#aac? ,,congress  #b;d ,session  ,s4    
#badb  ,,an ,,act  ,to impose t>get$    
sanctions on p]sons responsible =       
violations ( human rights ( antigov]nm5t
 prote/]s 9 ,v5ezuela1 to /r5g!n civil  
society 9 ,v5ezuela1 & = o!r purposes4  
#a4 ,%ort title ,?is ,act may be cit$ z 
! ,v5ezuela ,def5se ( ,human ,rights &  
,civil ,society ,act ( #bjad4  #b4      
,f9d+s ,congress makes ! foll[+ f9d+s3  
7#a7 ,! ,c5tral ,bank ( ,v5ezuela & !   
,national ,/ati/ical ,in/itute (        
,v5ezuela /at$ t ! annual inflation rate
 9 ,v5ezuela 9 #bjac 0 #ef4cj1 ! highe/ 
level ( inflation 9 ! ,we/]n ,hemisph]e 
& ! ?ird highe/ level ( inflation 9 ! _w
 beh9d ,s\? ,sudan & ,syria4  7#b7 ,!   
,c5tral ,bank ( ,v5ezuela & ! ,gov]nm5t 
( ,v5ezuela h impos$ a s]ies ( curr5cy  
controls t has exac]bat$ economic       
problems &1 accord+ to ! ,_w ,economic  
,=um1 has become ! mo/ problematic      
factor = do+ bus9ess 9 ,v5ezuela4  7#c7 
,! ,c5tral ,bank ( ,v5ezuela decl>$ t ! 
sc>city index ( ,v5ezuela rea*$ #bi4d   

p]c5t 9 ,m>* #bjad1 :i* signifies t few]
 ?an "o 9 #d basic goods is unavailable 
at any giv5 "t4 ,! ,c5tral ,bank has n  
releas$ any in=mation on ! sc>city index
 s9ce t "t4  7#d7 ,s9ce #aiii1 viol5t   
crime 9 ,v5ezuela has ris5 %>ply & !    
,v5ezuelan ,viol5ce ,obs]vatory1 an     
indep5d5t nongov]nm5tal organization1   
f\nd ! national p] capita murd] rate to 
be #gi p] #ajj1jjj p 9 #bjac4  7#e7 ,!  
int]national nongov]nm5tal organization 
,human ,rights ,wat* rec5tly /at$1 ,"u !
 lead]%ip ( ,presid5t ,*vez & n[        
,presid5t ,maduro1 ! accumulation ( p[] 
9 ! executive bran* & ! erosion ( human 
rights gu>antees h enabl$ ! gov]nm5t to 
intimidate1 c5sor1 & prosecute its      
critics44  7#f7 ,! ,c\ntry ,reports on  
,human ,rights ,practices = #bjac ( !   
,dep>tm5t ( ,/ate ma9ta9$ t 9 ,v5ezuela 
! gov]nm5t did n respect judicial       
indep5d5ce or p]mit judges to act       
accord+ to ! law )\t fe> ( retaliation &
 ! gov]nm5t us$ ! judici>y to intimidate
 & selectively prosecute political1     

union1 bus9ess1 & civil society lead]s  
:o 7 critical ( gov]nm5t policies or    
actions4  7#g7 ,! ,gov]nm5t ( ,v5ezuela 
has deta9$ =eign j\rnali/s & ?reat5$ &  
expell$ int]national m$ia outlets op]at+
 9 ,v5ezuela1 & ! int]national          
nongov]nm5tal organization ,fre$om ,h\se
 decl>$ t ,v5ezuela's m$ia climate is   
p]meat$ by intimidation1 sometimes      
includ+ physical attacks1 & /rong       
antim$ia rhetoric by ! gov]nm5t is      
common4  7#h7 ,s9ce ,febru>y #d1 #bjad1 
! ,gov]nm5t ( ,v5ezuela has respond$ to 
antigov]nm5t prote/s ) viol5ce & kill+s 
p]petrat$ by its public security =ces4  
7#i7 ,9 ,may #bjad1 ,human ,rights ,wat*
 f\nd t ! unlawful use ( =ce p]petrat$  
aga9/ antigov]nm5t prote/]s 0 "p ( a    
sy/ematic practice by ! ,v5ezuelan      
security =ces4  7#aj7 ,z ( ,septemb] #a1
 #bjad1 #da p _h be5 kill$1             
approximately #c1jjj _h be5 arre/$      
unju/ly1 & m ?an #aej rema9$ 9 prison & 
fac$ crim9al *>ges z a result (         
antigov]nm5t demon/rations ?r\gh\t      

,v5ezuela4  7#aa7 ,opposition lead]     
,leopoldo ,lopez 0 arre/$ on ,febru>y   
#ah1 #bjad1 9 relation to ! prote/s & 0 
unju/ly *>g$ ) crim9al incitem5t1       
conspiracy1 arson1 & prop]ty damage4    
,s9ce 8 arre/1 ,lopez has be5 held 9    
solit>y conf9em5t & has be5 d5i$ #eh out
 ( #fj ( 8 propos$ witnesses at 8 ongo+ 
trial4  7#ab7 ,z ( ,septemb] #a1 #bjad1 
n a s+le memb] ( ! public security =ces 
( ! ,gov]nm5t ( ,v5ezuela _h be5 held   
acc\ntable = acts ( viol5ce p]petrat$   
aga9/ antigov]nm5t prote/]s4  #c4 ,s5se 
( ,congress reg>d+ antigov]nm5t prote/s 
9 ,v5ezuela & ! ne$ to prev5t fur!r     
viol5ce 9 ,v5ezuela ,x is ! s5se (      
,congress t-- 7#a7 ! ,unit$ ,/ates      
aspires to a mutually b5eficial         
relation%ip ) ,v5ezuela bas$ on respect 
= human rights & ! rule ( law & a       
functional & productive relation%ip on  
issues ( public security1 includ+       
c\nt]n>cotics & c\nt]t]rorism2  7#b7 !  
,unit$ ,/ates supports ! p ( ,v5ezuela 9
 _! ef=ts to realize _! full economic   

pot5tial & to advance repres5tative     
democracy1 human rights1 & ! rule ( law 
)9 _! c\ntry2  7#c7 ! *ronic            
mismanagem5t by ! ,gov]nm5t ( ,v5ezuela 
( its economy has produc$ conditions (  
economic h>d%ip & sc>city ( basic goods 
& food/uffs = ! p ( ,v5ezuela2  7#d7 !  
failure ( ! ,gov]nm5t ( ,v5ezuela to    
gu>antee m9imal /&>ds ( public security 
= its citiz5s has l$ ! c\ntry to become 
"o ( ! mo/ viol5t & corrupt 9 ! _w2     
7#e7 ! ,gov]nm5t ( ,v5ezuela cont9ues to
 take /eps to remove *ecks & balances on
 ! executive1 politicize ! judici>y1    
und]m9e ! indep5d5ce ( ! legislature    
?r\gh use ( executive decree p[]s1      
p]secute & prosecute its political      
oppon5ts1 curtail fre$om ( ! press1 &   
limit ! free expression ( its citiz5s2  
7#f7 ,v5ezuelans1 respond+ to ongo+     
economic h>d%ip1 high levels ( crime &  
viol5ce1 & ! lack ( basic political     
rights & individual fre$oms1 h turn$ out
 9 demon/rations 9 ,c>acas & ?r\gh\t !  
c\ntry to prote/ ! failure ( ! ,gov]nm5t

 ( ,v5ezuela to protect ! political &   
economic well-be+ ( its citiz5s2 &  7#g7
 ! repeat$ use ( viol5ce p]petrat$ by ! 
,national ,gu>d & security p]sonnel (   
,v5ezuela1 z well z p]sons act+ on      
behalf ( ! ,gov]nm5t ( ,v5ezuela1 aga9/ 
antigov]nm5t prote/]s t began on        
,febru>y #d1 #bjad1 is intol]able & !   
use ( unprovok$ viol5ce by prote/]s is  
also a matt] ( s]i\s conc]n4  #d4 ,unit$
 ,/ates policy t[>d ,v5ezuela ,x is !   
policy ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates-- 7#a7 to      
support ! p ( ,v5ezuela 9 _! aspiration 
to live "u conditions ( peace &         
repres5tative democracy z def9$ by !    
,int]-,am]ican ,democratic ,*>t] ( !    
,organization ( ,am]ican ,/ates2  7#b7  
to "w 9 conc]t ) ! o!r memb] /ates )9 ! 
,organization ( ,am]ican ,/ates1 z well 
z ! c\ntries ( ! ,european ,union1 to   
ensure ! peaceful resolution ( ! curr5t 
situation 9 ,v5ezuela & ! imm$iate      
cessation ( viol5ce aga9/ antigov]nm5t  
prote/ors2  7#c7 to hold acc\ntable     
gov]nm5t & security (ficials 9 ,v5ezuela

 responsible = or complicit 9 ! use (   
=ce 9 relation to antigov]nm5t prote/s &
 simil> future acts ( viol5ce2 &  7#d7  
to cont9ue to support ! developm5t (    
democratic political processes &        
indep5d5t civil society 9 ,v5ezuela4    
#e4 ,sanctions on p]sons responsible =  
viol5ce 9 ,v5ezuela  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,!    
,presid5t %all impose ! sanctions       
describ$ 9 subsection 7b7 ) respect to  
any =eign p]son1 includ+ any curr5t or  
=m] (ficial ( ! ,gov]nm5t ( ,v5ezuela or
 any p]son act+ on behalf ( t ,gov]nm5t1
 t ! ,presid5t det]m9es-- 7#a7 has      
p]petrat$1 or is responsible = ord]+ or 
o!rwise direct+1 significant acts (     
viol5ce or s]i\s human rights abuses 9  
,v5ezuela aga9/ p]sons associat$ ) !    
antigov]nm5t prote/s 9 ,v5ezuela t began
 on ,febru>y #d1 #bjad2  7#b7 has ord]$ 
or o!rwise direct$ ! arre/ or           
prosecution ( a p]son 9 ,v5ezuela       
prim>ily because ( ! p]son's legitimate 
ex]cise ( fre$om ( expression or        
assembly2 or  7#c7 has kn[+ly mat]ially 

assi/$1 sponsor$1 or provid$ significant
 f9ancial1 mat]ial1 or te*nological     
support =1 or goods or s]vices 9 support
 (1 ! commission ( acts describ$ 9      
p>agraph 7#a7 or 7#b74  7b7 ,sanctions  
describ$  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,! sanctions    
describ$ 9 ?is subsection are ! foll[+3 
7,a7 ,asset block+ ,! ex]cise ( all p[]s
 grant$ to ! ,presid5t by !             
,int]national ,em]g5cy ,economic ,p[]s  
,act 7#ej ,u4,s4,c4 #agja et seq47 to ! 
ext5t necess>y to block & prohibit all  
transactions 9 all prop]ty & int]e/s 9  
prop]ty ( a p]son det]m9$ by ! ,presid5t
 to be subject to subsection 7a7 if su* 
prop]ty & int]e/s 9 prop]ty are 9 !     
,unit$ ,/ates1 come )9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates1 
or are or come )9 ! possession or       
control ( a ,unit$ ,/ates p]son4  7,b7  
,exclusion f ! ,unit$ ,/ates &          
revocation ( visa or o!r docum5tation ,9
 ! case ( an ali5 det]m9$ by ! ,presid5t
 to be subject to subsection 7a71 d5ial 
( a visa to1 & exclusion f ! ,unit$     
,/ates (1 ! ali51 & revocation 9        

accordance ) section #bba7;i7 ( !       
,immigration & ,nationality ,act 7#h    
,u4,s4,c4 #abja7;i771 ( any visa or o!r 
docum5tation ( ! ali54  7#b7 ,p5alties  
,a p]son t violates1 attempts to        
violate1 conspires to violate1 or causes
 a violation ( p>agraph 7#a77;,a7 or any
 regulation1 lic5se1 or ord] issu$ to   
c>ry out p>agraph 7#a77;,a7 %all be     
subject to ! p5alties set =? 9          
subsections 7b7 & 7c7 ( section #bjf ( !
 ,int]national ,em]g5cy ,economic ,p[]s 
,act 7#ej ,u4,s4,c4 #agje7 to ! same    
ext5t z a p]son t commits an unlawful   
act describ$ 9 subsection 7a7 ( t       
section4  7#c7 ,exception relat+ to     
importation ( goods ,! requirem5t to    
block & prohibit all transactions 9 all 
prop]ty & int]e/s 9 prop]ty "u p>agraph 
7#a77;,a7 %all n include ! au?ority to  
impose sanctions on ! importation (     
goods4  7#d7 ,exception to comply )     
unit$ nations headqu>t]s agreem5t       
,sanctions "u p>agraph 7#a77;,b7 %all n 
apply to an ali5 if admitt+ ! ali5 into 

! ,unit$ ,/ates is necess>y to p]mit !  
,unit$ ,/ates to comply ) ! ,agreem5t   
reg>d+ ! ,headqu>t]s ( ! ,unit$         
,nations1 sign$ at ,lake ,success ,june 
#bf1 #aidg1 & ent]$ into =ce ,novemb]   
#ba1 #aidg1 betwe5 ! ,unit$ ,nations & !
 ,unit$ ,/ates1 or o!r applicable       
int]national obligations4  7c7 ,waiv] ,!
 ,presid5t may waive ! application (    
sanctions "u subsection 7b7 ) respect to
 a p]son if ! ,presid5t-- 7#a7 det]m9es 
t su* a waiv] is 9 ! national int]e/ ( !
 ,unit$ ,/ates2 &  7#b7 on or be=e !    
date on :i* ! waiv] takes effect1       
submits to ! ,committee on ,=eign       
,relations & ! ,committee on ,bank+     
,h\s+1 & ,urban ,affairs ( ! ,s5ate & ! 
,committee on ,=eign ,affairs & !       
,committee on ,f9ancial ,s]vices ( !    
,h\se ( ,repres5tatives a notice ( &    
ju/ification = ! waiv]4  7d7 ,regulatory
 au?ority ,! ,presid5t %all issue su*   
regulations1 lic5ses1 & ord]s z are     
necess>y to c>ry out ?is section4  7e7  
,t]m9ation ,! requirem5t to impose      

sanctions "u ?is section %all t]m9ate on
 ,decemb] #ca1 #bjaf4  7f7 ,def9itions  
,9 ?is section3 7#a7 ,admitt$2 ali5 ,!  
t]ms admitt$ & ali5 h ! mean+s giv5 ^?  
t]ms 9 section #aja ( ! ,immigration &  
,nationality ,act 7#h ,u4,s4,c4 #aaja74 
7#b7 ,f9ancial in/itution ,! t]m        
f9ancial in/itution has ! mean+ giv5 t  
t]m 9 section #ecab ( title #ca1 ,unit$ 
,/ates ,code4  7#c7 ,=eign p]son ,! t]m 
=eign p]son means a p]son t is n a      
,unit$ ,/ates p]son4  7#d7 ,good ,! t]m 
good has ! mean+ giv5 t t]m 9 section   
#af ( ! ,export ,adm9i/ration ,act (    
#aigi 7#ej ,u4,s4,c4 ,app4 #bdae7 7z    
cont9u$ 9 effect pursuant to !          
,int]national ,em]g5cy ,economic ,p[]s  
,act 7#ej ,u4,s4,c4 #agja et seq4774    
7#e7 ,kn[+ly ,! t]m kn[+ly1 ) respect to
 conduct1 a circum/ance1 or a result1   
means t a p]son has actual k1 or %\ld h 
kn[n1 ( ! conduct1 ! circum/ance1 or !  
result4  7#f7 ,mat]ially assi/$ ,! t]m  
mat]ially assi/$ means ! provision (    
assi/ance t is significant & ( a k9d    

directly relevant to acts describ$ 9    
p>agraph 7#a7 or 7#b7 ( subsection 7a74 
7#g7 ,unit$ /ates p]son ,! t]m ,unit$   
,/ates p]son means-- 7,a7 a ,unit$      
,/ates citiz5 or an ali5 lawfully       
admitt$ = p]man5t resid5ce to ! ,unit$  
,/ates2 or  7,b7 an entity organiz$ "u !
 laws ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates or ( any        
jurisdiction )9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates1 includ+
 a =eign bran* ( su* an entity4  #f4    
,report on broadca/+1 in=mation         
di/ribution1 & circumv5tion te*nology   
di/ribution 9 ,v5ezuela  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,n
 lat] ?an #cj days aft] ! date ( !      
enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 ! ,*airman ( !     
,broadca/+ ,bo>d ( ,gov]nors 79 ?is     
section ref]r$ to z ! ,bo>d7 %all submit
 to ,congress a report t includes-- 7#a7
 a ?or\gh evaluation ( ! gov]nm5tal1    
political1 & te*nological ob/acles fac$ 
by ! p ( ,v5ezuela 9 _! ef=ts to obta9  
accurate1 objective1 & compreh5sive news
 & in=mation ab\t dome/ic & int]national
 affairs2  7#b7 an assessm5t ( curr5t   
ef=ts relat+ to broadca/+1 in=mation    

di/ribution1 & circumv5tion te*nology   
di/ribution 9 ,v5ezuela1 by ! ,unit$    
,/ates ,gov]nm5t & o!rwise2 &  7#c7 a   
/rategy = exp&+ su* ef=ts 9 ,v5ezuela1  
includ+ recomm5dations = additional     
measures to exp& ^u curr5t ef=ts4  7b7  
,elem5ts ,! report requir$ by subsection
 7a7 %all include-- 7#a7 an assessm5t ( 
! curr5t level ( ,f$]al fund+ d$icat$ to
 broadca/+1 in=mation di/ribution1 &    
circumv5tion te*nology di/ribution 9    
,v5ezuela by ! ,bo>d be=e ! date ( !    
enactm5t ( ?is ,act2  7#b7 an assessm5t 
( ! ext5t to :i* ! curr5t level & type (
 news & relat$ programm+ & cont5t       
provid$ by ! ,voice ( ,am]ica & o!r     
s\rces is address+ ! in=mational ne$s ( 
! p ( ,v5ezuela2 &  7#c7 recomm5dations 
= increas+ broadca/+1 in=mation         
di/ribution1 & circumv5tion te*nology   
di/ribution 9 ,v5ezuela4  ,pass$ !      
,s5ate ,decemb] #h1 #bjad4,secret>y