RENACER Act
Bill: S.1064 | Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert (D-NJ)
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
Reinforcing Nicaragua's Adherence to Conditions for Electoral Reform Act of 2021 or the RENACER Act
This bill establishes measures to monitor, report on, and address corruption and human rights abuses in Nicaragua.
Specifically, the bill directs U.S. leadership at international financial institutions to advocate for increased oversight with respect to any loan or financial or technical assistance for projects in Nicaragua.
The Department of State and the Department of the Treasury must establish a coordinated strategy to align diplomatic engagement with the implementation of targeted sanctions to facilitate free, fair, and transparent elections in Nicaragua. Pursuant to this strategy, the President must prioritize implementing targeted sanctions on persons obstructing the establishment of conditions necessary for such elections. The State Department must also engage in diplomatic efforts with partner countries to impose targeted sanctions on such individuals.
The bill adds Nicaragua to a list of countries whose citizens are subject to visa-blocking sanctions for knowingly engaging in (1) actions undermining democratic processes or institutions, or (2) significant corruption or obstruction of investigations into such corruption.
Further, the bill requires the State Department to report on
In addition, the State Department must report on obstacles faced by Nicaraguans to obtaining accurate, objective, and comprehensive news and information about domestic and international affairs and submit a strategy for strengthening independent broadcasting, information distribution, and media platforms in Nicaragua.

[117th Congress Public Law 54]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



[[Page 135 STAT. 413]]

Public Law 117-54
117th Congress

                                 An Act


 
  To advance the strategic alignment of United States diplomatic tools 
   toward the realization of free, fair, and transparent elections in 
Nicaragua and to reaffirm the commitment of the United States to protect 
 the fundamental freedoms and human rights of the people of Nicaragua, 
      and for other purposes. <<NOTE: Nov. 10, 2021 -  [S. 1064]>> 

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE: Reinforcing 
Nicaragua's Adherence to Conditions for Electoral Reform Act of 2021.>> 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) <<NOTE: 50 USC 1701 note.>>  Short Title.--This Act may be cited 
as the ``Reinforcing Nicaragua's Adherence to Conditions for Electoral 
Reform Act of 2021'' or the ``RENACER Act''.

    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Sense of Congress.
Sec. 3. Review of participation of Nicaragua in Dominican Republic-
           Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement.
Sec. 4. Restrictions on international financial institutions relating to 
           Nicaragua.
Sec. 5. Targeted sanctions to advance democratic elections.
Sec. 6. Developing and implementing a coordinated sanctions strategy 
           with diplomatic partners.
Sec. 7. Inclusion of Nicaragua in list of countries subject to certain 
           sanctions relating to corruption.
Sec. 8. Classified report on the involvement of Ortega family members 
           and Nicaraguan government officials in corruption.
Sec. 9. Classified report on the activities of the Russian Federation in 
           Nicaragua.
Sec. 10. Report on certain purchases by and agreements entered into by 
           Government of Nicaragua relating to military or intelligence 
           sector of Nicaragua.
Sec. 11. Report on human rights abuses in Nicaragua.
Sec. 12. Supporting independent news media and freedom of information in 
           Nicaragua.
Sec. 13. Amendment to short title of Public Law 115-335.
Sec. 14. Definition.

SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

    It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) ongoing efforts by the government of President Daniel 
        Ortega in Nicaragua to suppress the voice and actions of 
        political opponents through intimidation and unlawful 
        detainment, civil society, and independent news media violate 
        the fundamental freedoms and basic human rights of the people of 
        Nicaragua;
            (2) <<NOTE: Cristiana Chamorro. Arturo Cruz. Felix 
        Maradiaga. Juan Sebastian Chamorro.>>  Congress unequivocally 
        condemns the politically motivated and unlawful detention of 
        presidential candidates Cristiana Chamorro, Arturo Cruz, Felix 
        Maradiaga, and Juan Sebastian Chamorro;
            (3) Congress unequivocally condemns the passage of the 
        Foreign Agents Regulation Law, the Special Cybercrimes Law,

[[Page 135 STAT. 414]]

        the Self-Determination Law, and the Consumer Protection Law by 
        the National Assembly of Nicaragua, which represent clear 
        attempts by the Ortega government to curtail the fundamental 
        freedoms and basic human rights of the people of Nicaragua;
            (4) Congress recognizes that free, fair, and transparent 
        elections predicated on robust reform measures and the presence 
        of domestic and international observers represent the best 
        opportunity for the people of Nicaragua to restore democracy and 
        reach a peaceful solution to the political and social crisis in 
        Nicaragua;
            (5) the United States recognizes the right of the people of 
        Nicaragua to freely determine their own political future as 
        vital to ensuring the sustainable restoration of democracy in 
        their country;
            (6) the United States should align the use of diplomatic 
        engagement and all other foreign policy tools, including the use 
        of targeted sanctions, in support of efforts by democratic 
        political actors and civil society in Nicaragua to advance the 
        necessary conditions for free, fair, and transparent elections 
        in Nicaragua;
            (7) the United States, in order to maximize the 
        effectiveness of efforts described in paragraph (6), should--
                    (A) coordinate with diplomatic partners, including 
                the Government of Canada, the European Union, and 
                partners in Latin America and the Caribbean;
                    (B) advance diplomatic initiatives in consultation 
                with the Organization of American States and the United 
                Nations; and
                    (C) thoroughly investigate the assets and holdings 
                of the Nicaraguan Armed Forces in the United States and 
                consider appropriate actions to hold such forces 
                accountable for gross violations of human rights; and
            (8) pursuant to section 6(b) of the Nicaragua Investment 
        Conditionality Act of 2018, the President should waive the 
        application of restrictions under section 4 of that Act and the 
        sanctions under section 5 of that Act if the Secretary of State 
        certifies that the Government of Nicaragua is taking the steps 
        identified in section 6(a) of that Act, including taking steps 
        to ``to hold free and fair elections overseen by credible 
        domestic and international observers''.
SEC. 3. REVIEW OF PARTICIPATION OF NICARAGUA IN DOMINICAN 
                    REPUBLIC-CENTRAL AMERICA-UNITED STATES FREE 
                    TRADE AGREEMENT.

    (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) On November 27, 2018, the President signed Executive 
        Order 13851 (50 U.S.C. 1701 note; relating to blocking property 
        of certain persons contributing to the situation in Nicaragua), 
        which stated that ``the situation in Nicaragua, including the 
        violent response by the Government of Nicaragua to the protests 
        that began on April 18, 2018, and the Ortega regime's systematic 
        dismantling and undermining of democratic institutions and the 
        rule of law, its use of indiscriminate violence and repressive 
        tactics against civilians, as well as its corruption leading to 
        the destabilization of Nicaragua's economy, constitutes an 
        unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and 
        foreign policy of the United States''.

[[Page 135 STAT. 415]]

            (2) Article 21.2 of the Dominican Republic-Central America-
        United States Free Trade Agreement approved by Congress under 
        section 101(a)(1) of the Dominican Republic-Central America-
        United States Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act (19 U.S.C. 
        4011(a)(1)) states, ``Nothing in this Agreement shall be 
        construed . . . to preclude a Party from applying measures that 
        it considers necessary for the fulfillment of its obligations 
        with respect to the maintenance or restoration of international 
        peace or security, or the protection of its own essential 
        security interests.''.

    (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that the 
President should review the continued participation of Nicaragua in the 
Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement if 
the Government of Nicaragua continues to tighten its authoritarian rule 
in an attempt to subvert democratic elections in November 2021 and 
undermine democracy and human rights in Nicaragua.
SEC. 4. RESTRICTIONS ON INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS 
                    RELATING TO NICARAGUA.

    Section 4 of the Nicaragua Investment Conditionality Act of 
2018 <<NOTE: 50 USC 1701 note.>>  is amended--
            (1) by redesignating subsections (a), (b), and (c) as 
        subsections (b), (c), and (d), respectively;
            (2) by inserting before subsection (b), as redesignated by 
        paragraph (1), the following:

    ``(a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that the 
Secretary of the Treasury should take all possible steps, including 
through the full implementation of the exceptions set forth in 
subsection (c), to ensure that the restrictions required under 
subsection (b) do not negatively impact the basic human needs of the 
people of Nicaragua.'';
            (3) in subsection (c), as so redesignated, by striking 
        ``subsection (a)'' and inserting ``subsection (b)''; and
            (4) by striking subsection (d), as so redesignated, and 
        inserting the following:

    ``(d) Increased Oversight.--
            ``(1) In general.--The United States Executive Director at 
        each international financial institution of the World Bank 
        Group, the United States Executive Director at the Inter-
        American Development Bank, and the United States Executive 
        Director at each other international financial institution, 
        including the International Monetary Fund, shall take all 
        practicable steps--
                    ``(A) to increase scrutiny of any loan or financial 
                or technical assistance provided for a project in 
                Nicaragua; and
                    ``(B) to ensure that the loan or assistance is 
                administered through an entity with full technical, 
                administrative, and financial independence from the 
                Government of Nicaragua.
            ``(2) Mechanisms for increased scrutiny.--The United States 
        Executive Director at each international financial institution 
        described in paragraph (1) shall use the voice, vote, and 
        influence of the United States to encourage that institution to 
        increase oversight mechanisms for new and existing loans

[[Page 135 STAT. 416]]

        or financial or technical assistance provided for a project in 
        Nicaragua.

    ``(e) Interagency Consultation.--Before implementing the 
restrictions described in subsection (b), or before exercising an 
exception under subsection (c), the Secretary of the Treasury shall 
consult with the Secretary of State and with the Administrator of the 
United States Agency for International Development to ensure that all 
loans and financial or technical assistance to Nicaragua are consistent 
with United States foreign policy objectives as defined in section 3.
    ``(f) <<NOTE: Coordination.>>  Report.--Not later than 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of the RENACER Act, and annually 
thereafter until the termination date specified in section 10, the 
Secretary of the Treasury, in coordination with the Secretary of State 
and the Administrator of the United States Agency for International 
Development, shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a 
report on the implementation of this section, which shall include--
            ``(1) <<NOTE: Summary.>>  summary of any loans and financial 
        and technical assistance provided by international financial 
        institutions for projects in Nicaragua;
            ``(2) a description of the implementation of the 
        restrictions described in subsection (b);
            ``(3) <<NOTE: Assessment.>>  an identification of the 
        occasions in which the exceptions under subsection (c) are 
        exercised and an assessment of how the loan or assistance 
        provided with each such exception may address basic human needs 
        or promote democracy in Nicaragua;
            ``(4) a description of the results of the increased 
        oversight conducted under subsection (d); and
            ``(5) a description of international efforts to address the 
        humanitarian needs of the people of Nicaragua.''.
SEC. 5. <<NOTE: 50 USC 1701 note.>>  TARGETED SANCTIONS TO ADVANCE 
                    DEMOCRATIC ELECTIONS.

    (a) Coordinated Strategy.--
            (1) <<NOTE: Consultation.>>  In general.--The Secretary of 
        State and the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with 
        the intelligence community (as defined in section 3 of the 
        National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3003)), shall develop 
        and implement a coordinated strategy to align diplomatic 
        engagement efforts with the implementation of targeted sanctions 
        in order to support efforts to facilitate the necessary 
        conditions for free, fair, and transparent elections in 
        Nicaragua.
            (2) <<NOTE: Deadline. Time period.>>  Briefing required.--
        Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this 
        Act, and every 90 days thereafter until December 31, 2022, the 
        Secretary of State and the Secretary of the Treasury shall brief 
        the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the 
        Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives on 
        steps to be taken by the United States Government to develop and 
        implement the coordinated strategy required by paragraph (1).

    (b) <<NOTE: President.>>  Targeted Sanctions Prioritization.--
            (1) In general.--Pursuant to the coordinated strategy 
        required by subsection (a), the President shall prioritize the 
        implementation of the targeted sanctions required under section 
        5 of the Nicaragua Investment Conditionality Act of 2018.

[[Page 135 STAT. 417]]

            (2) Targets.--In carrying out paragraph (1), the President--
                    (A) <<NOTE: Examination.>>  shall examine whether 
                foreign persons involved in directly or indirectly 
                obstructing the establishment of conditions necessary 
                for the realization of free, fair, and transparent 
                elections in Nicaragua are subject to sanctions under 
                section 5 of the Nicaragua Investment Conditionality Act 
                of 2018; and
                    (B) should, in particular, examine whether the 
                following persons have engaged in conduct subject to 
                such sanctions:
                          (i) Officials in the government of President 
                      Daniel Ortega.
                          (ii) Family members of President Daniel 
                      Ortega.
                          (iii) High-ranking members of the National 
                      Nicaraguan Police.
                          (iv) High-ranking members of the Nicaraguan 
                      Armed Forces.
                          (v) Members of the Supreme Electoral Council 
                      of Nicaragua.
                          (vi) Officials of the Central Bank of 
                      Nicaragua.
                          (vii) Party members and elected officials from 
                      the Sandinista National Liberation Front and their 
                      family members.
                          (viii) Individuals or entities affiliated with 
                      businesses engaged in corrupt financial 
                      transactions with officials in the government of 
                      President Daniel Ortega, his party, or his family.
                          (ix) Individuals identified in the report 
                      required by section 8 as involved in significant 
                      acts of public corruption in Nicaragua.
SEC. 6. <<NOTE: Consultation.>>  DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING A 
                    COORDINATED SANCTIONS STRATEGY WITH DIPLOMATIC 
                    PARTNERS.

    (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) On June 21, 2019, the Government of Canada, pursuant to 
        its Special Economic Measures Act, designated 9 officials of the 
        Government of Nicaragua for the imposition of sanctions in 
        response to gross and systematic human rights violations in 
        Nicaragua.
            (2) On May 4, 2020, the European Union imposed sanctions 
        with respect to 6 officials of the Government of Nicaragua 
        identified as responsible for serious human rights violations 
        and for the repression of civil society and democratic 
        opposition in Nicaragua.
            (3) On October 12, 2020, the European Union extended its 
        authority to impose restrictive measures on ``persons and 
        entities responsible for serious human rights violations or 
        abuses or for the repression of civil society and democratic 
        opposition in Nicaragua, as well as persons and entities whose 
        actions, policies or activities otherwise undermine democracy 
        and the rule of law in Nicaragua, and persons associated with 
        them''.

    (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that the United 
States should encourage the Government of Canada, the European Union and 
governments of members countries of the European Union, and governments 
of countries in Latin America

[[Page 135 STAT. 418]]

and the Caribbean to use targeted sanctions with respect to persons 
involved in human rights violations and the obstruction of free, fair, 
and transparent elections in Nicaragua.
    (c) Coordinating International Sanctions.--The Secretary of State, 
working through the head of the Office of Sanctions Coordination 
established by section 1(h) of the State Department Basic Authorities 
Act of 1956 (22 U.S.C. 2651a(h)), and in consultation with the Secretary 
of the Treasury, shall engage in diplomatic efforts with governments of 
countries that are partners of the United States, including the 
Government of Canada, governments of countries in the European Union, 
and governments of countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, to 
impose targeted sanctions with respect to the persons described in 
section 5(b) in order to advance democratic elections in Nicaragua.
    (d) <<NOTE: Deadline. Time period.>>  Briefing Requirement.--Not 
later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and 
every 90 days thereafter until December 31, 2022, the Secretary of 
State, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, shall brief 
the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on 
Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives on the implementation of 
this section.
SEC. 7. INCLUSION OF NICARAGUA IN LIST OF COUNTRIES SUBJECT TO 
                    CERTAIN SANCTIONS RELATING TO CORRUPTION.

    Section 353 of title III of division FF of the Consolidated 
Appropriations Act, 2021 (Public Law 116-260) <<NOTE: 22 USC 2277a.>>  
is amended--
            (1) in the section heading, by striking ``and honduras'' and 
        inserting ``, honduras, and nicaragua''; and
            (2) by striking ``and Honduras'' each place it appears and 
        inserting ``, Honduras, and Nicaragua''.
SEC. 8. CLASSIFIED REPORT ON THE INVOLVEMENT OF ORTEGA FAMILY 
                    MEMBERS AND NICARAGUAN GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS IN 
                    CORRUPTION.

    (a) <<NOTE: Coordination.>>  Report Required.--Not later than 90 
days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
State, acting through the Bureau of Intelligence and Research of the 
Department of State, and in coordination with the Director of National 
Intelligence, shall submit a classified report to the appropriate 
congressional committees on significant acts of public corruption in 
Nicaragua that--
            (1) involve--
                    (A) the President of Nicaragua, Daniel Ortega;
                    (B) members of the family of Daniel Ortega; and
                    (C) senior officials of the Ortega government, 
                including--
                          (i) members of the Supreme Electoral Council, 
                      the Nicaraguan Armed Forces, and the National 
                      Nicaraguan Police; and
                          (ii) elected officials from the Sandinista 
                      National Liberation Front party;
            (2) pose challenges for United States national security and 
        regional stability;
            (3) impede the realization of free, fair, and transparent 
        elections in Nicaragua; and
            (4) violate the fundamental freedoms of civil society and 
        political opponents in Nicaragua.

[[Page 135 STAT. 419]]

    (b) <<NOTE: Definition.>>  Appropriate Congressional Committees.--In 
this section, the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
            (1) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Select 
        Committee on Intelligence of the Senate; and
            (2) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Permanent 
        Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of 
        Representatives.
SEC. 9. CLASSIFIED REPORT ON THE ACTIVITIES OF THE RUSSIAN 
                    FEDERATION IN NICARAGUA.

    (a) <<NOTE: Coordination.>>  Report Required.--Not later than 90 
days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
State, acting through the Bureau of Intelligence and Research of the 
Department of State, and in coordination with the Director of National 
Intelligence, shall submit a classified report to the appropriate 
congressional committees on activities of the Government of the Russian 
Federation in Nicaragua, including--
            (1) cooperation between Russian and Nicaraguan military 
        personnel, intelligence services, security forces, and law 
        enforcement, and private Russian security contractors;
            (2) cooperation related to telecommunications and satellite 
        navigation;
            (3) other political and economic cooperation, including with 
        respect to banking, disinformation, and election interference; 
        and
            (4) the threats and risks that such activities pose to 
        United States national interests and national security.

    (b) <<NOTE: Definition.>>  Appropriate Congressional Committees.--In 
this section, the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
            (1) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Select 
        Committee on Intelligence of the Senate; and
            (2) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Permanent 
        Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of 
        Representatives.
SEC. 10. <<NOTE: Contracts.>>  REPORT ON CERTAIN PURCHASES BY AND 
                      AGREEMENTS ENTERED INTO BY GOVERNMENT OF 
                      NICARAGUA RELATING TO MILITARY OR 
                      INTELLIGENCE SECTOR OF NICARAGUA.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, acting through the Bureau 
of Intelligence and Research of the Department of State, and in 
coordination with the Director of National Intelligence and the Director 
of the Defense Intelligence Agency, shall submit to the Committee on 
Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of 
the House of Representatives a report that includes--
            (1) <<NOTE: Lists.>>  a list of--
                    (A) all equipment, technology, or infrastructure 
                with respect to the military or intelligence sector of 
                Nicaragua purchased, on or after January 1, 2011, by the 
                Government of Nicaragua from an entity identified by the 
                Department of State under section 231(e) of the 
                Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act 
                (22 U.S.C. 9525(e)); and
                    (B) all agreements with respect to the military or 
                intelligence sector of Nicaragua entered into, on or 
                after January 1, 2011, by the Government of Nicaragua 
                with an entity described in subparagraph (A); and

[[Page 135 STAT. 420]]

            (2) a description of and date for each purchase and 
        agreement described in paragraph (1).

    (b) Consideration.--The report required by subsection (a) shall be 
prepared after consideration of the content of the report of the Defense 
Intelligence Agency entitled, ``Russia: Defense Cooperation with Cuba, 
Nicaragua, and Venezuela'' and dated February 4, 2019.
    (c) <<NOTE: Classified information.>>  Form of Report.--The report 
required by subsection (a) shall be submitted in unclassified form but 
may include a classified annex.
SEC. 11. REPORT ON HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN NICARAGUA.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds that, since the June 2018 initiation 
of ``Operation Clean-up'', an effort of the government of Daniel Ortega 
to dismantle barricades constructed throughout Nicaragua during social 
demonstrations in April 2018, the Ortega government has increased its 
abuse of campesinos and members of indigenous communities, including 
arbitrary detentions, torture, and sexual violence as a form of 
intimidation.
    (b) Report Required.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit to the 
appropriate congressional committees a report that documents the 
perpetration of gross human rights violations by the Ortega government 
against the citizens of Nicaragua, including campesinos and indigenous 
communities in the interior of Nicaragua.
    (c) Elements.--The report required by subsection (b) shall--
            (1) include a compilation of human rights violations 
        committed by the Ortega government against the citizens of 
        Nicaragua, with a focus on such violations committed since April 
        2018, including human rights abuses and extrajudicial killings 
        in--
                    (A) the cities of Managua, Carazo, and Masaya 
                between April and June of 2018; and
                    (B) the municipalities of Wiwili, El Cua, San Jose 
                de Bocay, and Santa Maria de Pantasma in the Department 
                of Jinotega, Esquipulas in the Department of Rivas, and 
                Bilwi in the North Caribbean Coast Autonomous Region 
                between 2018 and 2021;
            (2) outline efforts by the Ortega government to intimidate 
        and disrupt the activities of civil society organizations 
        attempting to hold the government accountable for infringing on 
        the fundamental rights and freedoms of the people of Nicaragua; 
        and
            (3) <<NOTE: Recommenda- tions.>>  provide recommendations on 
        how the United States, in collaboration with international 
        partners and Nicaraguan civil society, should leverage bilateral 
        and regional relationships to curtail the gross human rights 
        violations perpetrated by the Ortega government and better 
        support the victims of human rights violations in Nicaragua.

    (d) Appropriate Congressional Committees Defined.--In this section, 
the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
            (1) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate; and
            (2) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of 
        Representatives.

[[Page 135 STAT. 421]]

SEC. 12. SUPPORTING INDEPENDENT NEWS MEDIA AND FREEDOM OF 
                      INFORMATION IN NICARAGUA.

    (a) Report Required.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, the Administrator for the 
United States Agency for International Development, and the Chief 
Executive Officer of the United States Agency for Global Media, shall 
submit to Congress a report that includes--
            (1) <<NOTE: Evaluation.>>  an evaluation of the 
        governmental, political, and technological obstacles faced by 
        the people of Nicaragua in their efforts to obtain accurate, 
        objective, and comprehensive news and information about domestic 
        and international affairs; and
            (2) <<NOTE: Lists.>>  a list of all TV channels, radio 
        stations, online news sites, and other media platforms operating 
        in Nicaragua that are directly or indirectly owned or controlled 
        by President Daniel Ortega, members of the Ortega family, or 
        known allies of the Ortega government.

    (b) Elements.--The report required by subsection (a) shall include--
            (1) <<NOTE: Assessment.>>  an assessment of the extent to 
        which the current level and type of news and related programming 
        and content provided by the Voice of America and other sources 
        is addressing the informational needs of the people of 
        Nicaragua;
            (2) <<NOTE: Recommenda- tions.>>  a description of existing 
        United States efforts to strengthen freedom of the press and 
        freedom of expression in Nicaragua, including recommendations to 
        expand upon those efforts; and
            (3) a strategy for strengthening independent broadcasting, 
        information distribution, and media platforms in Nicaragua.
SEC. 13. AMENDMENT TO SHORT TITLE OF PUBLIC LAW 115-335.

    Section 1(a) of the Nicaragua Human Rights and Anticorruption Act of 
2018 (Public Law 115-335; 50 U.S.C. 1701 note) is amended to read as 
follows:
    ``(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the `Nicaragua 
Investment Conditionality Act of 2018' or the `NICA Act'.''.

[[Page 135 STAT. 422]]

SEC. 14. <<NOTE: 50 USC 1701 note.>>  DEFINITION.

    In this Act, the term ``Nicaragua Investment Conditionality Act of 
2018'' means the Public Law 115-335 (50 U.S.C. 1701 note), as amended by 
section 13.

    Approved November 10, 2021.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--S. 1064:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 167 (2021):
            Nov. 1, considered and passed Senate.
            Nov. 3, considered and passed House.

                                  <all>