facilitate the deliv6 ery of humanitarian assistance for the Venezuelan 

7 people; and 

8 (3) engage with the International Contact Group 

9 on Venezuela to advance a peaceful and democratic 

10 solution to the current crisis. 

11 (b) DEFINED TERMS.—In this section: 

12 (1) INTERNATIONAL CONTACT GROUP ON VEN13 EZUELA.—The ‘‘International Contact Group on Ven14 ezuela’’ refers to a diplomatic bloc— 

15 (A) whose members include the European 

16 Union, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Por17 tugal, Sweden, the Netherlands, the United King18 dom, Ecuador, Costa Rica, and Uruguay; and 

19 (B) which was established to advance a 

20 peaceful and democratic solution to the current 

21 crisis in Venezuela. 

22 (2) LIMA GROUP.—The ‘‘Lima Group’’ refers to 

23 a diplomatic bloc— 

24 (A) whose members include Argentina, 

25 Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
99 

•S 1025 RS

1 Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Panama, Para2 guay, Peru, and Saint Lucia; and 

3 (B) which was established to address the po4 litical, economic, and humanitarian crises in 

5 Venezuela. 

6 SEC. 402. ACCOUNTABILITY FOR CRIMES AGAINST HUMAN7 ITY. 

8 (a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Congress 

9 that the Secretary of State should conduct robust diplomatic 

10 engagement in support of efforts in Venezuela, and on the 

11 part of the international community, to ensure account12 ability for possible crimes against humanity and serious 

13 violations of human rights. 

14 (b) REPORT.—Not later than 90 days after the date 

15 of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall 

16 submit a report to Congress that— 

17 (1) evaluates the degree to which the Maduro re18 gime and its officials, including members of the Ven19 ezuelan security forces, have engaged in actions that 

20 constitute possible crimes against humanity and seri21 ous violations of human rights; and 

22 (2) provides options for holding accountable the 

23 perpetrators identified under paragraph (1). 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
100 

•S 1025 RS

1 SEC. 403. SUPPORT FOR INTERNATIONAL ELECTION OBSER2 VATION AND DEMOCRATIC CIVIL SOCIETY. 

3 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of State, in coordi4 nation with the Administrator of the United States Agency 

5 for International Development— 

6 (1) shall work with the Organization of Amer7 ican States to ensure credible international observa8 tion of future elections in Venezuela that contributes 

9 to free, fair, and transparent democratic electoral 

10 processes; and 

11 (2) shall work with nongovernmental organiza12 tions— 

13 (A) to strengthen democratic governance 

14 and institutions, including the democratically 

15 elected National Assembly of Venezuela; 

16 (B) to defend internationally recognized 

17 human rights for the people of Venezuela, includ18 ing support for efforts to document crimes 

19 against humanity and violations of human 

20 rights; 

21 (C) to support the efforts of independent 

22 media outlets to broadcast, distribute, and share 

23 information beyond the limited channels made 

24 available by the Maduro regime; and 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
101 

•S 1025 RS

1 (D) to combat corruption and improve the 

2 transparency and accountability of institutions 

3 that are part of the Maduro regime. 

4 (b) ENGAGEMENT AT THE ORGANIZATION OF AMER5 ICAN STATES.—The Secretary of State, acting through the 

6 United States Permanent Representative to the Organiza7 tion of American States, should advocate and build diplo8 matic support for sending an election observation mission 

9 to Venezuela to ensure that democratic electoral processes 

10 are organized and carried out in a free, fair, and trans11 parent manner. 

12 (c) BRIEFING REQUIREMENT.—Not later than 180 

13 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec14 retary of State, in coordination with the Administrator of 

15 the United States Agency for International Development, 

16 shall provide a briefing on the strategy to carry out the 

17 activities described in subsection (a) to— 

18 (1) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the 

19 Senate; 

20 (2) the Committee on Appropriations of the Sen21 ate; 

22 (3) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the 

23 House of Representatives; and 

24 (4) the Committee on Appropriations of the 

25 House of Representatives. 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
102 

•S 1025 RS

1 (d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 

2 (1) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be ap3 propriated to the Secretary of State for fiscal year 

4 2020, $17,500,000 to carry out the activities set forth 

5 in subsection (a). 

6 (2) NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS.—Amounts 

7 appropriated pursuant to paragraph (1) are subject 

8 to the notification requirements applicable to expendi9 tures from the Economic Support Fund under section 

10 531(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 

11 U.S.C. 2346(c)) and from the Development Assistance 

12 Fund under section 653(a) of the Foreign Assistance 

13 Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2413(a)), to the extent that 

14 such funds are expended. 

15 TITLE V—SUPPORTING THE RE16 CONSTRUCTION OF VEN17 EZUELA 

18 SEC. 501. ENGAGING INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL INSTITU19 TIONS TO ADVANCE THE RECONSTRUCTION 

20 OF VENEZUELA’S ECONOMY AND ENERGY IN21 FRASTRUCTURE. 

22 (a) IN GENERAL.—The President shall engage the 

23 International Monetary Fund and the Multilateral Devel24 opment Banks to support a framework for the economic reVerDate Sep 11 2014 00:01 Jun 04, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00102 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6203 E:\BILLS\S1025.RS S1025

kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
103 

•S 1025 RS

1 construction of Venezuela, contingent upon the restoration 

2 of democracy and the rule of law in the country. 

3 (b) ADDITIONAL ELEMENTS.—The framework created 

4 under subsection (a) should include policy proposals— 

5 (1) to provide Venezuelans with humanitarian 

6 assistance, poverty alleviation, and a social safety 

7 net; 

8 (2) to advance debt restructuring and debt sus9 tainability measures; 

10 (3) to restore the production and efficient man11 agement of Venezuela’s oil industry, including re12 building energy infrastructure; 

13 (4) to eliminate price controls and market dis14 torting subsidies in the Venezuelan economy; and 

15 (5) to address hyperinflation in Venezuela. 

16 (c) CONSULTATION.—In supporting the framework 

17 under subsection (a), the President shall consult with rel18 evant stakeholders in the humanitarian (including inter19 national and nongovernmental organizations), financial, 

20 and energy sectors. 

21 (d) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Congress 

22 that any effort to conduct debt restructuring should— 

23 (1) include discussions with China, which is 

24 Venezuela’s biggest creditor; and 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
104 

•S 1025 RS

1 (2) appropriately account for China’s and Rus2 sia’s high-risk lending to Venezuela. 

3 (e) CERTIFICATION.—The President may not support 

4 lending or financing for Venezuela from the International 

5 Monetary Fund and the Multilateral Development Banks 

6 until the Secretary of State submits a report to the Com7 mittee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and Committee 

8 on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives certi9 fying that any such lending or financing— 

10 (1) would be managed by the Interim President 

11 of Venezuela or a new, democratically-elected Presi12 dent; 

13 (2) would not be used to repay external creditors 

14 who are not members of the Group of Seven unless 

15 such payments are essential to the restoration of eco16 nomic stability and democracy in Venezuela; and 

17 (3) would not benefit the Maduro regime. 

18 (f) WAIVER.—The President may waive the certifi19 cation requirement under subsection (e) if the President— 

20 (1) determines that such waiver is in the na21 tional interest of the United States; and 

22 (2) not later than 30 days after making a deter23 mination under paragraph (1), submits to the con24 gressional committees referred to in subsection (e)— 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
105 

•S 1025 RS

1 (A) an explanation for why such a waiver 

2 is in the United States national interest; and 

3 (B) why the Secretary of State is unable to 

4 submit the certification described in subsection 

5 (e). 

6 SEC. 502. RECOVERING ASSETS STOLEN FROM THE VEN7 EZUELAN PEOPLE. 

8 (a) RECOVERING ASSETS.—The Secretary of State, the 

9 Secretary of the Treasury, and the Attorney General shall 

10 advance a coordinated international effort— 

11 (1) to carry out special financial investigations 

12 to identify and track assets taken from the people and 

13 institutions of Venezuela through theft, corruption, 

14 money laundering, or other illicit means; and 

15 (2) to work with foreign governments— 

16 (A) to share financial investigations intel17 ligence, as appropriate; 

18 (B) to block the assets identified pursuant 

19 to paragraph (1); and 

20 (C) to provide technical assistance to help 

21 governments establish the necessary legal frame22 work to carry out asset forfeitures. 

23 (b) ADDITIONAL ELEMENTS.—The coordinated inter24 national effort described in subsection (a) should include 

25 input from— 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
106 

•S 1025 RS

1 (1) the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the 

2 Department of the Treasury; 

3 (2) the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network 

4 of the Department of the Treasury; and 

5 (3) the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery 

6 Section of the Department of Justice. 

7 (c) STRATEGY REQUIREMENT.— 

8 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after 

9 the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 

10 State, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the Attorney 

11 General shall submit a strategy for carrying out the 

12 activities described in subsection (a) to— 

13 (A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of 

14 the Senate; 

15 (B) the Committee on Banking, Housing, 

16 and Urban Affairs of the Senate; 

17 (C) the Committee on the Judiciary of the 

18 Senate; 

19 (D) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the 

20 House of Representatives; 

21 (E) the Committee on Financial Services of 

22 the House of Representatives; and 

23 (F) the Committee on the Judiciary of the 

24 House of Representatives. 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
107 

•S 1025 RS

1 (2) ADDITIONAL ELEMENTS.—The strategy re2 quired by paragraph (1) shall include the following: 

3 (A) An assessment whether the United 

4 States or another member of the international 

5 community should establish a managed fund to 

6 hold the assets identified pursuant to subsection 

7 (a)(1) that could be returned to a future demo8 cratic government in Venezuela. 

9 (B) Such recommendations as the Secre10 taries and the Attorney General consider appro11 priate for legislative or administrative action in 

12 the United States that would be needed to estab13 lish and manage the fund described in subpara14 graph (A). 

15 TITLE VI—RESTORING THE RULE 

16 OF LAW IN VENEZUELA 

17 SEC. 601. DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING A COORDI18 NATED SANCTIONS STRATEGY WITH PART19 NERS IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE AND 

20 THE EUROPEAN UNION. 

21 (a) STRENGTHENING SANCTIONS CAPACITY IN LATIN

22 AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN.—The Secretary of State, 

23 in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, shall 

24 offer to provide technical assistance to partner governments 

25 in Latin America and the Caribbean to assist such governVerDate Sep 11 2014 00:01 Jun 04, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00107 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6203 E:\BILLS\S1025.RS S1025

kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
108 

•S 1025 RS

1 ments in establishing the legislative and regulatory frame2 works needed to impose targeted sanctions on officials of 

3 the Maduro regime who— 

4 (1) are responsible for human rights abuses; 

5 (2) have engaged in public corruption; or 

6 (3) are undermining democratic institutions and 

7 processes in Venezuela. 

8 (b) COORDINATING INTERNATIONAL SANCTIONS.—The 

9 Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of 

10 the Treasury, shall engage in diplomatic efforts with part11 ner governments, including the Government of Canada, gov12 ernments in the European Union, and governments in 

13 Latin America and the Caribbean, to impose targeted sanc14 tions on the Maduro regime officials described in subsection 

15 (a). 

16 (c) STRATEGY REQUIREMENT.—Not later than 90 days 

17 after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 

18 of State, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, 

19 shall submit a strategy for carrying out the activities de20 scribed in subsection (a) to— 

21 (1) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the 

22 Senate; 

23 (2) the Committee on Appropriations of the Sen24 ate; 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
109 

•S 1025 RS

1 (3) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the 

2 House of Representatives; and 

3 (4) the Committee on Appropriations of the 

4 House of Representatives. 

5 (d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 

6 (1) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be ap7 propriated to the Secretary of State for fiscal year 

8 2020, $3,000,000 to carry out the activities set forth 

9 in subsection (a). 

10 (2) NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS.—Amounts 

11 appropriated pursuant to paragraph (1) are subject 

12 to the notification requirements applicable to expendi13 tures from the Economic Support Fund under section 

14 531(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 

15 U.S.C. 2346(c)) and the International Narcotics and 

16 Law Enforcement Fund under section 489 of the For17 eign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2291h) to the 

18 extent that such funds are expended. 

19 SEC. 602. CLASSIFIED BRIEFING ON THE INVOLVEMENT OF 

20 VENEZUELAN OFFICIALS IN CORRUPTION 

21 AND ILLICIT NARCOTICS TRAFFICKING. 

22 (a) BRIEFING REQUIREMENT.—Not later than 90 days 

23 after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 

24 of State, acting through the Bureau of Intelligence and Re25 search, and in coordination with the Director of National 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
110 

•S 1025 RS

1 Intelligence, shall provide a classified briefing to the appro2 priate congressional committees on the involvement of sen3 ior officials of the Maduro regime, including members of 

4 the National Electoral Council, the judicial system, and the 

5 Venezuelan security forces, in illicit narcotics trafficking 

6 and significant acts of public corruption in Venezuela. 

7 (b) ADDITIONAL ELEMENTS.—The briefing provided 

8 under subsection (a) shall— 

9 (1) describe how the significant acts of public 

10 corruption pose challenges for United States national 

11 security and impact the rule of law and democratic 

12 governance in countries of the Western Hemisphere; 

13 (2) identify individuals for whom there is cred14 ible information that they frustrated the ability of the 

15 United States to combat illicit narcotics trafficking; 

16 (3) include an assessment of the relationship be17 tween individuals identified under subsection (a) and 

18 Nicola ́s Maduro or members of his cabinet; and 

19 (4) include input from the Drug Enforcement 

20 Administration, the Office of Foreign Assets Control, 

21 and the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network. 

22 (c) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES.—In 

23 this section, the term ‘‘appropriate congressional commit24 tees’’ means— 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
111 

•S 1025 RS

1 (1) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the 

2 Senate; 

3 (2) the Select Committee on Intelligence of the 

4 Senate; 

5 (3) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the 

6 House of Representatives; and 

7 (4) the Permanent Select Committee on Intel8 ligence of the House of Representatives. 

9 SEC. 603. SANCTIONS ON PERSONS RESPONSIBLE FOR PUB10 LIC CORRUPTION AND UNDERMINING DEMO11 CRATIC GOVERNANCE. 

12 (a) FINDING.—Executive Order 13692 (50 U.S.C. 1701 

13 note), which was signed on March 8, 2015, provided for 

14 sanctions against any person determined to be responsible 

15 for actions that undermine democratic processes and insti16 tutions or responsible for acts of public corruption by senior 

17 officials within the Government of Venezuela that were not 

18 included in the Venezuela Defense of Human Rights and 

19 Civil Society Act of 2014 (Public Law 113–278). 

20 (b) SANCTIONS.—Section 5(a) of the Venezuela Defense 

21 of Human Rights and Civil Society Act of 2014 (Public 

22 Law 113–278) is amended— 

23 (1) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘or’’ at the 

24 end; 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
112 

•S 1025 RS

1 (2) by redesignating paragraph (3) as para2 graph (5); 

3 (3) by inserting after paragraph (2) the fol4 lowing: 

5 ‘‘(3) is responsible for, or complicit in, ordering, 

6 controlling, or otherwise directing, significant actions 

7 or policies that undermine democratic processes or in8 stitutions; 

9 ‘‘(4) is responsible for, complicit in, ordering, 

10 controlling, or otherwise directing, or to have partici11 pated in, directly or indirectly, public corruption by 

12 senior officials within the Government of Venezuela; 

13 or’’; and 

14 (4) in paragraph (5), as redesignated, by strik15 ing ‘‘paragraph (1) or (2)’’ and inserting ‘‘paragraph 

16 (1), (2), (3), or (4)’’. 

17 SEC. 604. PUBLIC INFORMATION ABOUT SANCTIONED OFFI18 CIALS. 

19 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after the 

20 date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Treasury, 

21 in consultation with the Secretary of State, shall provide 

22 a classified briefing to the appropriate congressional com23 mittees on the total assessed value of blocked assets of Ven24 ezuelans designated under sanctions authorized under— 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
113 

•S 1025 RS

1 (1) the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation 

2 Act (title VIII of Public Law 106–120; 21 U.S.C. 

3 1901 et seq.); 

4 (2) the Venezuela Defense of Human Rights and 

5 Civil Society Act of 2014 (Public Law 113–278), as 

6 amended by section 603 of this Act; or 

7 (3) Executive Orders 13692 (50 U.S.C. 1701 

8 note) and 13850. 

9 (b) ADDITIONAL ELEMENTS.—The briefing provided 

10 under subsection (a) should provide descriptions of specific 

11 cases that are most representative of the endemic corruption 

12 and illicit financial activities occurring in Venezuela. 

13 (c) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES.—In 

14 this section, the term ‘‘appropriate congressional commit15 tees’’ means— 

16 (1) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the 

17 Senate; 

18 (2) the Committee on Banking, Housing, and 

19 Urban Affairs of the Senate; 

20 (3) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the 

21 House of Representatives; and 

22 (4) the Committee on Financial Services of the 

23 House of Representatives. 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
114 

•S 1025 RS

1 SEC. 605. FINANCIAL SANCTIONS ON MADURO REGIME 

2 DEBT. 

3 (a) FINDING.—Executive Order 13808 (82 Fed. Reg. 

4 41155), which was signed on August 24, 2017, provided for 

5 sanctions intended to limit the ability of the Maduro regime 

6 to issue public debt. 

7 (b) DEFINITIONS.—In this section and in sections 606 

8 and 608: 

9 (1) ENTITY.—The term ‘‘entity’’ means a part10 nership, association, trust, joint venture, corporation, 

11 group, subgroup, or organization. 

12 (2) PERSON.—The term ‘‘person’’ means an in13 dividual or entity. 

14 (3) UNITED STATES PERSON.—The term ‘‘United 

15 States person’’ means any— 

16 (A) United States citizen; 

17 (B) alien lawfully admitted for permanent 

18 residence to the United States; 

19 (C) entity organized under the laws of the 

20 United States or any jurisdiction within the 

21 United States (including a foreign branch of any 

22 such entity); and 

23 (D) any person physically located in the 

24 United States. 

25 (c) IN GENERAL.—The President may prohibit, in the 

26 United States or by a United States person— 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
115 

•S 1025 RS

1 (1) any transaction related to, provision of fi2 nancing for, or other dealing in— 

3 (A) debt instruments with a maturity of 

4 greater than 90 days issued by Petro ́leos de Ven5 ezuela, S.A., on or after the date of the enactment 

6 of this Act; 

7 (B) debt instruments with a maturity of 

8 greater than 30 days or equity issued by the 

9 Maduro regime on or after the date of the enact10 ment of this Act, excluding debt instruments 

11 issued by Petro ́leos de Venezuela, S.A., that are 

12 not covered under subparagraph (A); 

13 (C) bonds issued by the Maduro regime be14 fore the date of the enactment of this Act; or 

15 (D) dividend payments or other distribu16 tions of profits to the Maduro regime from any 

17 entity owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, 

18 by the Maduro regime; 

19 (2) the direct or indirect purchase of securities 

20 from the Maduro regime, except for— 

21 (A) securities qualifying as debt instru22 ments issued by Petro ́leos de Venezuela, S.A., on 

23 or after the date of the enactment of this Act that 

24 are not described in paragraph (1)(A); and 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
116 

•S 1025 RS

1 (B) securities qualifying as debt instru2 ments issued by the Maduro regime on or after 

3 the date of the enactment of this Act that are not 

4 described in paragraph (1)(B); 

5 (3) any transaction that evades or avoids, has 

6 the purpose of evading or avoiding, causes a violation 

7 of, or attempts to violate a prohibition under para8 graph (1) or (2); and 

9 (4) any conspiracy to violate a prohibition 

10 under paragraph (1), (2), or (3). 

11 (d) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Congress 

12 that the President should waive the prohibitions described 

13 in subsection (c) and in Executive Order 13808 if the re14 lated debt instruments, bonds, or securities have been ap15 proved or ratified by the democratically elected National 

16 Assembly of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. 

17 SEC. 606. ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL SANCTIONS ON MADURO 

18 REGIME DEBT. 

19 (a) FINDING.—Executive Order 13835 (83 Fed. Reg. 

20 24001), which was signed on May 21, 2018, provided for 

21 additional sanctions against transactions involving the ex22 isting public debt of the Maduro regime. 

23 (b) PROHIBITION.—The President may prohibit a 

24 United States person or any person within the United 

25 States from— 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
117 

•S 1025 RS

1 (1) purchasing any debt owed to the Maduro re2 gime, including accounts receivable; 

3 (2) entering into any transaction related to any 

4 debt owed to the Maduro regime that is pledged as 

5 collateral after May 21, 2018, including accounts re6 ceivable; or 

7 (3) entering into any transaction involving the 

8 selling, transferring, assigning, or pledging as collat9 eral by the Maduro regime of any equity interest in 

10 any entity in which the Maduro regime has a 50 per11 cent or greater ownership interest. 

12 (c) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Congress 

13 that the President should waive the prohibitions described 

14 in subsection (a) and in Executive Order 13835 if trans15 actions involving related debt instruments, bonds, or securi16 ties have been approved or ratified by the democratically 

17 elected National Assembly of Venezuela. 

18 SEC. 607. EXPANDING KINGPIN SANCTIONS ON NARCOTICS 

19 TRAFFICKING AND MONEY LAUNDERING. 

20 (a) FINANCIAL SANCTIONS EXPANSION.—The Sec21 retary of the Treasury, the Attorney General, the Secretary 

22 of State, the Secretary of Defense, and the Director of the 

23 Central Intelligence Agency should expand investigations, 

24 intelligence collection, and analysis pursuant to the Foreign 

25 Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act (21 U.S.C. 1901 et seq.) 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
118 

•S 1025 RS

1 to facilitate the identification and support the application 

2 of sanctions against— 

3 (1) significant foreign narcotics traffickers, their 

4 organizations and networks; and 

5 (2) the foreign persons who provide material, fi6 nancial, or technological support to such traffickers, 

7 organizations, and networks. 

8 (b) TARGETS.—The efforts described in subsection (a) 

9 should specifically target— 

10 (1) senior members of the Maduro regime, in11 cluding military officers, involved in narcotics traf12 ficking and money laundering; 

13 (2) foreign narcotics traffickers and their organi14 zations and networks that are operating in Venezuela; 

15 and 

16 (3) the foreign persons who provide material, fi17 nancial, or technological support to such traffickers, 

18 organizations, and networks that are operating in 

19 Venezuela. 

20 SEC. 608. SANCTIONS ON THE MADURO REGIME’S TRADE IN 

21 GOLD. 

22 (a) FINDING.—Executive Order 13850, which was 

23 signed on November 1, 2018, ordered sanctions against the 

24 gold sector of the Venezuelan economy. 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
119 

•S 1025 RS

1 (b) SANCTIONS AUTHORIZED.—The President, in con2 sultation with the Secretary of the Treasury and the Sec3 retary of State, may block and prohibit the transfer, pay4 ment, exportation, withdrawal, or other disposition of all 

5 property and interests in property of any person that oper6 ates in the gold sector of the Venezuelan economy if such 

7 property is in the United States, comes into the United 

8 States, or is or comes within the possession or control of 

9 any United States person. 

10 (c) REPORT.—Not later than 30 days after enactment 

11 of this Act, the Secretary of the Treasury shall submit a 

12 report to the appropriate congressional committees (as de13 fined in section 612(b)) that— 

14 (1) details whether section 5318A of title 31, 

15 United States Code, provides the Secretary of the 

16 Treasury with sufficient authority to fully address the 

17 extent to which transactions related to finished and 

18 unfinished precious metals are used to assist in 

19 money-laundering transactions, particularly with re20 spect to high-risk jurisdictions, including Venezuela; 

21 (2) includes recommendations the Secretary of 

22 the Treasury considers necessary and appropriate for 

23 United States legislative or administrative action 

24 that would be needed to address any findings referred 

25 to in paragraph (1); and 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
120 

•S 1025 RS

1 (3) includes, in a classified annex, an expla2 nation for how the Department of the Treasury is 

3 currently using its authorities under section 5318A of 

4 title 31, United States Code, to address transactions 

5 related to precious metals that are used to assist in 

6 money-laundering transactions. 

7 SEC. 609. CONCERNS OVER PDVSA TRANSACTIONS WITH 

8 ROSNEFT. 

9 (a) FINDINGS.—Congress makes the following findings: 

10 (1) In late 2016, Venezuelan state-owned oil 

11 company Petro ́leos de Venezuela, S.A. (referred to in 

12 this section as ‘‘PDVSA’’), through a no compete 

13 transaction, secured a loan from Russian government14 controlled oil company Rosneft, using 49.9 percent of 

15 PDVSA’s American subsidiary, CITGO Petroleum 

16 Corporation, including its assets in the United States, 

17 as collateral. As a result of this transaction, 100 per18 cent of CITGO is held as collateral by PDVSA’s 

19 creditors. 

20 (2) CITGO, a wholly owned subsidiary of 

21 PDVSA, is engaged in interstate commerce and owns 

22 and controls critical energy infrastructure in 19 

23 States of the United States, including an extensive 

24 network of pipelines, 48 terminals, and 3 refineries, 

25 with a combined oil refining capacity of 749,000 barVerDate Sep 11 2014 00:01 Jun 04, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00120 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6203 E:\BILLS\S1025.RS S1025

kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
121 

•S 1025 RS

1 rels per day. CITGO’s refinery in Lake Charles, Lou2 isiana, is the sixth largest refinery in the United 

3 States. 

4 (3) The Department of the Treasury imposed 

5 sanctions on Rosneft, which is controlled by the Gov6 ernment of the Russian Federation, and its Executive 

7 Chairman, Igor Sechin, following Russia’s military 

8 invasion of Ukraine and its illegal annexation of Cri9 mea in 2014. 

10 (4) The Department of Homeland Security has 

11 designated the energy sector as critical to United 

12 States infrastructure. 

13 (5) The growing economic crisis in Venezuela 

14 raises the probability that the Maduro regime and 

15 PDVSA will default on their international debt obli16 gations, resulting in a scenario in which Rosneft 

17 could come into control of CITGO’s United States en18 ergy infrastructure holdings. 

19 (b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Congress 

20 that— 

21 (1) control of critical United States energy infra22 structure by Rosneft, a Russian government-controlled 

23 entity currently under United States sanctions that is 

24 led by Igor Sechin, who is also under United States 

25 sanctions and is a close associate of Vladimir Putin, 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
122 

•S 1025 RS

1 would pose a significant risk to United States na2 tional security and energy security; and 

3 (2) a default by PDVSA on its loan from 

4 Rosneft, resulting in Rosneft coming into possession 

5 of PDVSA’s United States CITGO assets, would war6 rant careful consideration by the Committee on For7 eign Investment in the United States. 

8 (c) PREVENTING ROSNEFT FROM CONTROLLING

9 UNITED STATES ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE.—The Presi10 dent shall take all necessary steps to prevent Rosneft from 

11 gaining control of critical United States energy infrastruc12 ture. 

13 (d) SECURITY RISK BRIEFING.—Not later than 90 

14 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec15 retary of Homeland Security and the Secretary of the 

16 Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State and 

17 the Secretary of Energy, shall provide a briefing on the se18 curity risks posed by Russian control of CITGO’s United 

19 States energy infrastructure holdings to— 

20 (1) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the 

21 Senate; 

22 (2) the Committee on Homeland Security and 

23 Governmental Affairs of the Senate; 

24 (3) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the 

25 House of Representatives; and 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
123 

•S 1025 RS

1 (4) the Committee on Homeland Security of the 

2 House of Representatives. 

3 SEC. 610. CLASSIFIED BRIEFING ON ACTIVITIES OF CER4 TAIN FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS AND ACTORS 

5 IN VENEZUELA. 

6 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after the 

7 date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, 

8 acting through the Bureau of Intelligence and Research of 

9 the Department of State, and in coordination with the Di10 rector of National Intelligence, shall provide a classified 

11 briefing to the appropriate congressional committees on— 

12 (1) the full extent of cooperation by the Govern13 ment of the Russian Federation, the Government of 

14 the People’s Republic of China, the Government of 

15 Cuba, and the Government of Iran with the Maduro 

16 regime; and 

17 (2) the activities inside Venezuelan territory of 

18 foreign armed groups, including Colombian criminal 

19 organizations and defectors from the Colombian gue20 rilla group known as the Revolutionary Armed Forces 

21 of Colombia, and foreign terrorist organizations, in22 cluding the Colombian guerilla group known as the 

23 National Liberation Army (ELN). 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
124 

•S 1025 RS

1 (b) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES.—In 

2 this section, the term ‘‘appropriate congressional commit3 tees’’ means— 

4 (1) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the 

5 Senate; 

6 (2) the Select Committee on Intelligence of the 

7 Senate; 

8 (3) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the 

9 House of Representatives; and 

10 (4) the Permanent Select Committee on Intel11 ligence of the House of Representatives. 

12 SEC. 611. COUNTERING RUSSIAN INFLUENCE IN VEN13 EZUELA. 

14 (a) SHORT TITLE.—This section may be cited as the 

15 ‘‘Russian-Venezuelan Threat Mitigation Act’’. 

16 (b) THREAT ASSESSMENT AND STRATEGY TO

17 COUNTER RUSSIAN INFLUENCE IN VENEZUELA.— 

18 (1) DEFINED TERM.—In this subsection, the 

19 term ‘‘appropriate congressional committees’’ 

20 means— 

21 (A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of 

22 the Senate; and 

23 (B) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the 

24 House of Representatives. 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
125 

•S 1025 RS

1 (2) THREAT ASSESSMENT.—Not later than 90 

2 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 

3 Secretary of State shall brief the appropriate congres4 sional committees regarding— 

5 (A) an assessment of Russian-Venezuelan se6 curity cooperation; and 

7 (B) the potential threat such cooperation 

8 poses to the United States and countries in the 

9 Western Hemisphere. 

10 (3) STRATEGY.—Not later than 30 days after the 

11 briefing required under paragraph (2), the Secretary 

12 of State shall brief the appropriate congressional com13 mittees regarding a strategy to counter threats identi14 fied in such assessment from Russian-Venezuelan co15 operation. 

16 (c) ALIENS INELIGIBLE FOR VISAS, ADMISSION, OR

17 PAROLE.— 

18 (1) IN GENERAL.—An alien who the Secretary of 

19 State or the Secretary of Homeland Security (or a 

20 designee of either Secretary) knows, or has reason to 

21 believe, is an alien who is acting or has acted on be22 half of the Russian Government in direct support of 

23 the security forces of the Maduro regime is— 

24 (A) inadmissible to the United States; 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
126 

•S 1025 RS

1 (B) ineligible to receive a visa or other doc2 umentation to enter the United States; and 

3 (C) otherwise ineligible to be admitted into 

4 the United States or to receive any other benefit 

5 under the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 

6 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.). 

7 (2) CURRENT VISAS REVOKED.— 

8 (A) IN GENERAL.—The issuing consular of9 ficer, the Secretary of State, or the Secretary of 

10 Homeland Security (or a designee of one of such 

11 Secretaries) shall, in accordance with section 

12 221(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act 

13 (8 U.S.C. 1201(i)), revoke any visa or other 

14 entry documentation issued to an alien described 

15 in paragraph (1) regardless of when the visa or 

16 other entry documentation is issued. 

17 (B) EFFECT OF REVOCATION.—A revocation 

18 under subparagraph (A) shall— 

19 (i) take effect immediately; and 

20 (ii) automatically cancel any other 

21 valid visa or entry documentation that is in 

22 the alien’s possession. 

23 (3) EXCEPTION TO COMPLY WITH UNITED NA24 TIONS HEADQUARTERS AGREEMENT OR FOR NATIONAL

25 SECURITY REASONS.— 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
127 

•S 1025 RS

1 (A) INTERNATIONAL OBLIGATIONS.—This 

2 section shall not apply to an alien if admitting 

3 or paroling the alien into the United States is 

4 necessary to permit the United States to comply 

5 with— 

6 (i) the Agreement regarding the Head7 quarters of the United Nations, signed at 

8 Lake Success June 26, 1947, and entered 

9 into force November 21, 1947, between the 

10 United Nations and the United States; or 

11 (ii) other applicable international obli12 gations of the United States. 

13 (B) NATIONAL SECURITY.—The President 

14 may waive the application of this section to an 

15 alien if the President— 

16 (i) determines that such a waiver is in 

17 the national interest of the United States; 

18 and 

19 (ii) submits a notice of, and justifica20 tion for, such waiver to the appropriate 

21 congressional committees. 

22 (4) SUNSET.—This subsection shall terminate on 

23 the date that is 1 year after the date of the enactment 

24 of this Act. 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
128 

•S 1025 RS

1 SEC. 612. RESTRICTION ON EXPORT OF COVERED ARTICLES 

2 AND SERVICES TO CERTAIN SECURITY 

3 FORCES OF VENEZUELA. 

4 (a) SHORT TITLE.—This section may be cited as the 

5 ‘‘Venezuela Arms Restriction Act’’. 

6 (b) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

7 (1) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMIT8 TEES.—The term ‘‘appropriate congressional commit9 tees’’ means— 

10 (A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of 

11 the Senate; 

12 (B) the Committee on Banking, Housing, 

13 and Urban Affairs of the Senate; 

14 (C) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the 

15 House of Representatives; and 

16 (D) the Committee on Financial Services of 

17 the House of Representatives. 

18 (2) COVERED ARTICLE OR SERVICE.—The term 

19 ‘‘covered article or service’’— 

20 (A) for purposes of subsection (c), means— 

21 (i) a defense article or defense service 

22 (as such terms are defined in section 47 of 

23 the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 

24 2794)); and 

25 (ii) any article included on the Com26 merce Control List set forth in Supplement 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
129 

•S 1025 RS

1 No. 1 to part 774 of the Export Administra2 tion Regulations under subchapter C of 

3 chapter VII of title 15, Code of Federal Reg4 ulations, and controlled for crime control 

5 purposes, if the end user is likely to use the 

6 article to violate the human rights of the 

7 citizens of Venezuela; and 

8 (B) for purposes of subsection (d), means— 

9 (i) any defense article or defense serv10 ice of the type described in section 47 of the 

11 Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2794); 

12 and 

13 (ii) any article of the type included on 

14 the Commerce Control List set forth in Sup15 plement No. 1 to part 774 of the Export Ad16 ministration Regulations and controlled for 

17 crime control purposes. 

18 (3) FOREIGN PERSON.—The term ‘‘foreign per19 son’’ means a person that is not a United States per20 son. 

21 (4) PERSON.—The term ‘‘person’’ means an in22 dividual or entity. 

23 (5) SECURITY FORCES OF VENEZUELA.—The 

24 term ‘‘security forces of Venezuela’’ includes— 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
130 

•S 1025 RS

1 (A) the Bolivarian National Armed Forces, 

2 including the Bolivarian National Guard; 

3 (B) the Bolivarian National Intelligence 

4 Service; 

5 (C) the Bolivarian National Police; and 

6 (D) the Bureau for Scientific, Criminal and 

7 Forensic Investigations of the Ministry of Inte8 rior, Justice, and Peace. 

9 (6) UNITED STATES PERSON.—The term ‘‘United 

10 States person’’ means— 

11 (A) a United States citizen or an alien law12 fully admitted for permanent residence to the 

13 United States; or 

14 (B) an entity organized under the laws of 

15 the United States or of any jurisdiction within 

16 the United States, including a foreign branch of 

17 such an entity. 

18 (c) RESTRICTION ON EXPORT OF COVERED ARTICLES

19 AND SERVICES TO CERTAIN SECURITY FORCES OF VEN20 EZUELA.— 

21 (1) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other 

22 provision of law, covered articles or services may not 

23 be exported from the United States to any element of 

24 the security forces of the Maduro regime. 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
131 

•S 1025 RS

1 (2) DETERMINATION.—Not later than 180 days 

2 after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec3 retary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of 

4 Commerce and the heads of other departments and 

5 agencies, as appropriate, shall— 

6 (A) determine, using such information that 

7 is available to the Secretary of State, whether 

8 any covered article or service has been trans9 ferred since July 2017 to the security forces of 

10 Venezuela without a license or other authoriza11 tion as required by law; and 

12 (B) submit such determination in writing 

13 to the appropriate congressional committees. 

14 (d) BRIEFING.— 

15 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after 

16 the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 

17 State, in consultation with the Secretary of Com18 merce, as appropriate, shall brief the appropriate con19 gressional committees regarding the transfer by for20 eign persons of covered articles or services to elements 

21 of the security forces of Venezuela that are under the 

22 authority of the Maduro regime. 

23 (2) MATTERS TO BE INCLUDED.—The briefing 

24 required under paragraph (1) shall include— 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
132 

•S 1025 RS

1 (A) a list of all significant transfers by for2 eign persons of covered articles or services to 

3 such elements of the security forces of Venezuela 

4 since July 2017; 

5 (B) a list of all foreign persons who main6 tain an existing defense relationship with such 

7 elements of the security forces of Venezuela; and 

8 (C) any known use of covered articles or 

9 services by such elements of the security forces of 

10 Venezuela or associated forces, including para11 military groups, that have coordinated with such 

12 security forces to assault, intimidate, or murder 

13 political activists, protesters, dissidents, and 

14 other civil society leaders, including Juan 

15 Guaido ́. 

16 (e) SUNSET.—This section shall terminate on the ear17 lier of— 

18 (1) the date that is 3 years after the date of the 

19 enactment of this Act; or 

20 (2) the date on which the President certifies to 

21 the appropriate congressional committees that the 

22 Government of Venezuela has returned to a demo23 cratic form of government with respect for the essen24 tial elements of representative democracy as set forth 

25 in Article 3 of the Inter-American Democratic CharVerDate Sep 11 2014 00:01 Jun 04, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00132 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6203 E:\BILLS\S1025.RS S1025

kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
133 

•S 1025 RS

1 ter, adopted by the Organization of American States 

2 in Lima on September 11, 2001. 

3 TITLE VII—CRYPTOCURRENCY 

4 SANCTIONS AND ENSURING 

5 THE EFFECTIVENESS OF 

6 UNITED STATES SANCTIONS 

7 SEC. 701. SANCTIONS ON VENEZUELA’S CRYPTOCURRENCY 

8 AND THE PROVISION OF RELATED TECH9 NOLOGIES. 

10 (a) FINDING.—Executive Order 13827 (83 Fed. Reg. 

11 12469), which was signed on March 19, 2018, provided for 

12 sanctions intended to limit the effectiveness of the issuance 

13 by the Maduro regime of a digital currency in an effort 

14 to circumvent United States sanctions. 

15 (b) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

16 (1) ENTITY.—The term ‘‘entity’’ means a part17 nership, association, trust, joint venture, corporation, 

18 group, subgroup, or organization. 

19 (2) PERSON.—The term ‘‘person’’ means an in20 dividual or entity. 

21 (3) UNITED STATES PERSON.—The term ‘‘United 

22 States person’’ means any— 

23 (A) United States citizen; 

24 (B) alien lawfully admitted for permanent 

25 residence to the United States; 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
134 

•S 1025 RS

1 (C) entity organized under the laws of the 

2 United States or any jurisdiction within the 

3 United States (including a foreign branch of any 

4 such entity); and 

5 (D) any person physically located in the 

6 United States. 

7 (c) PROHIBITION OF CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS.— 

8 (1) IN GENERAL.—All transactions by a United 

9 States person or within the United States that relate 

10 to, provide financing for, or otherwise deal in any 

11 digital currency, digital coin, or digital token, that 

12 was issued by, for, or on behalf of the Maduro regime 

13 are prohibited beginning on the date of the enactment 

14 of this Act. 

15 (2) APPLICABILITY.—The prohibitions under 

16 paragraph (1) shall apply to the extent provided by 

17 statutes, or in regulations, orders, directives, or li18 censes that may be issued pursuant to this Act, and 

19 notwithstanding any contract entered into or any li20 cense or permit granted before the date of the enact21 ment of this Act. 

22 (3) PROHIBITIONS.—Any transaction that evades 

23 or avoids, has the purpose of evading or avoiding, 

24 causes a violation of, or attempts to violate any of the 

25 prohibitions set forth in this subsection is prohibited. 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
135 

•S 1025 RS

1 Any conspiracy formed to violate any of the prohibi2 tions set forth in this subsection is prohibited. 

3 (d) RULEMAKING.— 

4 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the Treas5 ury, in consultation with the Secretary of State, is 

6 authorized to take such actions, including promul7 gating rules and regulations, to implement this sec8 tion. 

9 (2) DELEGATION.—The Secretary of the Treas10 ury may redelegate any of the functions described in 

11 paragraph (1) to other officers and executive depart12 ments and agencies of the United States Government. 

13 All agencies of the United States Government shall 

14 take all appropriate measures within their authority 

15 to carry out the provisions of this section. 

16 (e) WAIVER.—The President may waive the prohibi17 tion under subsection (c)(1) if the President— 

18 (1) determines that such waiver is in the na19 tional interest of the United States; and 

20 (2) not later than 30 days after making a deter21 mination under paragraph (1), submits a written ex22 planation for why such a waiver is in the United 

23 States national interest to— 

24 (A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of 

25 the Senate; 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
136 

•S 1025 RS

1 (B) the Committee on Banking, Housing, 

2 and Urban Affairs of the Senate; 

3 (C) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the 

4 House of Representatives; and 

5 (D) the Committee on Financial Services of 

6 the House of Representatives. 

7 SEC. 702. BRIEFING ON THE IMPACT OF 

8 CRYPTOCURRENCIES ON UNITED STATES 

9 SANCTIONS. 

10 (a) DEFINITION.—In this section, the term ‘‘appro11 priate congressional committees’’ means— 

12 (1) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the 

13 Senate; 

14 (2) the Committee on Banking, Housing, and 

15 Urban Affairs of the Senate; 

16 (3) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the 

17 House of Representatives; and 

18 (4) the Committee on Financial Services of the 

19 House of Representatives. 

20 (b) METHODOLOGY.—Not later than 180 days after the 

21 date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State 

22 and the Secretary of the Treasury, after consultation with 

23 the Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission 

24 and the Chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading 

25 Commission, shall develop a methodology to assess how any 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
137 

•S 1025 RS

1 digital currency, digital coin, or digital token, that was 

2 issued by, for, or on behalf of the Maduro regime is being 

3 utilized to circumvent or undermine United States sanc4 tions. 

5 (c) BRIEFING.—Not later than 180 days after the date 

6 of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State and the 

7 Secretary of the Treasury shall brief the appropriate con8 gressional committees on the methodology developed under 

9 subsection (b). 

10 TITLE VIII—MISCELLANEOUS 

11 PROVISIONS 

12 SEC. 801. CONGRESSIONAL BRIEFINGS. 

13 (a) HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE; SANCTIONS COORDI14 NATION.— 

15 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 15 days after 

16 any of the congressional committees listed in para17 graph (2) requests a briefing regarding the implemen18 tation— 

19 (A) of section 201, the Secretary of State 

20 and the Administrator of the United States 

21 Agency for International Development shall pro22 vide such briefing to such committee; and 

23 (B) of section 601, the Secretary of State 

24 shall provide such briefing to such committee. 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
138 

•S 1025 RS

1 (2) CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES.—The commit2 tees listed in this paragraph are— 

3 (A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of 

4 the Senate; 

5 (B) the Committee on Appropriations of the 

6 Senate; 

7 (C) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the 

8 House of Representatives; and 

9 (D) the Committee on Appropriations of the 

10 House of Representatives. 

11 (b) UNITED NATIONS; NEGOTIATED SOLUTION; 

12 CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY.— 

13 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 15 days after 

14 any congressional committee listed in paragraph (2) 

15 requests a briefing regarding the implementation of 

16 section 103, 202, or 403, the Secretary of State shall 

17 provide such briefing to such committee. 

18 (2) CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES.—The congres19 sional committees listed in this paragraph are— 

20 (A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of 

21 the Senate; and 

22 (B) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the 

23 House of Representatives. 

24 (c) REGIME COHESION.— 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
139 

•S 1025 RS

1 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 15 days after 

2 a congressional committee listed in paragraph (2) re3 quests a briefing regarding the implementation of sec4 tion 301, the Secretary of State and the Director of 

5 National Intelligence shall provide such briefing to 

6 such committee. 

7 (2) CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES.—The congres8 sional committees listed in this paragraph are— 

9 (A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of 

10 the Senate; 

11 (B) the Select Committee on Intelligence of 

12 the Senate; 

13 (C) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the 

14 House of Representatives; and 

15 (D) the Permanent Select Committee on In16 telligence of the House of Representatives. 

17 (d) INTERNATIONAL ELECTION OBSERVATION; DEMO18 CRATIC CIVIL SOCIETY.—Not later than 15 days after a 

19 congressional committee listed in subsection (a)(2) requests 

20 a briefing regarding the implementation of section 405, the 

21 Secretary of State and the Administrator of the United 

22 States Agency for International Development shall provide 

23 such briefing to such committee. 

24 (e) VISA RESTRICTIONS; SANCTIONS WAIVER.—Not 

25 later than 15 days after a congressional committee listed 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
140 

•S 1025 RS

1 in subsection (b)(2) requests a briefing regarding the imple2 mentation of section 302 or 303, the Secretary of State shall 

3 provide such briefing to such committee. 

4 (f) RECONSTRUCTION OF VENEZUELA’S ENERGY IN5 FRASTRUCTURE.— 

6 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 15 days after 

7 a congressional committee listed in paragraph (2) re8 quests a briefing regarding the implementation of sec9 tion 501, the Secretary of State, the Secretary of En10 ergy, and the Secretary of the Treasury shall provide 

11 such briefing to such committee. 

12 (2) CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES.—The congres13 sional committees listed in this paragraph are— 

14 (A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of 

15 the Senate; 

16 (B) the Committee on Energy and Natural 

17 Resources of the Senate; 

18 (C) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the 

19 House of Representatives; and 

20 (D) the Committee on Energy and Com21 merce of the House of Representatives. 

22 (g) RECOVERY OF STOLEN ASSETS.— 

23 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 15 days after 

24 a congressional committee listed in paragraph (2) re25 quests a briefing regarding the implementation of secVerDate Sep 11 2014 00:01 Jun 04, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00140 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6203 E:\BILLS\S1025.RS S1025

kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
141 

•S 1025 RS

1 tion 502, the Secretary of State, the Secretary of the 

2 Treasury, and the Attorney General shall provide 

3 such briefing to such committee. 

4 (2) CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES.—The congres5 sional committees listed in this paragraph are— 

6 (A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of 

7 the Senate; 

8 (B) the Committee on Banking, Housing, 

9 and Urban Affairs of the Senate; 

10 (C) the Committee on the Judiciary of the 

11 Senate; 

12 (D) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the 

13 House of Representatives; 

14 (E) the Committee on Financial Services of 

15 the House of Representatives; and 

16 (F) the Committee on the Judiciary of the 

17 House of Representatives. 

18 (h) FINANCIAL SANCTIONS.— 

19 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 15 days after 

20 a congressional committee listed in paragraph (2) re21 quests a briefing regarding the implementation of sec22 tion 605, 606, or 608, the Secretary of the Treasury 

23 shall provide such briefing to such committee. 

24 (2) CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES.—The congres25 sional committees listed in this paragraph are— 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
142 

•S 1025 RS

1 (A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of 

2 the Senate; 

3 (B) the Committee on Banking, Housing, 

4 and Urban Affairs of the Senate; 

5 (C) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the 

6 House of Representatives; and 

7 (D) the Committee on Financial Services of 

8 the House of Representatives. 

9 (i) KINGPIN SANCTIONS.—Not later than 15 days after 

10 a congressional committee listed in subsection (h)(2) re11 quests a briefing regarding the implementation of section 

12 607, the Secretary of the Treasury, the Attorney General, 

13 the Secretary of State, and the Director of the Central Intel14 ligence Agency shall provide such briefing to such com15 mittee. 

16 (j) PDVSA TRANSACTIONS WITH ROSNEFT.— 

17 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 15 days after 

18 a congressional committee listed in paragraph (2) re19 quests a briefing regarding the implementation of sec20 tion 609, the Secretary of State, the Secretary of the 

21 Treasury, and the Secretary of Homeland Security 

22 shall provide such briefing to such committee. 

23 (2) CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES.—The congres24 sional committees listed in this paragraph are— 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
143 

•S 1025 RS

1 (A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of 

2 the Senate; 

3 (B) the Committee on Homeland Security 

4 and Governmental Affairs of the Senate; 

5 (C) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the 

6 House of Representatives; and 

7 (D) the Committee on Homeland Security 

8 of the House of Representatives. 

9 (k) CRYPTOCURRENCY SANCTIONS.—Not later than 15 

10 days after a congressional committee listed in subsection 

11 (h)(2) requests a briefing regarding the implementation of 

12 section 701 or 702, the Secretary of State and the Secretary 

13 of the Treasury shall provide such briefing to such com14 mittee. 

15 SEC. 802. SANCTIONS IMPLEMENTATION AND PENALTIES. 

16 (a) IMPLEMENTATION.— 

17 (1) PRESIDENT.—The President may exercise all 

18 of the authorities described in sections 203 and 205 

19 of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act 

20 (50 U.S.C. 1702 and 1704) to carry out sections 603, 

21 605, 606, 607, 608, and 701 of this Act. 

22 (2) SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY.—The Sec23 retary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Sec24 retary of State, may promulgate such regulations as 

25 may be necessary to implement the provisions set 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
144 

•S 1025 RS

1 forth in sections 603, 605, 606, 607, 608, and 701 of 

2 this Act. 

3 (b) PENALTIES.—Any person that violates, attempts to 

4 violate, conspires to violate, or causes a violation of any 

5 of the sanctions described in sections 603, 605, 606, 607, 

6 608 and 701, or of any regulation, license, or order issued 

7 to carry out those sections, shall be subject to the penalties 

8 set forth in subsections (b) and (c) of section 206 of the 

9 International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 

10 1705) to the same extent as a person that commits an un11 lawful act described in subsection (a) of that section. 

12 SEC. 803. PROHIBITION ON CONSTRUCTION OF PROVISIONS 

13 OF THIS ACT AS AN AUTHORIZATION FOR 

14 THE USE OF MILITARY FORCE. 

15 Nothing in this Act may be construed as an authoriza16 tion for the use of military force. 

17 SEC. 804. EXTENSION AND TERMINATION OF SANCTIONS 

18 AGAINST VENEZUELA. 

19 (a) AMENDMENT.—Section 5(e) of the Venezuela De20 fense of Human Rights and Civil Society Act of 2014 (Pub21 lic Law 113–278; 50 U.S.C. 1701 note) is amended by strik22 ing ‘‘December 31, 2019’’ and inserting ‘‘December 31, 

23 2025’’. 

24 (b) TERMINATION.—The requirement to impose sanc25 tions under this Act shall terminate on December 31, 2025. 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS

kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
Calendar No. 101 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 1025 

A BILL 

To provide humanitarian relief to the Venezuelan 

dering, and for other purposes. ruption, narcotics trafficking, and money launeconomic reconstruction, to combat public corezuela’s political crisis, to address Venezuela’s constitutional and democratic solution to Venpeople and Venezuelan migrants, to advance a 

JUNE 3, 2019 

Reported with an amendment 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS