Title: Venezuela Humanitarian Relief, Reconstruction, and Rule of Law Act of 2018
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
Venezuela Humanitarian Relief, Reconstruction, and Rule of Law Act of 2018
This bill authorizes various actions in response to economic and political unrest in Venezuela, including the provision of humanitarian aid to migrants who have left Venezuela due to the crisis.

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7245 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






115th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 7245

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 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           December 10, 2018

 Mr. Sires (for himself, Ms. Ros-Lehtinen, Ms. Wasserman Schultz, and 
 Mrs. Torres) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the 
  Judiciary, and Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently 
   determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such 
 provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 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.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Venezuela 
Humanitarian Relief, Reconstruction, and Rule of Law Act of 2018''.
    (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.
               TITLE I--HUMANITARIAN RELIEF FOR VENEZUELA

Sec. 101. Humanitarian assistance to Venezuelans in neighboring 
                            countries.
Sec. 102. Support for efforts at the United Nations on the humanitarian 
                            crisis in Venezuela.
 TITLE II--RESTORING DEMOCRACY AND ADDRESSING THE POLITICAL CRISIS IN 
                               VENEZUELA

Sec. 201. Recognition of Venezuela's democratically elected National 
                            Assembly.
Sec. 202. Advancing a negotiated solution to Venezuela's crisis.
Sec. 203. Support for the Lima Group.
Sec. 204. Accountability for crimes against humanity.
         TITLE III--SUPPORTING THE RECONSTRUCTION OF VENEZUELA

Sec. 301. Engaging international financial institutions to advance the 
                            reconstruction of Venezuela's economy and 
                            energy infrastructure.
Sec. 302. Recovering assets stolen from the Venezuelan people.
            TITLE IV--RESTORING THE RULE OF LAW IN VENEZUELA

Sec. 401. Public information about sanctioned officials.
Sec. 402. Coordinating targeted sanctions with partners in the Western 
                            Hemisphere and the European Union.
Sec. 403. Financial sanctions on Venezuelan government debt.
Sec. 404. Exceptions for humanitarian assistance.
  TITLE V--CRYPTOCURRENCY SANCTIONS AND ENSURING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF 
                        UNITED STATES SANCTIONS

Sec. 501. Sanctions on Venezuela's cryptocurrency and the provision of 
                            related technologies.
Sec. 502. Report on the impact of cryptocurrencies on United States 
                            sanctions.
                         TITLE VI--TERMINATION

Sec. 601. Extension and termination of sanctions against Venezuela.

SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

    It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) Venezuela's electoral event on May 20, 2018--
                    (A) was not legitimate; and
                    (B) did not comply with international standards for 
                a free, fair, and transparent democratic process; and
            (2) senior officials in the de facto government of Nicolas 
        Maduro--
                    (A) have taken continuous steps--
                            (i) to consolidate an authoritarian 
                        government; and
                            (ii) to direct political control over 
                        Venezuela's Supreme Tribunal of Justice, 
                        National Electoral Council, and armed forces;
                    (B) have implemented policies that are directly 
                responsible for--
                            (i) Venezuela's economic and humanitarian 
                        crises; and
                            (ii) the massive outflow of Venezuelan 
                        migrants leaving the country;
                    (C) have used access to food as a tool of political 
                coercion and a source of corruption and have directly 
                profited from corruption in food procurement contracts;
                    (D) have utilized repressive tactics to violate and 
                curtail human rights, political rights, freedom of 
                expression, and freedom of the press, including the 
                arbitrary detention of political prisoners; and
                    (E) have engaged in acts of gross corruption and 
                criminality that have contributed to the absence of the 
                rule of law in Venezuela.

               TITLE I--HUMANITARIAN RELIEF FOR VENEZUELA

SEC. 101. HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO VENEZUELANS IN NEIGHBORING 
              COUNTRIES.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of State, in coordination with the 
Administrator of the United States Agency for International 
Development, shall work through international and nongovernmental 
organizations to provide Venezuelans in neighboring countries with 
humanitarian aid, such as--
            (1) urgently needed health and nutritional assistance, 
        including logistical and technical assistance to hospitals and 
        health centers in affected communities;
            (2) food assistance for vulnerable individuals, including 
        assistance to improve food security for affected communities; 
        and
            (3) hygiene supplies and sanitation services.
    (b) Additional Elements.--The assistance described in subsection 
(a)--
            (1) may be provided--
                    (A) directly to Venezuelans in neighboring 
                countries; or
                    (B) indirectly through the communities in which the 
                Venezuelans reside; and
            (2) should focus on the most vulnerable Venezuelans in 
        neighboring countries.
    (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--
            (1) In general.--There is authorized to be appropriated to 
        the Secretary of State $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2019 to 
        carry out the activities set forth in subsection (a) in 
        accordance with this section.
            (2) Notification requirement.--
                    (A) In general.--Except as provided under 
                subparagraph (B), amounts appropriated or otherwise 
                made available pursuant to paragraph (1) may not be 
                obligated until 15 days after the date on which the 
                President provides notice to the appropriate 
                congressional committees of the intent to obligate such 
                funds.
                    (B) Waiver.--
                            (i) In general.--The Secretary of State may 
                        waive the requirement under subparagraph (A) if 
                        the Secretary determines that such requirement 
                        would pose a substantial risk to human health 
                        or welfare.
                            (ii) Notification requirement.--If a waiver 
                        is invoked under clause (i), the President 
                        shall notify the appropriate congressional 
                        committees of the intention to obligate funds 
                        under this section as early as practicable, but 
                        not later than 3 days after taking the action 
                        to which such notification requirement was 
                        applicable in the context of the circumstances 
                        necessitating such waiver.
                    (C) Defined term.--In this subparagraph, the term 
                ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
                            (i) the Committee on Foreign Relations of 
                        the Senate;
                            (ii) the Committee on Appropriations of the 
                        Senate;
                            (iii) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of 
                        the House of Representatives; and
                            (iv) the Committee on Appropriations of the 
                        House of Representatives.

SEC. 102. SUPPORT FOR EFFORTS AT THE UNITED NATIONS ON THE HUMANITARIAN 
              CRISIS IN VENEZUELA.

    (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that the United 
Nations humanitarian agencies, including the Office for the 
Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the World Health Organization, 
the Pan American Health Organization, the Food and Agriculture 
Organization, UNICEF, and the United Nations High Commissioner for 
Refugees, should conduct and publish independent assessments 
regarding--
            (1) the extent and impact of the shortages of food and 
        medicine in Venezuela; and
            (2) the efforts needed to resolve such shortages.
    (b) Initial Efforts.--The President shall instruct the Permanent 
Representative of the United States to the United Nations to use the 
voice and vote of the United States in the United Nations Security 
Council to secure the necessary votes--
            (1) to place the humanitarian and political crisis in 
        Venezuela on the United Nations Security Council's Programme of 
        Work; and
            (2) to secure a Presidential Statement from the President 
        of the United Nations Security Council urging the Government of 
        Venezuela--
                    (A) to allow the delivery of humanitarian relief; 
                and
                    (B) to lift bureaucratic impediments or any other 
                obstacles preventing independent nongovernmental 
                organizations from providing the proper assistance to 
                the people of Venezuela without any interference by the 
                Government of Venezuela.
    (c) United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator.--The President shall 
instruct the Permanent Representative to the United Nations to use the 
voice and influence of the United States to advance the appointment of 
a United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator for Venezuela to lead and 
coordinate the efforts of humanitarian organizations in a manner that 
contributes to Venezuela's long-term recovery.
    (d) Additional Efforts.--
            (1) In general.--If the Government of Venezuela refuses to 
        allow the delivery of humanitarian relief and to lift 
        bureaucratic impediments and any other obstacles described in 
        subsection (b)(2)(B), the President, beginning not later than 
        30 days after the conclusion of the efforts of the United 
        Nations described in such subsection, shall instruct the 
        Permanent Representative of the United States to the United 
        Nations to use the voice and vote of the United States to 
        secure the adoption of a resolution described in paragraph (2).
            (2) Resolution described.--The resolution described in this 
        paragraph is a Resolution of the United Nations Security 
        Council that--
                    (A) requires the Government of Venezuela to 
                promptly allow safe and unhindered access for 
                humanitarian agencies and their implementing partners, 
                including possible support from neighboring countries; 
                and
                    (B) calls on the Government of Venezuela--
                            (i) to allow the delivery of food and 
                        medicine to the people of Venezuela;
                            (ii) to end human rights violations against 
                        the people of Venezuela;
                            (iii) to agree to free, fair, and 
                        transparent elections with credible 
                        international observers;
                            (iv) to cease violence against the people 
                        of Venezuela; and
                            (v) to release all political prisoners held 
                        by the Government of Venezuela.

 TITLE II--RESTORING DEMOCRACY AND ADDRESSING THE POLITICAL CRISIS IN 
                               VENEZUELA

SEC. 201. RECOGNITION OF VENEZUELA'S DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED NATIONAL 
              ASSEMBLY.

    (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) Venezuela's unicameral National Assembly convened on 
        January 6, 2016, following democratic elections that were held 
        on December 6, 2015.
            (2) Venezuela's National Constituent Assembly convened on 
        August 4, 2017, in the aftermath of an election on July 30, 
        2017, which was characterized by widespread fraud and, as a 
        result of administrative processes, failed to comply with the 
        Constitution of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
    (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that actions 
taken by the Government of Venezuela that require legislative approval, 
ratification, or concurrence, including the provision or refinancing of 
debts, should only be recognized as legitimate by the United States and 
the international community if such legislative actions are performed 
by the democratically elected National Assembly of the Bolivarian 
Republic of Venezuela.
    (c) Policy.--It is the policy of the United States--
            (1) to recognize the democratically elected National 
        Assembly of Venezuela as the only legitimate national 
        legislative body in Venezuela; and
            (2) not to recognize Venezuela's National Constituent 
        Assembly as a legitimate legislative body.

SEC. 202. ADVANCING A NEGOTIATED SOLUTION TO VENEZUELA'S CRISIS.

    (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) direct, credible negotiations between the Government of 
        Venezuela and political opposition, which include 
        democratically elected deputies of the National Assembly of the 
        Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, are supported by stakeholders 
        in the international diplomatic community, and include the 
        input and interests of Venezuelan civil society, represent the 
        best opportunity to reach a solution to the Venezuelan crisis 
        that includes--
                    (A) restoring democracy and the rule of law;
                    (B) freeing political prisoners;
                    (C) facilitating the delivery of humanitarian aid; 
                and
                    (D) establishing conditions for free and fair 
                democratic elections;
            (2) negotiations between the Government of Venezuela and 
        political opposition that commenced in October 2017, and were 
        supported by the Governments of Mexico, Chile, Bolivia, and 
        Nicaragua, did not result in an agreement because the 
        Government of Venezuela failed to credibly participate in the 
        process; and
            (3) negotiations between the Government of Venezuela and 
        political opposition that commenced in October 2016, and were 
        supported by the Vatican, did not result in an agreement 
        because the Government of Venezuela failed to credibly 
        participate in the process.
    (b) Policy.--It is the policy of the United States to support 
diplomatic engagement in order to advance a negotiated solution to 
Venezuela's political, economic, and humanitarian crisis that is 
described in subsection (a)(1).

SEC. 203. SUPPORT FOR THE LIMA GROUP.

    (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) The Lima Group is a diplomatic bloc whose members 
        include Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, 
        Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, 
        and Saint Lucia.
            (2) The Lima Group--
                    (A) has condemned the rupture of the democratic 
                order in Venezuela;
                    (B) has reaffirmed the authority of the 
                democratically elected National Assembly of Venezuela;
                    (C) has rejected Venezuela's National Constituent 
                Assembly;
                    (D) has called on the Government of Venezuela to 
                accept humanitarian assistance in order to address the 
                country's growing economic crisis; and
                    (E) has stated that it does not recognize the 
                legitimacy of Venezuela's May 20, 2018, presidential 
                election as it did not comply with international 
                standards for a democratic, free, fair, and transparent 
                process.
    (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that the 
Secretary of State should conduct diplomatic engagement in support of 
efforts by the Lima Group to restore democracy and the rule of law 
Venezuela and facilitate the delivery of humanitarian assistance for 
the Venezuelan people.

SEC. 204. ACCOUNTABILITY FOR CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY.

    (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) On July 25, 2017, the Secretary General of the 
        Organization of American States stated ``the systematic attack 
        against the civilian population [of Venezuela] includes 
        murders, imprisonment and torture, and it is evident in the 
        eyes of the international community that we are in the presence 
        of crimes against humanity.''.
            (2) On September 11, 2017, the United Nations High 
        Commissioner for Human Rights stated that Venezuelan security 
        forces may have committed crimes against humanity against 
        protesters and called for a credible international 
        investigation.
            (3) A November 29, 2017, report by Human Rights Watch 
        documented that Venezuelan security forces had used extreme 
        and, at times, lethal forces against protesters and, once 
        detained, subjected them to abuses ranging from severe beatings 
        to torture involving electric shocks, asphyxiation, and other 
        techniques.
            (4) On February 8, 2018, the Prosecutor of the 
        International Criminal Court opened a preliminary examination 
        of the situation in Venezuela as it relates to Venezuelan 
        security forces using excessive force against civilians and the 
        political opposition.
            (5) On May 29, 2018, a panel of independent international 
        experts convened by the Secretary General of the Organization 
        of American States found that ``there are reasonable grounds 
        that satisfy the standard of proof required by Article 53 of 
        the Rome Statute for considering that acts to which the 
        civilian population of Venezuela was subjected [. . .] 
        constitute crimes against humanity''.
    (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that the 
Secretary of State should conduct robust diplomatic engagement in 
support of efforts in Venezuela, and on the part of the international 
community, to ensure accountability for possible crimes against 
humanity and other violations of international humanitarian law and 
violations and abuses of human rights.
    (c) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit a report to 
Congress that--
            (1) evaluates the degree to which the Government of 
        Venezuela and its officials, including members of the 
        Venezuelan security force, have engaged in actions that 
        constitute crimes against humanity and violations of 
        international humanitarian law; and
            (2) provides options for holding accountable the 
        perpetrators identified under paragraph (1).

         TITLE III--SUPPORTING THE RECONSTRUCTION OF VENEZUELA

SEC. 301. ENGAGING INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS TO ADVANCE THE 
              RECONSTRUCTION OF VENEZUELA'S ECONOMY AND ENERGY 
              INFRASTRUCTURE.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Treasury, in consultation with 
the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Energy, should work through 
the United States Executive Directors to the International Monetary 
Fund and the Multilateral Development Banks to create a framework for 
the economic reconstruction of Venezuela, contingent upon the 
restoration of democracy and the rule of law in the country.
    (b) Additional Elements.--The framework created under subsection 
(a) should include policy proposals--
            (1) to provide Venezuelans with humanitarian assistance, 
        poverty alleviation, and a social safety net;
            (2) to advance debt restructuring and debt sustainability 
        measures;
            (3) to restore the production and efficient management of 
        Venezuela's oil industry, including rebuilding energy 
        infrastructure;
            (4) to eliminate price controls and market distorting 
        subsidies in the Venezuelan economy; and
            (5) to address hyperinflation in Venezuela.
    (c) Consultation.--In creating the framework under subsection (a), 
the Secretary of Treasury, the Secretary of State, and the Secretary of 
Energy shall consult with relevant stakeholders in the humanitarian, 
financial and energy sectors.
    (d) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that any effort 
to conduct debt restructuring should--
            (1) include discussions with China, which is Venezuela's 
        biggest creditor; and
            (2) appropriately account for China's and Russia's high-
        risk lending to Venezuela.
    (e) Certification.--The Secretary of Treasury may not support 
lending or financing from the International Monetary Fund and the 
Multilateral Development Banks until the Secretary of State submits a 
report to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and 
Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives certifying 
that the Government of Venezuela is committed to--
            (1) restoring democracy and the rule of law;
            (2) freeing political prisoners;
            (3) facilitating the delivery of humanitarian aid; and
            (4) establishing conditions for free and fair democratic 
        elections.
    (f) Briefings.--Upon a request from the Committee on Foreign 
Relations of the Senate, the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House 
of Representatives, the Committee on Finance of the Senate, or the 
Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives, the 
Secretary of Treasury shall brief the requesting committee on the 
progress made in implementing the framework created under subsection 
(a).

SEC. 302. RECOVERING ASSETS STOLEN FROM THE VENEZUELAN PEOPLE.

    (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) Venezuela ranked 169th out of 180 countries in 
        Transparency International's Corruption Perception Index 2017.
            (2) In March 2016, the International Center for Asset 
        Recovery at the Basel Institute on Governance in Switzerland 
        estimated that approximately $350,000,000,000 in public funding 
        had been lost in Venezuela as the result of corruption, fraud, 
        and graft.
            (3) In March 2015, the Department of the Treasury's 
        Financial Crimes Enforcement Network determined that 
        approximately $2,000,000,000 had been siphoned from Venezuela's 
        public oil company, Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A., in 
        conjunction with its designation of the Banca Privada d'Andorra 
        as a Foreign Financial Institution of Primary Money Laundering 
        Concern.
    (b) In General.--The Secretary of State, in coordination with the 
Secretary of the Treasury and the Attorney General, shall advance a 
coordinated international effort--
            (1) to carry out special financial investigations to 
        identify and track assets taken from the people and 
        institutions of Venezuela through theft, corruption, money 
        laundering, or other illicit means; and
            (2) work with foreign governments--
                    (A) to share financial investigations intelligence, 
                as appropriate;
                    (B) to block the assets identified pursuant to 
                paragraph (1); and
                    (C) to advance necessary civil forfeiture 
                litigation, including providing technical assistance to 
                help governments establish the necessary legal 
                framework to carry out asset forfeitures.
    (c) Additional Elements.--The coordinated international effort 
described in subsection (b) shall--
            (1) include input from--
                    (A) the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the 
                Department of the Treasury;
                    (B) the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network of the 
                Department of the Treasury; and
                    (C) the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section 
                of the Department of Justice;
            (2) identify appropriate steps to advance necessary civil 
        forfeiture litigation in the United States;
            (3) include an assessment of whether the United States or 
        another member of the international community should establish 
        a managed fund to hold the assets identified pursuant to 
        subsection (b)(1) that could be returned to a future democratic 
        government in Venezuela; and
            (4) include recommendations for new legislative and 
        regulatory measures in the United States that would be needed 
        to establish and manage the fund described in paragraph (3).
    (d) Strategy Requirement.--Not later than 180 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit a 
strategy for carrying out the activities described in subsection (b) 
to--
            (1) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate;
            (2) the Committee on Finance of the Senate;
            (3) the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate;
            (4) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of 
        Representatives;
            (5) the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of 
        Representatives; and
            (6) the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of 
        Representatives.
    (e) Briefings.--Upon a request from 1 of the congressional 
committees listed in subsection (d), the Secretary of State, the 
Secretary of the Treasury, or the Attorney General shall brief the 
requesting committee on the progress made in implementing the effort 
described in subsection (b).

            TITLE IV--RESTORING THE RULE OF LAW IN VENEZUELA

SEC. 401. PUBLIC INFORMATION ABOUT SANCTIONED OFFICIALS.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, and every 180 days thereafter, except as 
provided in subsection (c), the Secretary of Treasury, in consultation 
with the Secretary of State, shall submit a report to Congress that 
describes the total assessed value of blocked assets of Venezuelans 
designated under sanctions authorized under--
            (1) the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act (title 
        VIII of Public Law 106-120; 21 U.S.C. 1901 et seq.);
            (2) the Venezuela Defense of Human Rights and Civil Society 
        Act of 2014 (Public Law 113-278); or
            (3) Executive Order 13692 (50 U.S.C. 1701 note).
    (b) Additional Elements.--Reports submitted under subsection (a) 
should provide descriptions of specific cases that are most 
representative of the endemic corruption and illicit financial 
activities occurring in Venezuela.
    (c) Subsequent Reports.--The Secretary of Treasury is not required 
to submit an updated report to Congress under subsection (a) unless, 
since the submission of the preceding report--
            (1) there has been meaningful change in the value of 
        blocked assets; or
            (2) additional individuals have been targeted for sanctions 
        under the authorities listed in subsection (a).
    (d) Briefings.--If the Secretary of Treasury exercises the 
exception described in subsection (c), the Secretary of the Treasury, 
or designee, shall brief Congress on--
            (1) the decision to exercise the exception; and
            (2) information related to the value of blocked assets 
        described in subsection (a).
    (e) Form.--Reports required under this section shall be submitted 
in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex.

SEC. 402. COORDINATING TARGETED SANCTIONS WITH PARTNERS IN THE WESTERN 
              HEMISPHERE AND THE EUROPEAN UNION.

    (a) Strengthening Sanctions Capacity in Latin America and the 
Caribbean.--The Secretary of State, working through the Assistant 
Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs and the Assistant 
Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement 
Affairs, and in coordination with the Secretary of the Treasury, shall 
provide technical assistance to partner governments in Latin America 
and the Caribbean to assist such governments in establishing the 
legislative and regulatory frameworks needed to impose targeted 
sanctions on Venezuelan officials who--
            (1) are responsible for human rights abuses;
            (2) have engaged in public corruption; or
            (3) are undermining democratic institutions and processes 
        in Venezuela.
    (b) Coordinating International Sanctions.--The Secretary of State 
shall engage in diplomatic efforts with partner governments, including 
the Government of Canada, governments in the European Union, and 
governments in Latin America and the Caribbean, to impose targeted 
sanctions on Venezuelan officials described in subsection (a).
    (c) Strategy Requirement.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit a 
strategy for carrying out the activities described in subsection (a) 
to--
            (1) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate;
            (2) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate;
            (3) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of 
        Representatives; and
            (4) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of 
        Representatives.
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--
            (1) In general.--There is authorized to be appropriated, to 
        the International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement 
        account, $3,000,000 for fiscal year 2019 to carry out the 
        activities set forth in subsection (a) in accordance with this 
        section.
            (2) Notification requirement.--
                    (A) In general.--Except as provided under 
                subparagraph (B), amounts appropriated or otherwise 
                made available pursuant to paragraph (1) may not be 
                obligated until 15 days after the date on which the 
                President provides notice to the committees listed in 
                subsection (c) of intent to obligate such funds.
                    (B) Waiver.--
                            (i) In general.--The Secretary of State may 
                        waive the requirement under subparagraph (A) if 
                        the Secretary of State determines that such 
                        waiver is in the national interest of the 
                        United States.
                            (ii) Notification requirement.--If a waiver 
                        is invoked under clause (i), the President 
                        shall notify the committees listed in 
                        subsection (c) of the intention to obligate 
                        funds under this section as early as 
                        practicable, but not later than 3 days after 
                        taking the action to which such notification 
                        requirement was applicable in the context of 
                        the circumstances necessitating such waiver.
    (e) Transfer Authority.--The Assistant Secretary of State for 
International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs may transfer 
funding to the Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business 
Affairs, as necessary, to implement the strategy described in 
subsection (c).
    (f) Reporting Requirement.--Not later than 180 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary of 
State, in consultation with the Secretary of Treasury, shall brief the 
Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate, the Committee on Banking, 
Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate, the Committee on Foreign 
Affairs of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Financial 
Services of the House of Representatives that provides an assessment of 
the efforts to strengthen sanctions capabilities and coordinate 
international sanctions in accordance with this section.

SEC. 403. FINANCIAL SANCTIONS ON VENEZUELAN GOVERNMENT DEBT.

    (a) Finding.--Executive Order 13808 (82 Fed. Reg. 41155), which was 
signed on August 24, 2017, established sanctions against the Government 
of Venezuela's ability to issue public debt.
    (b) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Entity.--The term ``entity'' means a partnership, 
        association, trust, joint venture, corporation, group, 
        subgroup, or other organization.
            (2) Government of venezuela.--The term ``Government of 
        Venezuela'' means the Government of Venezuela, any political 
        subdivision, agency, or instrumentality of such government, 
        including the Central Bank of Venezuela and Petroleos de 
        Venezuela, S.A., and any person owned or controlled by, or 
        acting for or on behalf of, such government.
            (3) Person.--The term ``person'' means an individual or 
        entity.
            (4) United states person.--The term ``United States 
        person'' means any--
                    (A) United States citizen;
                    (B) alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence 
                to the United States;
                    (C) entity organized under the laws of the United 
                States or any jurisdiction within the United States 
                (including a foreign branch of any such entity); and
                    (D) any person physically located in the United 
                States.
    (c) In General.--The President may prohibit, in the United States 
or by a United States person--
            (1) any transaction related to, provision of financing for, 
        or other dealing in--
                    (A) debt instruments with a maturity of greater 
                than 90 days issued by Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A., on 
                or after the date of the enactment of this Act;
                    (B) debt instruments with a maturity of greater 
                than 30 days or equity issued by the Government of 
                Venezuela on or after the date of the enactment of this 
                Act, excluding debt instruments issued by Petroleos de 
                Venezuela, S.A., that are not covered under 
                subparagraph (A);
                    (C) bonds issued by the Government of Venezuela 
                before the date of the enactment of this Act; or
                    (D) dividend payments or other distributions of 
                profits to the Government of Venezuela from any entity 
                owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by the 
                Government of Venezuela;
            (2) the direct or indirect purchase of securities from the 
        Government of Venezuela, except for--
                    (A) securities qualifying as debt instruments 
                issued by Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A., on or after the 
                date of the enactment of this Act that are not 
                described in paragraph (1)(A); and
                    (B) securities qualifying as debt instruments 
                issued by the Government of Venezuela on or after the 
                date of the enactment of this Act that are not 
                described in paragraph (1)(B);
            (3) any transaction that evades or avoids, has the purpose 
        of evading or avoiding, causes a violation of, or attempts to 
        violate a prohibition under paragraph (1) or (2); and
            (4) any conspiracy to violate a prohibition under paragraph 
        (1), (2), or (3).
    (d) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that the 
President should waive the prohibitions described in subsection (c) if 
the related debt instruments, bonds, or securities have been approved 
or ratified by the democratically elected National Assembly of the 
Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
    (e) Implementation; Penalties.--
            (1) Implementation.--The President may exercise all 
        authorities described in sections 203 and 205 of the 
        International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1702 and 
        1704) to carry out this section.
            (2) Penalties.--A person that violates, attempts to 
        violate, conspires to violate, or causes a violation of this 
        section or any regulation, license, or order issued to carry 
        out this section shall be subject to the penalties set forth in 
        subsections (b) and (c) of section 206 of the International 
        Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1705) to the same 
        extent as a person that commits an unlawful act described in 
        subsection (a) of that section.

SEC. 404. EXCEPTIONS FOR HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Agricultural commodity.--The term ``agricultural 
        commodity'' has the meaning given that term in section 102 of 
        the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 (7 U.S.C. 5602).
            (2) Good.--The term ``good'' has the meaning given that 
        term in section 16 of the Export Administration Act of 1979 (50 
        U.S.C. 4618) (as continued in effect pursuant to the 
        International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et 
        seq.)).
            (3) Medical device.--The term ``medical device'' has the 
        meaning given the term ``device'' in section 201 of the Federal 
        Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 321).
            (4) Medicine.--The term ``medicine'' has the meaning given 
        the term ``drug'' in section 201 of the Federal Food, Drug, and 
        Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 321).
    (b) In General.--The conduct or facilitation of a transaction for 
the sale of agricultural commodities, food, medicine, or medical 
devices to Venezuela or for the provision of humanitarian assistance to 
the people of Venezuela, including engaging in a financial transaction 
relating to humanitarian assistance or for humanitarian purposes or 
transporting goods or services that are necessary to carry out 
operations relating to humanitarian assistance or humanitarian 
purposes, regardless of whether the transactions or provision of 
humanitarian assistance originate in, or have a connection to, the 
United States, shall be exempt from sanctions described in sections 
402, 405, 406, and 501 of this Act, the Venezuela Defense of Human 
Rights and Civil Society Act of 2014 (Public Law 113-278); and 
Executive Orders 13692 (50 U.S.C. 1701 note), 13808, 13827, and 13835.
    (c) Implementation.--In carrying out this Act, the President may 
exercise all authorities provided under sections 203 and 205 of the 
International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1702 and 1704).
    (d) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this Act may be construed to 
limit the authority of the President under the International Emergency 
Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.).

  TITLE V--CRYPTOCURRENCY SANCTIONS AND ENSURING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF 
                        UNITED STATES SANCTIONS

SEC. 501. SANCTIONS ON VENEZUELA'S CRYPTOCURRENCY AND THE PROVISION OF 
              RELATED TECHNOLOGIES.

    (a) Finding.--Executive Order 13827 (83 Fed. Reg. 12469), which was 
signed on March 19, 2018, established sanctions against the Government 
of Venezuela's ability to issue a digital currency in an effort to 
circumvent United States sanctions.
    (b) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Entity.--The term ``entity'' means a partnership, 
        association, trust, joint venture, corporation, group, 
        subgroup, or other organization.
            (2) Government of venezuela.--The term ``Government of 
        Venezuela'' means the Government of Venezuela, any political 
        subdivision, agency, or instrumentality of such government, 
        including the Central Bank of Venezuela and Petroleos de 
        Venezuela, S.A., and any person owned or controlled by, or 
        acting for or on behalf of, such government.
            (3) Person.--The term ``person'' means an individual or 
        entity.
            (4) United states person.--The term ``United States 
        person'' means any--
                    (A) United States citizen;
                    (B) alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence 
                to the United States;
                    (C) entity organized under the laws of the United 
                States or any jurisdiction within the United States 
                (including a foreign branch of any such entity); and
                    (D) any person physically located in the United 
                States.
    (c) Prohibition of Certain Transactions.--
            (1) In general.--All transactions by a United States person 
        or within the United States that relate to, provide financing 
        for, provide software for, or otherwise deal in any digital 
        currency, digital coin, or digital token, that was issued by, 
        for, or on behalf of the Government of Venezuela are prohibited 
        beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act.
            (2) Applicability.--The prohibitions under paragraph (1) 
        shall apply to the extent provided by statutes, or in 
        regulations, orders, directives, or licenses that may be issued 
        pursuant to this Act, and notwithstanding any contract entered 
        into or any license or permit granted before the date of the 
        enactment of this Act.
            (3) Prohibitions.--Any transaction that evades or avoids, 
        has the purpose of evading or avoiding, causes a violation of, 
        or attempts to violate any of the prohibitions set forth in 
        this subsection is prohibited. Any conspiracy formed to violate 
        any of the prohibitions set forth in this subsection is 
        prohibited.
    (d) Rulemaking.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary of the Treasury, in 
        consultation with the Secretary of State, is authorized to take 
        such actions, including promulgating rules and regulations, to 
        implement this section.
            (2) Delegation.--The Secretary of the Treasury may 
        redelegate any of the functions described in paragraph (1) to 
        other officers and executive departments and agencies of the 
        United States Government. All agencies of the United States 
        Government shall take all appropriate measures within their 
        authority to carry out the provisions of this section.

SEC. 502. REPORT ON THE IMPACT OF CRYPTOCURRENCIES ON UNITED STATES 
              SANCTIONS.

    (a) Defined Term.--In this section, the term ``appropriate 
congressional committees'' means--
            (1) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate;
            (2) the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of 
        the Senate;
            (3) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of 
        Representatives; and
            (4) the Committee on Financial Services of the House of 
        Representatives.
    (b) Reporting Requirement.--Not later than 180 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, after 
consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, the Chairman of the 
Securities and Exchange Commission, and the Chairman of the Commodity 
Futures Trading Commission, shall submit a report to the appropriate 
congressional committees that provides an assessment on how digital 
currencies affect the effectiveness of United States sanctions around 
the world.
    (c) Additional Elements.--The report submitted under subsection (b) 
shall--
            (1) describe any global efforts, including efforts by 
        states, state-sponsored actors, and non-state-sponsored actors, 
        to utilize digital currencies to evade or circumvent United 
        States sanctions, including through the direct or indirect use 
        of products or services of United States based technology, 
        software, or financial services firms; and
            (2) include recommendations for new legislative and 
        regulatory measures needed to strengthen the United States 
        Government's ability to prevent states, state-sponsored actors, 
        and non-state-sponsored actors from using digital currencies to 
        evade or circumvent United States sanctions, including through 
        the direct or indirect use of products or services of United 
        States based technology, software, or financial services firms.
    (d) Form.--The report submitted under subsection (b) shall be 
submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex.

                         TITLE VI--TERMINATION

SEC. 601. EXTENSION AND TERMINATION OF SANCTIONS AGAINST VENEZUELA.

    (a) Amendment.--Section 5(e) of the Venezuela Defense of Human 
Rights and Civil Society Act of 2014 (Public Law 113-278; 50 U.S.C. 
1701 note) is amended by striking ``December 31, 2019'' and inserting 
``December 31, 2025''.
    (b) Termination.--The requirement to impose sanctions under this 
Act shall terminate on December 31, 2025.
                                 <all>