Countering ALBA Act of 2013

Bill: 113-hr-1687
Sponsor: Rep. Ros-Lehtinen, Ileana [R-FL-27]
Introduced: 2013-04-23 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Bolivia
Broadcasting, cable, digital technologies
Computer security and identity theft
Computers and information technology
Congressional oversight
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Detention of persons
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Due process and equal protection
Economic theory
Ecuador
Elections, voting, political campaign regulation
Firearms and explosives
Foreign and international banking
Foreign property
Government information and archives
Human rights
International organizations and cooperation
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Latin America
News media and reporting
Nicaragua
Organization of American States
Political movements and philosophies
Protest and dissent
Refugees, asylum, displaced persons
Rule of law and government transparency
Sanctions
Technology transfer and commercialization
Telephone and wireless communication
Trade restrictions
Venezuela
Violent crime
Visas and passports
Western Hemisphere

Summary:
action_date: 2013-04-23
text: 
Countering ALBA Act of 2013 - Requires the Secretary of State to direct the U.S. Permanent Representative to the Organization of American States to use the voice, vote, and influence of the United States to defend, protect, and strengthen the independent Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to advance the protection of human rights throughout the Western Hemisphere.
 
Directs the President to impose sanctions against certain listed officials of ALBA governments (Venezuela, Nicaragua, Bolivia, and Ecuador) or persons acting on behalf of ALBA governments who the President determines are responsible for, or complicit in, the commission of serious human rights abuses against citizens of ALBA countries or their family members on or after February 2, 1999. Includes among authorized sanctions ineligibility for a U.S. entry visa and sanctions pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. Terminates such sanctions when the President determines and certifies to the congressional foreign relations committees that the ALBA governments have: (1) unconditionally released all political prisoners; (2) ceased violence, unlawful detention, torture, and abuse of its citizens; (3) conducted a transparent investigation into the killings, arrests, and abuse of peaceful political activists, and prosecuted those responsible; and (4) made public commitments to, and are making demonstrable progress toward, establishing an independent judiciary and respecting the human rights and basic freedoms recognized in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
 
Directs the President to impose sanctions against listed individuals who transfer goods or provide services to ALBA countries that are likely to be used to commit serious human rights abuses.
 
Directs the President to impose sanctions against listed persons who engage in censorship or other related activities against citizens of ALBA countries.
 
Directs the Secretary of State to submit to the foreign relations committees a comprehensive strategy: (1) to assist the people of ALBA countries in promoting Internet freedom and access to information, and (2) to ensure that ALBA governments are democratic governments.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-06-14
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security.
action_date: 2013-06-07
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere.
action_date: 2013-06-07
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations.
action_date: 2013-06-03
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Trade.
action_date: 2013-04-23
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, Ways and Means, and the Judiciary, 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.
action_date: 2013-04-23
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, Ways and Means, and the Judiciary, 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.
action_date: 2013-04-23
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, Ways and Means, and the Judiciary, 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.
action_date: 2013-04-23
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, Ways and Means, and the Judiciary, 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.
action_date: 2013-04-23
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2013-04-23
text: Introduced in House