A resolution expressing support for the free and peaceful exercise of representative democracy in Venezuela, condemning violence and intimidation against the country's political opposition, and calling for dialogue between all political actors in the country.

Bill: 113-sres-213
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2013-08-01 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Congressional tributes
International organizations and cooperation
Latin America
Political movements and philosophies
Political parties and affiliation
Sovereignty, recognition, national governance and status
Venezuela

Summary:
action_date: 2013-08-01
text: 
Supports the people of Venezuela in their pursuit of the free exercise of representative democracy in Venezuela. 
 
Calls for greater dialogue between all political actors in Venezuela and deplores the undemocratic denial of parliamentary rights to members of opposition parties in the National Assembly and the violence perpetrated against opposition legislators.
 
Commends legislators from other nations in the Americas who have declared their opposition to political irregularities and the use of violence against opposition parliamentarians in Venezuela. 
 
Urges: (1) the Organization of American States (OAS) to issue a report on irregularities resulting from the April 14, 2013, presidential election in Venezuela; and (2) the U.S. Ambassador to the OAS to work with other member states to strengthen the ability of the OAS to protect democratic institutions.

action_date: 2013-09-30
text: 
Supports the people of Venezuela in their pursuit of the free exercise of representative democracy in Venezuela. 
 
Calls for greater dialogue between all political actors in Venezuela and deplores the undemocratic denial of parliamentary rights to members of opposition parties in the National Assembly and the violence perpetrated against opposition legislators inside the legislative chambers of Venezuela.
 
Commends legislators from other nations in the Americas who have declared their opposition to political irregularities and the use of violence against opposition parliamentarians in Venezuela. 
 
Urges: (1) the Organization of American States (OAS) to issue a report on irregularities resulting from the April 14, 2013, presidential election in Venezuela, and (2) the U.S. Ambassador to the OAS to work with other member states to strengthen the ability of the OAS to protect democratic institutions.

action_date: 2013-10-04
text: 
Supports the people of Venezuela in their pursuit of the free exercise of representative democracy as guaranteed by the Constitution of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
 
 Deplores the undemocratic denial of the legitimate rights of opposition parliamentarians in Venezuela, the violence perpetrated against opposition legislators inside chambers of the National Assembly, and the growing efforts to use politically-motivated criminal charges to intimidate the country's political opposition.
 
 Commends legislators from other countries in the Americas who have declared their opposition to alleged electoral irregularities and condemned the use of violence against opposition parliamentarians in Venezuela.
 
 Urges the Department of State to work with other countries in the Americas to ensure the rule of law in Venezuela in accordance with the Inter-American Democratic Charter and to strengthen the ability of the Organization of American States (OAS) to respond to the erosion of democratic norms and institutions in member states.
 
 Calls for the United States to work with other countries in the hemisphere to actively encourage a process of dialogue between the government of Venezuela and the political opposition through the OAS so that the voices of all Venezuelans can be taken into account through their country's constitutional institutions and free and fair elections.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-10-04
text: Resolution agreed to in Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title and an amended preamble by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S7213-7214; text as passed Senate: CR S7213)
action_date: 2013-10-04
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Resolution agreed to in Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title and an amended preamble by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S7213-7214; text as passed Senate: CR S7213)
action_date: 2013-09-30
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 201.
action_date: 2013-09-30
text: Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Menendez with an amendment in the nature of a substitute and an amendment to the title and with an amended preamble. Without written report.
action_date: 2013-09-30
text: Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Menendez with an amendment in the nature of a substitute and an amendment to the title and with an amended preamble. Without written report.
action_date: 2013-09-30
text: Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2013-08-01
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. (text of measure as introduced: CR S6236)
action_date: 2013-08-01
text: Introduced in Senate