Expressing the sense of Congress that the Government of the United States should support democracy, the rule of law, and human rights in the Republic of Nicaragua and work cooperatively with regional and international organizations to bolster Nicaraguan efforts to establish the requisite conditions for free, fair, transparent, and inclusive presidential and legislative elections in 2006.

Bill: 109-hconres-252
Sponsor: Rep. Burton, Dan [R-IN-5]
Introduced: 2005-09-27 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Democracy
Economic assistance
Election administration
Foreign leaders
Government Operations and Politics
International agencies
International cooperation
Latin America
Law
Legislative bodies
Nicaragua
Nongovernmental organizations
Organization of American States (OAS)
Removal of officials
Rule of law
Subversive activities

Summary:
action_date: 2005-09-27
text: 
Condemns: (1) the Aleman-Ortega Pact as detrimental to democracy in the Republic of Nicaragua and to regional stability; and (2) the Pact-controlled National Assembly's anti-democratic actions, including efforts to remove democratically-elected President Enrique Bolanos on dubious legal grounds.
 
 Supports the efforts of Nicaraguan democratic civil society to create conditions for free and fair elections. 
 
Empresses the sense of Congress that: (1) it should be U.S. policy to support democratic political forces in Nicaragua for a full restoration of democracy; and (2) the President of the United States, through the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), should provide assistance to nongovernmental organizations in support of President Bolanos' call for the international community to assist in and monitor the 2006 election. 

action_date: 2005-12-14
text: 
Condemns the Aleman-Ortega Pact as detrimental to democracy in the Republic of Nicaragua and to regional stability. 
 
Denounces the previous attempts by the National Assembly to encroach unconstitutionally upon the powers of the executive branch, undermine the ability to govern the country, and advance the personal ambitions of some of its current and former members.
 
Applauds the diplomatic efforts of the Organization of American States (OAS) for demonstrating the viability of the Inter-American Charter as an effective instrument in the Western Hemisphere for overcoming obstacles that impede institutions from governing democratically. 
 
Concurs with the convening of a broad National Dialogue to address the challenges that confront the Nicaraguan people as they attempt to build a more effective democracy.
 
 Supports the efforts of the government of Nicaragua and Nicaraguan democratic civil society to create conditions for free and fair 2006 elections. 
 
Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) it should be U.S. policy to support democratic political forces and work with regional and international organizations, including the OAS, to bolster Nicaraguan efforts to establish conditions for free and inclusive 2006 presidential and legislative elections; and (2) the President of the United States should ensure that any electoral or democracy and governance assistance is provided only for the purposes of training election observers and ensuring the electoral process' integrity, that such assistance be provided through nongovernmental organizations on a nonpartisan basis, and that the details of such assistance be made public in both countries.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-01-27
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2005-12-15
text: Received in the Senate.
action_date: 2005-12-14
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2005-12-14
text: On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H11609-11610)
action_date: 2005-12-14
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H11609-11610)
action_date: 2005-12-14
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Con. Res. 252.
action_date: 2005-12-14
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H11609-11612)
action_date: 2005-12-14
text: Mr. Burton (IN) moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended.
action_date: 2005-10-07
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2005-10-07
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2005-09-28
text: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2005-09-28
text: Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2005-09-28
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere.
action_date: 2005-09-27
text: Referred to the House Committee on International Relations.
action_date: 2005-09-27
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2005-09-27
text: Introduced in House