Nicaragua Human Rights and Anticorruption Act of 2018

Bill: 115-hr-1918
Sponsor: Rep. Ros-Lehtinen, Ileana [R-FL-27]
Introduced: 2017-04-05 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Elections, voting, political campaign regulation
Foreign aid and international relief
Foreign loans and debt
Foreign property
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Human rights
International organizations and cooperation
Judicial procedure and administration
Latin America
Multilateral development programs
News media and reporting
Nicaragua
Protest and dissent
Rule of law and government transparency
Sanctions
Sovereignty, recognition, national governance and status
Visas and passports

Summary:
action_date: 2017-04-05
text: 

Nicaraguan Investment Conditionality Act (NICA) of 2017

 
This bill directs the President to instruct the U.S. Executive Director at each international financial institution to use U.S. influence to oppose any loan for the government of Nicaragua's benefit, other than for basic human needs or to promote democracy, unless the Department of State certifies that Nicaragua is taking effective steps to: 
 
 
hold free elections overseen by credible domestic and international electoral observers;
 
 promote democracy and an independent judicial system and electoral council;
 
 strengthen the rule of law;
 
 respect the right to freedom of association and expression;
 
combat corruption, including investigating and prosecuting corrupt government officials; and
 
protect the right of political opposition parties, journalists, trade unionists, human rights defenders, and other civil society activists to operate without interference.
 
 
The Department of the Treasury shall submit to Congress a report assessing: (1) the effectiveness of the international financial institutions in enforcing applicable program safeguards in Nicaragua, and (2) the effects of specified constitutional and election concerns in Nicaragua on long-term prospects for positive development outcomes there. The President may waive such requirements in the U.S. national interest.
 
The bill requires: (1) the President to direct the U.S. Permanent Representative to the Organization of American States to use U.S. influence to advocate for an Electoral Observation Mission to be sent to Nicaragua in 2017, and (2) the State Department to report on the involvement of senior Nicaraguan government officials in acts of public corruption or human rights violations.

action_date: 2017-10-03
text: 

Nicaraguan Investment Conditionality Act (NICA) of 2017

 
(Sec. 4) This bill directs the President to instruct the U.S. Executive Director at each international financial institution to use U.S. influence to oppose any loan for the government of Nicaragua's benefit, other than for basic human needs or to promote democracy, unless the Department of State certifies that Nicaragua is taking effective steps to: 
 
 
hold free elections overseen by credible domestic and international electoral observers;
 
 promote democracy and an independent judicial system and electoral council;
 
 strengthen the rule of law;
 
 respect the right to freedom of association and expression;
 
combat corruption, including investigating and prosecuting corrupt government officials; and
 
protect the right of political opposition parties, journalists, trade unionists, human rights defenders, and other civil society activists to operate without interference.
 
 
 The Department of the Treasury shall submit to Congress a report assessing: (1) the effectiveness of the international financial institutions in enforcing applicable program safeguards in Nicaragua, and (2) the effects of specified constitutional and election concerns in Nicaragua on long-term prospects for positive development outcomes there. The President may waive such requirements in the U.S. national interest.
 
(Sec. 5) The bill requires: (1) the President to direct the U.S. Permanent Representative to the Organization of American States to use U.S. influence to advocate for an Electoral Observation Mission to be sent to Nicaragua in 2017, and (2) the State Department to report on the involvement of senior Nicaraguan government officials in acts of public corruption or human rights violations.

action_date: 2018-12-20
text: 
 
Nicaragua Human Rights and Anticorruption Act of 2018
 
This bill imposes restrictions and sanctions on institutions and individuals responsible for the Nicaraguan government's violence and infringement of the civil rights of protesters. 
 
The Department of the Treasury shall take action to restrict international financial institutions, including those affiliated with the World Bank Group and the Inter-American Development Bank, from extending financial or technical assistance to Nicaragua's government and to develop policies for future lending that will advance human rights in the country. 
 
The President shall impose sanctions on foreign persons responsible for acts of corruption, significant human rights violations, violence against protesters in Nicaragua, or provided material support to such actions. Sanctions include blocking the assets of sanctioned individuals and barring them from entry into the United States.
 
The Department of State shall report to Congress about various topics, including Nicaragua's efforts strengthening the rule of law and democratic governance, combatting corruption, and protecting human rights. The President may temporarily waive the sanctions if the State Department certifies that Nicaragua has taken effective steps on these issues. The President may also waive the sanctions if it is in the national interests of the United States to do so.
 
The bill also directs the State Department devise a strategy for engaging Nicaragua's civil society to strengthen human rights protections and anti-corruption efforts.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-12-20
text: Became Public Law No: 115-335.
action_date: 2018-12-20
text: Became Public Law No: 115-335.
action_date: 2018-12-20
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2018-12-20
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2018-12-13
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2018-12-13
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2018-12-11
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2018-12-11
text: On motion that the House agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to without objection. (text: CR H10077-10078)
action_date: 2018-12-11
text: Resolving differences -- House actions: On motion that the House agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to without objection.(text: CR H10077-10078)
action_date: 2018-12-11
text: Mr. Royce (CA) asked unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's Table and agree to the Senate amendment. (consideration: CR H10077-10078)
action_date: 2018-11-28
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2018-11-27
text: Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2018-11-27
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2018-11-27
text: Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S7143-7144)
action_date: 2018-11-27
text: Senate Committee on Foreign Relations discharged by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2018-11-27
text: Senate Committee on Foreign Relations discharged by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2017-10-04
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2017-10-03
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2017-10-03
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H7700-7702)
action_date: 2017-10-03
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H7700-7702)
action_date: 2017-10-03
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1918.
action_date: 2017-10-03
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H7700-7704)
action_date: 2017-10-03
text: Mr. Royce (CA) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2017-07-27
text: Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2017-07-27
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2017-05-24
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2017-05-24
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2017-05-18
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere.
action_date: 2017-04-05
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on 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: 2017-04-05
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on 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: 2017-04-05
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-04-05
text: Introduced in House

Enacted as: number: 115-335