Venezuela Defense of Human Rights and Civil Society Act of 2014

Bill: 113-s-2142
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2014-03-13 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Detention of persons
Europe
European Union
Foreign property
Human rights
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Judicial procedure and administration
Latin America
News media and reporting
Protest and dissent
Rule of law and government transparency
Sanctions
Venezuela
Violent crime
Visas and passports

Summary:
action_date: 2014-03-13
text: 
Venezuela Defense of Human Rights and Civil Society Act of 2014 - Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the United States aspires to a mutually beneficial relationship with Venezuela based on respect for human rights and the rule of law, and a productive relationship on issues of public security; (2) the United States supports the efforts of the people of Venezuela to realize their economic potential and advance representative democracy; (3) the government of Venezuela's mismanagement of its economy has produced conditions of economic hardship; (4) the government's failure to guarantee public security has led Venezuela to become one of the most violent countries in the world; (5) the government continues to remove checks and balances on the executive, politicize the judiciary, undermine the independence of the legislature, persecute its political opponents, curtail freedom of the press, and limit the free expression of its citizens; (6) the people of Venezuela have turned out in demonstrations throughout the country to protest the government's inability to ensure the political and economic well-being of its citizens; and (7) the use of violence by the National Guard and security personnel is intolerable and the use of unprovoked violence by protesters is also a matter of serious concern. 
 
States that it is U.S. policy to: (1) support the development of democratic political processes and independent civil society in Venezuela, (2) ensure the peaceful resolution of the current situation in Venezuela, and (3) hold accountable government and security officials in Venezuela responsible for the use of force in relation to the antigovernment protests that began on February 4, 2014.
 
Directs the President to impose asset blocking and U.S. exclusion sanctions against any person, including a current or former government of Venezuela official or a person acting on behalf of such government, who has: (1) perpetrated or is responsible for otherwise directing significant acts of violence or serious human rights abuses against persons associated with the antigovernment protests in Venezuela that began on February 4, 2014; (2) directed or ordered the arrest or prosecution of a person primarily because of the person's legitimate exercise of freedom of expression or assembly; or (3) materially assisted or provided significant financial, material, or technological support for the commission of such acts. 
 
Sets forth related penalty requirements. 
 
States that U.S. exclusion sanctions shall not apply if necessary to permit the United States to comply with the Agreement regarding the Headquarters of the United Nations or other applicable international obligations. 
 
Authorizes the President to waive sanctions if in the U.S. national security interests, and with congressional notification.
 
Directs: (1) the Secretary of State to take specified actions to support civil society in Venezuela, and (2) the President to submit a strategy to Congress to carry out such activities.

action_date: 2014-05-22
text: 
Venezuela Defense of Human Rights and Civil Society Act of 2014 - (Sec. 3) Expresses the sense of Congress that: 
 
 
the United States aspires to a mutually beneficial relationship with Venezuela based on respect for human rights and the rule of law, and a productive relationship on issues of public security, including counter narcotics and counterterrorism;
 
the United States supports the efforts of the people of Venezuela to realize their economic potential and advance representative democracy;
 
the government of Venezuela's mismanagement of its economy has produced conditions of economic hardship;
 
the government's failure to guarantee public security has led Venezuela to become one of the most violent countries in the world;
 
the government continues to remove checks and balances on the executive, politicize the judiciary, undermine the independence of the legislature, persecute its political opponents, curtail freedom of the press, and limit the free expression of its citizens;
 
the people of Venezuela have turned out in demonstrations throughout the country to protest the government's inability to ensure their political and economic well-being; and
 
the use of violence by the National Guard and security personnel is intolerable and the use of unprovoked violence by protesters is also a matter of serious concern. 
 
 
(Sec. 4) States that is U.S. policy to:
 
 
support the people of Venezuela in their aspiration to live under peace and representative democracy,
 
work with the Organization of American States (OAS) and the European Union (EU) to ensure the peaceful resolution of the situation in Venezuela and the cessation of violence against antigovernment protestors,
 
hold accountable government and security officials in Venezuela responsible for or complicit in the use of force against antigovernment protests, and
 
support the development of democratic political processes and independent civil society in Venezuela. 
 
 
(Sec. 5) Directs the President to impose asset blocking and U.S. exclusion sanctions against any person, including a current or former government of Venezuela official or a person acting on behalf of such government, who has:
 
 
perpetrated or is responsible for otherwise directing significant acts of violence or serious human rights abuses against persons associated with the antigovernment protests in Venezuela that began on February 4, 2014;
 
directed or ordered the arrest or prosecution of a person primarily because of the person's legitimate exercise of freedom of expression or assembly; or
 
materially assisted or provided significant financial, material, or technological support for the commission of such acts. 
 
 
Sets forth related penalty requirements. 
 
States that U.S. exclusion sanctions shall not apply if necessary to permit the United States to comply with the Agreement regarding the Headquarters of the United Nations or other applicable international obligations. 
 
Authorizes the President to waive sanctions if in the U.S. national security interests, and with congressional notification.
 
(Sec. 6) Directs the Secretary of State and the Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to:
 
 
defend human rights for the people of Venezuela;
 
strengthen the organizational and operational capacity of democratic civil society in Venezuela;
 
support the efforts of independent media outlets to broadcast and share information;
 
facilitate open and uncensored access to the Internet for the people of Venezuela;
 
improve government institution accountability;
 
support civil society organizations, activists, and peaceful demonstrators in Venezuela that have been targeted for exercising civil and political rights, as well as journalists targeted for activities related to the work of a free press; and
 
support democratic organizing and election monitoring in Venezuela. 
 
 
Directs the President to submit a strategy to Congress to carry out such activities.
 
Authorizes appropriations.
 
(Sec. 7) Directs the Chairman of the Broadcasting Board of Governors to report to Congress:
 
 
an evaluation of the governmental, political, and technological obstacles faced by the people of Venezuela in their efforts to obtain accurate news and information;
 
an assessment of efforts relating to broadcasting, information distribution, and circumvention technology distribution in Venezuela by the U.S. government and otherwise; and
 
a strategy for expanding such efforts in Venezuela.


action_date: 2014-12-08
text: 
Venezuela Defense of Human Rights and Civil Society Act of 2014 - (Sec. 3) Expresses the sense of Congress that: 
 
 
the United States aspires to a mutually beneficial relationship with Venezuela based on respect for human rights and the rule of law, and a productive relationship on issues of public security, including counter narcotics and counterterrorism;
 
the United States supports the efforts of the people of Venezuela to realize their economic potential and advance representative democracy;
 
the government of Venezuela's mismanagement of its economy has produced conditions of economic hardship;
 
the government's failure to guarantee public security has led Venezuela to become one of the most violent countries in the world;
 
the government continues to remove checks and balances on the executive, politicize the judiciary, undermine the independence of the legislature, persecute its political opponents, curtail freedom of the press, and limit the free expression of its citizens;
 
the people of Venezuela have turned out in demonstrations throughout the country to protest the government's inability to ensure their political and economic well-being; and
 
the use of violence by the National Guard and security personnel is intolerable and the use of unprovoked violence by protesters is also a matter of serious concern. 
 
 
(Sec. 4) States that it is U.S. policy to:
 
 
support the people of Venezuela in their aspiration to live under peace and representative democracy,
 
work with the Organization of American States (OAS) and the European Union (EU) to ensure the peaceful resolution of the situation in Venezuela and the cessation of violence against antigovernment protestors,
 
hold accountable government and security officials in Venezuela responsible for or complicit in the use of force against antigovernment protests, and
 
support the development of democratic political processes and independent civil society in Venezuela. 
 
 
(Sec. 5) Directs the President to impose U.S. asset blocking and U.S. exclusion sanctions against any person, including a current or former government of Venezuela official or a person acting on behalf of such government, who has:
 
 
perpetrated or is responsible for otherwise directing significant acts of violence or serious human rights abuses against persons associated with the antigovernment protests in Venezuela that began on February 4, 2014;
 
directed or ordered the arrest or prosecution of a person primarily because of the person's legitimate exercise of freedom of expression or assembly; or
 
knowingly materially assisted or provided significant financial, material, or technological support for the commission of such acts. 
 
 
Sets forth related penalty requirements. 
 
States that: (1) asset blocking sanctions shall not authorize the imposition of sanctions on imported goods, and (2) U.S. exclusion sanctions shall not apply if necessary to permit the United States to comply with the Agreement regarding the Headquarters of the United Nations or other applicable international obligations. 
 
Authorizes the President to waive sanctions if in U.S. national security interests, and with congressional notification.
 
 Terminates the requirement to impose sanctions on December 31, 2016.
 
(Sec. 6) Directs the Chairman of the Broadcasting Board of Governors to report to Congress:
 
 
an evaluation of the governmental, political, and technological obstacles faced by the people of Venezuela in their efforts to obtain accurate news and information;
 
an assessment of efforts relating to broadcasting, information distribution, and circumvention technology distribution in Venezuela by the U.S. government and otherwise; and
 
a strategy for expanding such efforts in Venezuela.


action_date: 2014-12-10
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the Senate on December 8, 2014. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

 
Venezuela Defense of Human Rights and Civil Society Act of 2014 - (Sec. 3) Expresses the sense of Congress that: 
 
 
the United States aspires to a mutually beneficial relationship with Venezuela based on respect for human rights and the rule of law, and a productive relationship on issues of public security, including counter narcotics and counterterrorism;
 
the United States supports the efforts of the people of Venezuela to realize their economic potential and advance representative democracy;
 
the government of Venezuela's mismanagement of its economy has produced conditions of economic hardship;
 
the government's failure to guarantee public security has led Venezuela to become one of the most violent countries in the world;
 
the government continues to remove checks and balances on the executive, politicize the judiciary, undermine the independence of the legislature, persecute its political opponents, curtail freedom of the press, and limit the free expression of its citizens;
 
the people of Venezuela have turned out in demonstrations throughout the country to protest the government's inability to ensure their political and economic well-being; and
 
the use of violence by the National Guard and security personnel is intolerable and the use of unprovoked violence by protesters is also a matter of serious concern. 
 
 
(Sec. 4) States that it is U.S. policy to:
 
 
support the people of Venezuela in their aspiration to live under peace and representative democracy,
 
work with the Organization of American States (OAS) and the European Union (EU) to ensure the peaceful resolution of the situation in Venezuela and the cessation of violence against antigovernment protestors,
 
hold accountable government and security officials in Venezuela responsible for or complicit in the use of force against antigovernment protests, and
 
support the development of democratic political processes and independent civil society in Venezuela. 
 
 
(Sec. 5) Directs the President to impose U.S. asset blocking and U.S. exclusion sanctions against any person, including a current or former government of Venezuela official or a person acting on behalf of such government, who has:
 
 
perpetrated or is responsible for otherwise directing significant acts of violence or serious human rights abuses against persons associated with the antigovernment protests in Venezuela that began on February 4, 2014;
 
directed or ordered the arrest or prosecution of a person primarily because of the person's legitimate exercise of freedom of expression or assembly; or
 
knowingly materially assisted or provided significant financial, material, or technological support for the commission of such acts. 
 
 
Sets forth related penalty requirements. 
 
States that: (1) asset blocking sanctions shall not authorize the imposition of sanctions on imported goods, and (2) U.S. exclusion sanctions shall not apply if necessary to permit the United States to comply with the Agreement regarding the Headquarters of the United Nations or other applicable international obligations. 
 
Authorizes the President to waive sanctions if in U.S. national security interests, and with congressional notification.
 
 Terminates the requirement to impose sanctions on December 31, 2016.
 
(Sec. 6) Directs the Chairman of the Broadcasting Board of Governors to report to Congress:
 
 
an evaluation of the governmental, political, and technological obstacles faced by the people of Venezuela in their efforts to obtain accurate news and information;
 
an assessment of efforts relating to broadcasting, information distribution, and circumvention technology distribution in Venezuela by the U.S. government and otherwise; and
 
a strategy for expanding such efforts in Venezuela.


action_date: 2014-12-18
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the Senate on December 8, 2014. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

 
Venezuela Defense of Human Rights and Civil Society Act of 2014 - (Sec. 3) Expresses the sense of Congress that: 
 
 
the United States aspires to a mutually beneficial relationship with Venezuela based on respect for human rights and the rule of law, and a productive relationship on issues of public security, including counter narcotics and counterterrorism;
 
the United States supports the efforts of the people of Venezuela to realize their economic potential and advance representative democracy;
 
the government of Venezuela's mismanagement of its economy has produced conditions of economic hardship;
 
the government's failure to guarantee public security has led Venezuela to become one of the most violent countries in the world;
 
the government continues to remove checks and balances on the executive, politicize the judiciary, undermine the independence of the legislature, persecute its political opponents, curtail freedom of the press, and limit the free expression of its citizens;
 
the people of Venezuela have turned out in demonstrations throughout the country to protest the government's inability to ensure their political and economic well-being; and
 
the use of violence by the National Guard and security personnel is intolerable and the use of unprovoked violence by protesters is also a matter of serious concern. 
 
 
(Sec. 4) States that it is U.S. policy to:
 
 
support the people of Venezuela in their aspiration to live under peace and representative democracy,
 
work with the Organization of American States (OAS) and the European Union (EU) to ensure the peaceful resolution of the situation in Venezuela and the cessation of violence against antigovernment protestors,
 
hold accountable government and security officials in Venezuela responsible for or complicit in the use of force against antigovernment protests, and
 
support the development of democratic political processes and independent civil society in Venezuela. 
 
 
(Sec. 5) Directs the President to impose U.S. asset blocking and U.S. exclusion sanctions against any person, including a current or former government of Venezuela official or a person acting on behalf of such government, who has:
 
 
perpetrated or is responsible for otherwise directing significant acts of violence or serious human rights abuses against persons associated with the antigovernment protests in Venezuela that began on February 4, 2014;
 
directed or ordered the arrest or prosecution of a person primarily because of the person's legitimate exercise of freedom of expression or assembly; or
 
knowingly materially assisted or provided significant financial, material, or technological support for the commission of such acts. 
 
 
Sets forth related penalty requirements. 
 
States that: (1) asset blocking sanctions shall not authorize the imposition of sanctions on imported goods, and (2) U.S. exclusion sanctions shall not apply if necessary to permit the United States to comply with the Agreement regarding the Headquarters of the United Nations or other applicable international obligations. 
 
Authorizes the President to waive sanctions if in U.S. national security interests, and with congressional notification.
 
 Terminates the requirement to impose sanctions on December 31, 2016.
 
(Sec. 6) Directs the Chairman of the Broadcasting Board of Governors to report to Congress:
 
 
an evaluation of the governmental, political, and technological obstacles faced by the people of Venezuela in their efforts to obtain accurate news and information;
 
an assessment of efforts relating to broadcasting, information distribution, and circumvention technology distribution in Venezuela by the U.S. government and otherwise; and
 
a strategy for expanding such efforts in Venezuela.



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2014-12-18
text: Became Public Law No: 113-278.
action_date: 2014-12-18
text: Became Public Law No: 113-278.
action_date: 2014-12-18
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2014-12-18
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2014-12-12
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2014-12-12
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2014-12-10
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2014-12-10
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H9020-9021)
action_date: 2014-12-10
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H9020-9021)
action_date: 2014-12-10
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 2142.
action_date: 2014-12-10
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H9020-9023)
action_date: 2014-12-10
text: Ms. Ros-Lehtinen moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
action_date: 2014-12-09
text: Held at the desk.
action_date: 2014-12-09
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2014-12-09
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2014-12-08
text: Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote. (text: CR S6396-6398)
action_date: 2014-12-08
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.(text: CR S6396-6398)
action_date: 2014-12-08
text: Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S6396-6398)
action_date: 2014-05-22
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 401.
action_date: 2014-05-22
text: Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Menendez with amendments. With written report No. 113-175.
action_date: 2014-05-22
text: Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Menendez with amendments. With written report No. 113-175.
action_date: 2014-05-20
text: Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably.
action_date: 2014-03-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2014-03-13
text: Introduced in Senate

Enacted as: number: 113-278