Venezuelan Liberty and Democratic Solidarity Act

Bill: 113-hr-4229
Sponsor: Rep. Ros-Lehtinen, Ileana [R-FL-27]
Introduced: 2014-03-13 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Detention of persons
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Economic performance and conditions
Elections, voting, political campaign regulation
Firearms and explosives
Foreign aid and international relief
Foreign and international banking
Foreign property
Government information and archives
Human rights
International exchange and broadcasting
International organizations and cooperation
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Latin America
News media and reporting
Oil and gas
Organization of American States
Political movements and philosophies
Property rights
Protest and dissent
Refugees, asylum, displaced persons
Rule of law and government transparency
Sanctions
Technology transfer and commercialization
Trade restrictions
Venezuela
Visas and passports

Summary:
action_date: 2014-03-13
text: 
Venezuelan Liberty and Democratic Solidarity Act - Directs the Secretary of State to require the U.S. Permanent Representative to the Organization of American States (OAS) to use U.S. influence at the OAS to protect the Inter-American Democratic Charter, and strengthen the independent Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to protect human rights throughout the Western Hemisphere, especially in Venezuela. 
 
Directs the President to transmit to Congress a list of Venezuelan government officials or persons acting on behalf of that government who are responsible for or complicit in serious human rights abuses against citizens of Venezuela or their family members. 
 
Directs the President to transmit to Congress a list of persons who: (1) transfer or facilitate the transfer of goods or technologies that are likely to be used to commit serious rights abuses to Venezuela, to any entity organized under the laws of Venezuela, or to any national of Venezuela, for use in Venezuela; or (2) provide services with respect to such goods or technologies after their transfer to Venezuela. 
 
Directs the President to transmit to Congress a list of persons who have engaged in censorship or other activities with respect to Venezuela that: (1) prohibit, limit, or penalize the exercise of freedom of expression or assembly; or (2) limit access to print or broadcast media, including facilitation of intentional frequency manipulation.
 
Imposes property, financial, and visa sanctions against a person listed pursuant to this Act.
 
States that it should be U.S. policy to reduce petroleum imports from Venezuela to prevent its leader Nicolas Maduro from using petroleum profits to fund his regime's oppression and human rights violations. 
 
Directs the Secretary of State to submit comprehensive strategies to Congress to: (1) promote internet and information access freedom in Venezuela, and (2) ensure that the government of Venezuela will uphold democratic principles and is moving toward market-oriented economic systems.
 
States that it shall be U.S. policy to: (1) support efforts to identify prisoners of conscience and cases of human rights abuses in Venezuela, and (2) offer refugee status or political asylum in the United States to political dissidents in Venezuela or assist in their relocation to other countries. 
 
Obligates specified amounts for assistance to civil society in Venezuela.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2014-04-16
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security.
action_date: 2014-04-02
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere.
action_date: 2014-04-02
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations.
action_date: 2014-03-13
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Ways and Means, 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.
action_date: 2014-03-13
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Ways and Means, 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.
action_date: 2014-03-13
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Ways and Means, 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.
action_date: 2014-03-13
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Ways and Means, 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.
action_date: 2014-03-13
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2014-03-13
text: Introduced in House