,,ii  #aac? ,,congress  #b;d ,session   
,s4 #badb  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!      
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,m>* #ac1 #bjad ,mr4   
,m55dez 7= himself1 ,mr4 ,rubio1 ,mr4   
,nelson1 & ,mr4 ,kirk7 introduc$ !      
foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 read twice & ref]r$  
to ! ,committee on ,=eign ,relations  ,a
 ,,bill  ,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 h /at$ t ! inflation rate 9   
,v5ezuela 0 #ef4cj p]c5t 9 #bjac1 !     
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 & ! ,national ,/ati/ical      
,in/itute ( ,v5ezuela h decl>$ t !      
sc>city index ( ,v5ezuela rea*$ #bh     
p]c5t 9 ,decemb] #bjac1 :i* signifies t 
"o 9 #d basic goods is unavailable at   
any giv5 "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 public security =ces1 & by 
arre/+ & unju/ly *>g+ opposition lead]  
,leopoldo ,lopes ) crim9al incitem5t1   
conspiracy1 arson1 & int5t to damage    
prop]ty4  7#i7 ,z ( ,m>* #ac1 #bjad1 #bc

 p _h be5 kill$1 m ?an #ajj p _h be5    
injur$1 & doz5s _h be5 unju/ly deta9$ z 
a result ( antigov]nm5t demon/rations   
?r\gh\t ,v5ezuela4  #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 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$om ( ! press1 &   
limit ! free expression ( its citiz5s2  
7#f7 ! p ( ,v5ezuela1 respond+ to ongo+ 
economic h>d%ip1 high levels ( crime &  
viol5ce1 & ! lack ( basic political     
rights & individual fre$oms1 h turn$ out
 9 demon/rations 9 ,c>acas & ?r\gh\t !  
c\ntry to prote/ ! inability ( !        
,gov]nm5t ( ,v5ezuela to ensure !       
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 9 relation to ! 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 t 
began on ,febru>y #d1 #bjad1 & 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 p]son1 includ+ a curr5t or =m]      
(ficial ( ! ,gov]nm5t ( ,v5ezuela or a  
p]son act+ on behalf ( t ,gov]nm5t1 t ! 
,presid5t det]m9es-- 7#a7 has p]petrat$1
 or is responsible = ord]+1 controll+1  
or o!rwise direct+1 significant acts (  
viol5ce or s]i\s human rights abuses 9  
,v5ezuela aga9/ p]sons associat$ ) !    
antigov]nm5t prote/s 9 ,v5ezuela t began
 on ,febru>y #d1 #bjad2  7#b7 has       
direct$ or ord]$ ! arre/ or prosecution 
( a p]son prim>ily because ( ! p]son's  
legitimate ex]cise ( fre$om ( expression
 or assembly2 or  7#c7 has 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 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 security  
int]e/s ( ! ,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  
,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  
,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#d7    
,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 ,support = civil    
society 9 ,v5ezuela  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,!    
,secret>y ( ,/ate %all1 subject to !    
availability ( appropriations1 directly 
or ?r\gh nongov]nm5tal organizations--  
7#a7 def5d int]nationally recogniz$     
human rights = ! p ( ,v5ezuela2  7#b7   
build ! organizational & op]ational     
capacity ( democratic civil society     
activi/s & organizations 9 ,v5ezuela at 
! national & regional level2  7#c7      
support ! ef=ts ( indep5d5t m$ia outlets
 to broadca/1 di/ribute1 & %>e in=mation
 beyond ! limit$ *annels made available 
by ! ,gov]nm5t ( ,v5ezuela2  7#d7       
facilitate op5 & unc5sor$ access to !   
,int]net = ! p ( ,v5ezuela2  7#e7       
improve transp>5cy & acc\ntability (    
in/itutions t are "p ( ! ,gov]nm5t (    
,v5ezuela2  7#f7 provide support to     

civil society organizations1 activi/s1 &
 peaceful demon/rators 9 ,v5ezuela t h  
be5 t>get$ = ex]cis+ int]nationally     
recogniz$ civil & political rights1 z   
well z j\rnali/s t>get$ = activities    
relat$ to ! "w ( a free press2 &  7#g7  
provide support = democratic political  
organiz+ & election monitor+ 9          
,v5ezuela4  7b7 ,/rategy requirem5t ,n  
lat] ?an #fj days aft] ! date ( !       
enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 ! ,presid5t %all   
submit a /rategy to c>ry out !          
activities describ$ 9 subsection 7a7    
to-- 7#a7 ! ,committee on ,=eign        
,relations ( ! ,s5ate & ! ,committee on 
,=eign ,affairs ( ! ,h\se (             
,repres5tatives2 &  7#b7 ! ,committee on
 ,appropriations ( ! ,s5ate & !         
,committee on ,appropriations ( ! ,h\se 
( ,repres5tatives4  7c7 ,au?orization ( 
appropriations  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,!re is   
au?oriz$ to be appropriat$ to !         
,secret>y ( ,/ate #ae1jjj1jjj = fiscal  
ye> #bjae to c>ry out subsection 7a74   
,am\nts appropriat$ = ! activities set  

=? 9 subsection 7a7 %all be us$ pursuant
 to ! au?orization & requirem5ts conta9$
 9 ?is section4 ,additional am\nts may  
be au?oriz$ to be appropriat$ "u        
provisions ( law4  7#b7 ,notification   
requirem5t  7,a7 ,9 g5]al ,funds        
appropriat$ or o!rwise made available   
pursuant to p>agraph 7#a7 may n be      
obligat$ until until #ae days aft] !    
date on :i* ! ,presid5t has provid$     
notice ( int5t to obligate su* funds    
to-- 7i7 ! ,committee on ,=eign         
,relations ( ! ,s5ate & ! ,committee on 
,=eign ,affairs ( ! ,h\se (             
,repres5tatives2 &  7ii7 ! ,committee on
 ,appropriations ( ! ,s5ate & !         
,committee on ,appropriations ( ! ,h\se 
( ,repres5tatives4  7,b7 ,waiv] ,!      
,presid5t may waive ! requirem5t "u     
subp>agraph 7,a7 if ! ,presid5t det]m9es
 t failure to waive t requirem5t w\ld   
pose a sub/antial risk to human heal? or
 welf>e1 9 :i* case notification %all be
 provid$ z e>ly z practicable1 b 9 no   
ev5t lat] ?an #c days aft] tak+ ! action

 to :i* su* notification requirem5t 0   
applicable 9 ! context ( ! circum/ances 
necessitat+ su* waiv]4