H. Res. 488 
In the House of Representatives, U. S., 
March 4, 2014. 
Whereas the United States Government should support the 
rule of law, and free and peaceful exercise of representa-
tive democracy in Venezuela, condemning violence and in-
timidation against the country’s political opposition, and 
calling for dialogue between all political actors in the 
country; 
Whereas, on February 12, 2014, also known in Venezuela as 
the National Youth Day, students began protesting in 
several cities Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro’s inabil-
ity to stem violent crime, his undemocratic actions, and 
a rapidly deteriorating economy marked by high inflation 
and shortages of consumer goods; 
Whereas, on February 12, 2014, a judge issued an arrest 
warrant for Leopoldo Lo´pez, leader of the opposition 
party Voluntad Popular, for unfounded allegations in 
connection with the student protests; 
Whereas, on February 17, 2014, the Government of Ven-
ezuela notified the United States Department of State 
that it had declared 3 consular officers at the United 
States Embassy in Venezuela personae non gratae;
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Whereas over the last year, the Government of Venezuela has 
expelled a total of 8 United States Government officials 
from Venezuela; 
Whereas, on February 18, 2014, opposition leader Leopoldo 
Lopez turned himself in to Venezuelan authorities, was 
arrested, and charged with criminal incitement, con-
spiracy, arson, and intent to damage property; 
Whereas Leopoldo Lopez is currently being held in a prison 
at a military facility; 
Whereas nongovernmental human rights organizations have 
alleged that the charges brought against Venezuelan op-
position leader Leopoldo Lo´pez appear to be a politically 
motivated attempt to silence dissent in the country; 
Whereas the Venezuelan Government has blocked users’ on-
line images as opposition groups marched through Cara-
cas; 
Whereas the Venezuelan people have been protesting eco-
nomic, social, and political concerns facing their country, 
including corruption, rising inflation rates, shortages of 
everyday products, increasing crime rates, and the ero-
sion of human rights and respect for political dissent; 
Whereas, on February 19, 2014, President Barack Obama 
criticized the Venezuelan Government for arresting pro-
testers, called for their release, and urged the government 
to focus on the ‘‘legitimate grievances of the Venezuelan 
people’’; 
Whereas, as of February 26, 2014, there have been 14 people 
killed, over 100 injured, and many persons unjustly de-
tained in relation to pro-democracy demonstrations 
throughout Venezuela;
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Whereas Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro threatened to 
expel the United States news network CNN from Ven-
ezuela and has taken off the air the Colombian news 
channel NTN 24, which transmits in Venezuela, after 
news outlets reported on the nation-wide protests; 
Whereas the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights 
released a statement on February 14, 2014, which ‘‘ex-
presses its concern over the serious incidents of violence 
that have taken place in the context of protest dem-
onstrations in Venezuela, as well as other complaints con-
cerning acts of censorship against media outlets, attacks 
on organizations that defend human rights, and acts of 
alleged political persecution’’; and 
Whereas as a member of the Organization of American 
States and signatory to the Inter-American Democratic 
Charter, the Government of Venezuela has agreed to 
abide by the principles of constitutional, representative 
democracy, which include free and fair elections and ad-
herence to its own constitution: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) supports the people of Venezuela in their pur-
suit of freedom of expression and freedom of assembly 
to promote democratic principles in Venezuela; 
(2) deplores acts which constitute a disregard for 
the rule of law, the inexcusable violence perpetrated 
against opposition leaders and protesters in Venezuela, 
and the growing efforts to use politically motivated 
criminal charges to intimidate the country’s political op-
position;
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(3) urges responsible nations throughout the inter-
national community to stand in solidarity with the peo-
ple of Venezuela and to actively encourage a process of 
dialogue between the Government of Venezuela and the 
political opposition to end the violence; 
(4) urges the United States Department of State to 
work in concert with other countries in the Americas to 
take meaningful steps to ensure that basic fundamental 
freedoms in Venezuela are in accordance with the Inter- 
American Democratic Charter and to strengthen the 
ability of the Organization of American States (OAS) to 
respond to the erosion of democratic norms and institu-
tions in Venezuela; 
(5) urges the Organization of American States and 
its Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to uti-
lize its good offices and all mechanisms at its disposal 
to seek the most effective way to expeditiously end the 
violence in Venezuela in accordance with the Inter-Amer-
ican Democratic Charter; and 
(6) supports efforts by international and multilat-
eral organizations to urge the Venezuelan Government to 
adopt measures to guarantee the rights to life, humane 
treatment, and security, and the political freedoms of as-
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sembly, association, and expression to all of the people 
of Venezuela. 
Attest: 
Clerk.