VERDAD Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-1025
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2019-04-03 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Asia
Budget deficits and national debt
Canada
Caribbean area
Child health
China
Congressional oversight
Corporate finance and management
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Cuba
Currency
Detention of persons
Digital media
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Drug trafficking and controlled substances
Elections, voting, political campaign regulation
Energy storage, supplies, demand
Europe
European Union
Food assistance and relief
Foreign aid and international relief
Foreign and international corporations
Foreign loans and debt
Foreign property
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Health technology, devices, supplies
Human rights
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Inflation and prices
Intelligence activities, surveillance, classified information
International organizations and cooperation
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Iran
Judicial procedure and administration
Latin America
Metals
Middle East
Military assistance, sales, and agreements
Multilateral development programs
News media and reporting
Oil and gas
Poverty and welfare assistance
Protest and dissent
Rule of law and government transparency
Russia
Sanctions
Securities
Sovereignty, recognition, national governance and status
Trade restrictions
U.S. and foreign investments
United Nations
Venezuela
Visas and passports
War crimes, genocide, crimes against humanity
Women's health

Summary:
action_date: 2019-04-03
text: 

Venezuela Emergency Relief, Democracy Assistance, and Development Act of 2019 or the VERDAD Act of 2019

 
This bill directs the President to take various actions to address the political situation in Venezuela. (The United States does not recognize Nicolas Maduro as Venezuela's President due to reports of widespread fraud during his election, recognizing instead National Assembly President Juan Guaido.)
 
The Department of State shall submit to Congress strategies for providing humanitarian aid to Venezuela and to Venezuelans in neighboring countries. The President shall direct U.S. representatives to the United Nations to prioritize U.N. efforts to provide humanitarian aid to Venezuela.
 
The bill imposes sanctions on foreign persons responsible for or complicit in corruption or activity undermining Venezuela's democratic institutions. Sanctions include barring entry into the United States and various financial restrictions.
 
The bill also imposes various sanctions targeting the Maduro regime's ability to finance debt, trade gold, and use cryptocurrencies to evade U.S. sanctions.
 
The bill establishes a special envoy and task force for Venezuela to coordinate and oversee U.S. efforts regarding Venezuela.
 
The bill directs the State Department to 
 
 
work with nongovernmental organizations to strengthen democratic governance and defend human rights in Venezuela,
 
investigate corruption and recover assets stolen from Venezuela,
 
help other countries establish legislative frameworks to impose sanctions on Maduro regime officials.
 
 
The President shall engage with multilateral development banks to assist in rebuilding Venezuela's economy and energy infrastructure. 
 
The bill directs the President to prevent Russia's government-controlled oil company Rosneft from acquiring control of critical U.S. energy infrastructure, including assets belonging to Venezuela's state-owned oil company, Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A. 

action_date: 2019-06-03
text: 

Venezuela Emergency Relief, Democracy Assistance, and Development Act of 2019 or the VERDAD Act of 2019

 
This bill directs the President to take various actions to address the political situation in Venezuela. (The United States does not recognize Nicolas Maduro as Venezuela's President due to reports of widespread fraud during his election, recognizing instead National Assembly President Juan Guaido.)
 
The Department of State shall provide humanitarian aid to Venezuela and to Venezuelans in neighboring countries. 
 
The bill imposes sanctions on foreign persons responsible for or complicit in corruption or activity undermining Venezuela's democratic institutions. Sanctions include barring entry into the United States and various financial restrictions.
 
The bill also (1) authorizes or imposes various sanctions targeting the Maduro regime's ability to finance debt, trade gold, and use cryptocurrencies; and (2) imposes visa-blocking sanctions on aliens acting on behalf of Russia to support Maduro regime security forces.
 
The bill directs the State Department to 
 
 
work with nongovernmental organizations to strengthen democratic governance and defend human rights in Venezuela, 
 
work with foreign governments to investigate corruption and recover assets stolen from Venezuela, and
 
offer to help other countries establish legislative frameworks to impose sanctions on Maduro regime officials. 

 
The President shall engage with multilateral development banks to assist in rebuilding Venezuela's economy and energy infrastructure. 
 
The bill directs the President to prevent Russia's government-controlled oil company Rosneft from acquiring control of critical U.S. energy infrastructure, including assets belonging to Venezuela's state-owned oil company, Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-06-03
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 101.
action_date: 2019-06-03
text: Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Risch with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2019-06-03
text: Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Risch with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2019-05-22
text: Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2019-04-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2019-04-03
text: Introduced in Senate