IV 
110TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. CON. RES. 50 
Calling on the Government of Venezuela to uphold the human rights and 
civil liberties of the people of Venezuela. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 31, 2007 
Mr. FORTUN˜O (for himself, Mr. MCCOTTER, Mr. MACK, Mr. ROGERS of 
Michigan, Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida, Mr. MARIO DIAZ- 
BALART of Florida, Mr. LINDER, Mr. PEARCE, Mr. TANCREDO, Mr. 
BROWN of South Carolina, Mr. SOUDER, and Mr. FORTENBERRY) sub-
mitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the 
Committee on Foreign Affairs 
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 
Calling on the Government of Venezuela to uphold the 
human rights and civil liberties of the people of Venezuela. 
Whereas the United States has traditionally had close rela-
tions with Venezuela; 
Whereas Venezuela has undergone enormous political 
changes, including a new constitution, a new unicameral 
legislature, and even a new name for the country since 
President Hugo Cha´vez was elected to power; 
Whereas the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights 
(IACHR) has expressed concern that some of these 
changes have resulted in a growing concentration of 
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power in the executive branch of government with a tend-
ency to militarize public administration; 
Whereas human rights organizations, such as Human Rights 
Watch, have expressed concerns about the independence 
of Venezuela’s judiciary with respect to a May 2004 court 
packing law that expanded the Supreme Court from 20 
to 32 justices; 
Whereas the Venezuelan Government enacted legislation in 
2004 placing restrictions on broadcast content affecting 
the full exercise of freedom of expression; 
Whereas human rights organizations assert that freedom of 
expression remains at threat in Venezuela because of 
laws that have created onerous restrictions on the media, 
subjecting them to heavy fines, temporary closures, and 
threats to suspend their operating licenses; 
Whereas President Cha´vez announced in early January 2007 
that the license of Radio Caracas Television (RCTV), one 
of Venezuela’s oldest television stations, would not be re-
newed; 
Whereas the Secretary General of the Organization of Amer-
ican States (OAS), Jose´ Miguel Insulza, expressed con-
cern about Venezuela’s decision to suspend RCTV’s 
broadcasting license, calling for the decision to be re-
versed and maintaining that the action gives the appear-
ance of a form of censorship against freedom of expres-
sion and serves as a warning against other news organi-
zations; 
Whereas the Venezuelan Government amended Venezuela’s 
criminal code in 2005 by broadening laws that punish 
disrespect for government authorities; 
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Whereas the Venezuelan Government has investigated and 
prosecuted several opposition leaders and brought 
charges against others; 
Whereas the Venezuelan Government continues to try civil-
ians in military court, contrary to the appeals of the 
IACHR; and 
Whereas there is ongoing concern by international human 
rights organizations regarding the deterioration of demo-
cratic institutions, threats and intimidations of human 
rights defenders, illegal wiretapping of private citizens, 
intimidation of political opponents, and extrajudicial exe-
cutions of criminal suspects by police: Now, therefore, be 
it 
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
concurring), That Congress— 
(1) expresses its support for the people of Ven-
ezuela in their daily struggle for freedom, respect for 
human rights and civil liberties, democratic self-gov-
ernance, and the establishment of the rule of law; 
(2) calls on the Government of Venezuela to 
abide by its freely undertaken obligations under 
international human rights treaties and international 
humanitarian law to respect and ensure the rights of 
all individuals, irrespective of their political views; 
(3) calls on the Government of Venezuela to put 
an end to all killings, torture, and ill treatment by 
police and military; 
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(4) encourages the Inter-American Commission 
of Human Rights (IACHR) to continue to monitor 
the human rights situation in Venezuela and engage 
with the Government of Venezuela with respect to 
the human rights situation in Venezuela; 
(5) encourages the President and the Secretary 
of State to reach out to democracy and human 
rights activists and to assist them in their efforts; 
(6) urges the adoption and pursuit of these and 
other policies to support political parties, the rule of 
law, civil society, and independent media, and other-
wise promote democratic accountable government in 
Venezuela; and 
(7) expresses support for the Secretary General 
of the Organization of American States (OAS) for 
his continued attention and support for freedom of 
expression in Venezuela. 
Æ 
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