RENACER Act

Bill: 117-s-1041
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2021-03-25 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Assault and harassment offenses
Broadcasting, cable, digital technologies
Canada
Caribbean area
Congressional oversight
Crimes against property
Detention of persons
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Elections, voting, political campaign regulation
Europe
European Union
Foreign loans and debt
Foreign property
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Human rights
Intelligence activities, surveillance, classified information
International exchange and broadcasting
International organizations and cooperation
Latin America
Military assistance, sales, and agreements
Multilateral development programs
News media and reporting
Nicaragua
Protest and dissent
Russia
Sanctions
Sex offenses
Sovereignty, recognition, national governance and status
Spacecraft and satellites
Violent crime
Visas and passports

Summary:
action_date: 2021-03-25
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.

action_date: 2021-06-24
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.

action_date: 2021-08-06
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: 2021-08-10
text: Held at the desk.
action_date: 2021-08-10
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2021-08-09
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2021-08-06
text: Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote. (consideration: CR S5987-5989; text: CR S5987-5989)
action_date: 2021-08-06
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.(consideration: CR S5987-5989; text: CR S5987-5989)
action_date: 2021-06-24
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 86.
action_date: 2021-06-24
text: Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Menendez with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2021-06-24
text: Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Menendez with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2021-06-22
text: Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2021-03-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2021-03-25
text: Introduced in Senate