A resolution expressing profound concern about the ongoing political, economic, social and humanitarian crisis in Venezuela, urging the release of political prisoners, and calling for respect of constitutional and democratic processes.

Bill: 114-sres-537
Sponsor: Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD]
Introduced: 2016-07-14 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Detention of persons
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Elections, voting, political campaign regulation
Food assistance and relief
Foreign aid and international relief
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Human rights
International organizations and cooperation
Judicial procedure and administration
Latin America
Protest and dissent
Rule of law and government transparency
Sovereignty, recognition, national governance and status
Venezuela
World health

Summary:
action_date: 2016-07-14
text: 
Expresses concern about: (1) widespread shortages of essential medicines and basic food products faced by the people of Venezuela and urges President Maduro to permit the delivery of humanitarian assistance; and (2) the Venezuelan executive's lack of respect for the principle of separation of powers, its overreliance on emergency decree powers, and its subjugation of judicial independence. Expresses support for meaningful efforts towards a dialogue that leads to respect for Venezuela's constitutional mechanisms and resolves the country's political, economic, social, and humanitarian crisis. 
 
Calls on: (1) the government of Venezuela to immediately release all political prisoners, to provide protections for freedom of expression and assembly, and to respect internationally recognized human rights; and (2) such government and security forces to respect the Constitution of Venezuela, including constitutional provisions that provide Venezuelan citizens with the right to peacefully pursue a fair and timely recall referendum for their president this year if they so choose.
 
Stresses the urgency of strengthening the rule of law and increasing efforts to combat impunity and public corruption in Venezuela.
 
Affirms the Senate's support for OAS Secretary General Almagro's invocation of Article 20 of the Inter-American Democratic Charter and urges the OAS Permanent Council, which represents all of the organization's member states, to undertake a collective assessment of the constitutional and democratic order in Venezuela. Urges the President of the United States to provide full support for OAS efforts in favor of constitutional and democratic solutions to the political impasse, and to instruct appropriate federal agencies to hold officials of the Venezuelan government accountable for violations of U.S. law and abuses of internationally recognized human rights.

action_date: 2016-12-07
text: 
Expresses concern about widespread shortages of essential medicines and basic food products faced by the people of Venezuela and urges President Maduro to permit the delivery of humanitarian assistance. 
 
Calls on the government of Venezuela to:
 
 
 immediately release all political prisoners and to respect internationally recognized human rights; 
 
ensure the neutrality and professionalism of all security forces and to respect the Venezuelan people's rights to freedom of expression and assembly; and 
 
halt its efforts to undermine the principle of separation of powers, its circumvention of the democratically elected legislature, and its subjugation of judicial independence.
 
 
Expresses support for: (1) meaningful efforts towards a dialogue that leads to respect for Venezuela's constitutional mechanisms and resolves the country's political, economic, social, and humanitarian crisis; and (2) Organization of American States (OAS) Secretary General Almagro's invocation of Article 20 of the Inter-American Democratic Charter. Urges the OAS Permanent Council to undertake a collective assessment of the constitutional and democratic order in Venezuela. 
 
Stresses the urgency of strengthening the rule of law and increasing efforts to combat impunity and public corruption in Venezuela.
 
Urges the President of the United States to provide full support for OAS efforts in favor of constitutional and democratic solutions to the political impasse and to instruct appropriate federal agencies to hold officials of the Venezuelan government accountable for violations of U.S. law and abuses of internationally recognized human rights.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-12-07
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 708.
action_date: 2016-12-07
text: Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Corker 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: 2016-12-07
text: Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Corker 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: 2016-12-06
text: Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2016-07-14
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S5172-5173)
action_date: 2016-07-14
text: Introduced in Senate