RENACER Act

Bill: 117-hr-2946
Sponsor: Rep. Sires, Albio [D-NJ-8]
Introduced: 2021-04-30 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Canada
Caribbean area
Congressional oversight
Digital media
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Elections, voting, political campaign regulation
Europe
European Union
Foreign aid and international relief
Foreign loans and debt
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Human rights
International exchange and broadcasting
International monetary system and foreign exchange
International organizations and cooperation
Latin America
Multilateral development programs
News media and reporting
Nicaragua
Political parties and affiliation
Protest and dissent
Racial and ethnic relations
Russia
Sanctions
Sovereignty, recognition, national governance and status
Television and film
U.S. and foreign investments

Summary:
action_date: 2021-04-30
text: 

Reinforcing Nicaragua's Adherence to Conditions for Electoral Reform Act of 2021 or the RENACER Act

 
This bill establishes measures to monitor, report on, and address corruption and human rights abuses in Nicaragua.
 
Specifically, the bill directs U.S. leadership at international financial institutions to advocate for oversight with respect to any loan or financial or technical assistance for projects in Nicaragua.
 
The Department of State and the Department of the Treasury must establish a strategy to align diplomatic engagement with implementing sanctions to facilitate free, fair, and transparent elections in Nicaragua. Pursuant to this strategy, the President must prioritize implementing targeted sanctions on persons obstructing such elections. The State Department must also engage in diplomatic efforts with partner countries to impose targeted sanctions on such individuals.
 
The bill adds Nicaragua to a list of countries whose citizens are subject to visa-blocking sanctions for knowingly engaging in (1) actions undermining democratic processes or institutions, or (2) significant corruption or obstruction of investigations into such corruption.
 
Further, the bill requires the State Department to report on
 
 
 the involvement of President Daniel Ortega, members of his family, and senior government officials in significant acts of public corruption;
 
Russian activities in Nicaragua; and
 
gross human rights violations by the Ortega government against campesinos (i.e., natives of Latin American rural areas, especially Latin American Indian farmers or farm laborers) and indigenous communities. 
 
 
In addition, the State Department must report on obstacles to news and information about domestic and international affairs and submit a strategy for strengthening independent broadcasting, information distribution, and media platforms in Nicaragua.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-11-09
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.
action_date: 2021-07-29
text: Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2021-07-29
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2021-04-30
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, 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: 2021-04-30
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, 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: 2021-04-30
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, 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: 2021-04-30
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2021-04-30
text: Introduced in House