,,ii #aaeth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #ajah ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,may #c1 #bjag ,mr4 ,cardin 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,rubio1 ,mr4 ,durbin1 ,mr4 ,cornyn1 ,mr4 ,menendez1 ,mr4 ,mc,cain1 ,mr4 ,nelson1 ,mr4 ,kaine1 and ,mr4 ,van ,hollen7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations ,a ,,bill ,to provide humanitarian assistance for the ,venezuelan people1 to defend democratic governance and combat widespread public corruption in ,venezuela1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title2 table of contents 7a7 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,venezuela ,humanitarian ,assistance and ,defense of ,democratic ,governance ,act of #bjag4 7b7 ,table of contents ,the table of contents for this ,act is as follows3 ,sec4 #a4 ,short title2 table of contents4 ,sec4 #b4 ,findings4 ,sec4 #c4 ,sense of ,congress4 ,sec4 #d4 ,humanitarian assistance for the people of ,venezuela4 ,sec4 #e4 ,requirement for strategy to coordinate international humanitarian assistance4 ,sec4 #f4 ,support for ,organization of ,american ,states ,inter-,american ,democratic ,charter4 ,sec4 #g4 ,support for international election observation missions and democratic civil society in ,venezuela4 ,sec4 #h4 ,support for ,caribbean countries4 ,sec4 #i4 ,concerns and report on the involvement of ,venezuelan officials in corruption and illicit narcotics trafficking4 ,sec4 #aj4 ,sanctions on persons responsible for public corruption and undermining democratic governance in ,venezuela4 ,sec4 #aa4 ,concerns over ,,pdvsa transactions with ,rosneft4 #b4 ,findings ,congress makes the following findings3 7#a7 ,the deterioration of democratic governance and the economic crisis in ,venezuela have led to an unprecedented humanitarian situation in which people are suffering from severe shortages of essential medicines and basic food products4 7#b7 ,according to the ,world ,health ,organization1 ,venezuela had a shortage of necessary medications and medical supplies of-- 7,a7 #ee percent in #bjad2 7,b7 #fg percent in #bjae2 and 7,c7 #ge percent in #bjaf4 7#c7 ,according to a ,human ,rights ,watch #bjaf report1 it is increasingly difficult for many ,venezuelans1 particularly those in lower or middle-income families1 to obtain adequate nutrition and there are reports of symptoms of malnutrition1 particularly in children4 7#d7 ,despite massive shortages of basic foodstuffs and essential medicines1 ,president of ,venezuela ,nicols ,maduro has rejected repeated requests from the ,venezuelan ,national ,assembly and civil society organizations to bring humanitarian aid into the country4 7#e7 ,the ,international ,monetary ,fund has estimated that in ,venezuela in #bjaf the country's gross domestic product contracted by #ab percent and inflation rate reached #gbj percent1 and has stated that ,venezuela had the worst growth and inflation performance in the world4 7#f7 ,the ,international ,monetary ,fund has not convened an ,article ,,iv ,executive ,board consultation for ,venezuela since ,september #ac1 #bjjd1 which greatly limits the extent of information available to the international community about the severity of the ,venezuelan economic crisis4 7#g7 ,venezuela's political1 economic1 and humanitarian crisis is fueling social tensions that are resulting in growing incidents of public unrest1 looting1 violence among citizens1 and an exodus of ,venezuelans abroad4 7#h7 ,these social distortions are taking place amidst an alarming climate of criminal violence4 ,according to the ,united ,nations ,office on ,drug and ,crime1 ,caracas1 ,venezuela had the highest per capita homicide rate of any capital city in the world in #bjae at #abj murders per #ajj1jjj citizens4 7#i7 ,in #bjaf1 #ah1aee ,venezuelans submitted asylum requests in the ,united ,states1 which was greatest number of requests by any nationality1 according to ,u4,s4 ,citizenship and ,immigration ,services4 7#aj7 ,international and domestic human rights groups1 such as ,foro ,penal ,venezolano1 recognize more than #ajh political prisoners in ,venezuela1 including opposition leader and former ,chacao mayor ,leopoldo ,lpez1 ,judge ,mara ,lourdes ,afiuni1 ,caracas ,mayor ,antonio ,jos ,ledezma ,daz1 ,national ,assembly ,deputy ,gilber ,caro1 and former ,san ,cristobal mayor ,daniel ,ceballos4 7#aa7 ,according to media accounts1 #bi people lost their lives as the result of public demonstrations and protests in ,venezuela in ,april #bjag4 #c4 ,sense of ,congress ,it is the sense of ,congress that-- 7#a7 ,venezuelan ,president ,nicols ,maduro should permit the delivery of international humanitarian assistance to address the widespread and deeply concerning shortages of essential medicines and basic food products faced by the people of ,venezuela2 7#b7 it is in the best interest of the ,venezuelan people for the ,government of ,venezuela to engage with multilateral and regional economic institutions to ameliorate the effects of the country's ongoing economic1 social1 and humanitarian crisis2 7#c7 ,venezuelan ,president ,nicols ,maduro should immediately release all political prisoners and respect internationally recognized human rights in order to facilitate the conditions for political negotiations and dialogue in ,venezuela2 7#d7 ,venezuelan ,president ,nicols ,maduro and the ,supreme ,tribunal of ,justice of ,venezuela should take steps to reinstate the full powers and authorities of the ,national ,assembly of ,venezuela in accordance with the ,constitution of the ,bolivarian ,republic of ,venezuela2 7#e7 ,venezuela's ,national ,electoral ,council should establish a specific timeline to hold national1 regional1 and municipal elections in accordance with the ,constitution of the ,bolivarian ,republic of ,venezuela2 and 7#f7 the ,united ,states should support meaningful efforts towards political negotiations and dialogue through which all parties uphold their commitments and agree to specific deadlines to restore respect for ,venezuela's constitutional mechanisms and resolve the country's political1 economic1 and humanitarian crisis4 #d4 ,humanitarian assistance for the people of ,venezuela 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary of ,state1 in coordination with the ,administrator of the ,united ,states ,agency for ,international ,development1 subject to the availability of appropriations1 shall work through nongovernmental organizations to provide-- 7#a7 public health commodities to ,venezuelan health facilities and services1 including medicines on the ,world ,health ,organization's ,list of ,essential ,medicines and basic medical supplies and equipment2 7#b7 the basic food commodities and nutritional supplements needed to address growing malnutrition and improve food security for the people of ,venezuela1 with a specific emphasis on the most vulnerable populations2 7#c7 technical assistance to ensure health and food commodities are appropriately selected1 procured1 and distributed2 and 7#d7 improved transparency and accountability in institutions of the ,government of ,venezuela1 including the publication of official data on public health indicators and shortages of food and medicine4 7b7 ,strategy requirement ,not later than #ij days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,state shall submit a strategy for carrying out the activities described in subsection 7a7 to-- 7#a7 the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations of the ,senate2 7#b7 the ,committee on ,appropriations of the ,senate2 7#c7 the ,committee on ,foreign ,affairs of the ,house of ,representatives2 and 7#d7 the ,committee on ,appropriations of the ,house of ,representatives4 7c7 ,authorization of appropriations 7#a7 ,in general ,there is authorized to be appropriated to the ,secretary of ,state #aj1jjj1jjj for fiscal year #bjah to carry out the activities set forth in subsection 7a7 in accordance with this section4 7#b7 ,notification requirement 7,a7 ,in general ,amounts appropriated or otherwise made available pursuant to paragraph 7#a7 may not be obligated until #ae days after the date on which the ,president has provided notice of intent to obligate such funds to the committees listed in subsection 7b74 7,b7 ,waiver ,the ,secretary of ,state may waive the requirement under subparagraph 7,a7 if the ,secretary of ,state determines that failure to waive such requirement would pose a substantial risk to human health or welfare4 ,if such a waiver is invoked1 the ,president shall notify the committees listed in subsection 7b7 of the intention to obligate funds under this section as early as practicable1 but in no event later than #c days after taking the action to which such notification requirement was applicable in the context of the circumstances necessitating such waiver4 7d7 ,briefings ,upon a request from one of the committees listed in subsection 7b71 the ,secretary of ,state and the ,administrator of the ,united ,states ,agency for ,international ,development shall brief the committee on the progress made in implementing the strategy submitted under subsection 7b74 #e4 ,requirement for strategy to coordinate international humanitarian assistance 7a7 ,sense of ,congress ,it is the sense of ,congress that the ,united ,nations humanitarian agencies1 including the ,office for the ,coordination of ,humanitarian ,affairs1 the ,world ,health ,organization1 the ,food and ,agriculture ,organization1 and ,,unicef1 should conduct and publish an independent assessment on-- 7#a7 the extent and impact of the shortages of food and medicine in ,venezuela2 and 7#b7 the efforts needed to resolve such shortages4 7b7 ,strategy ,not later than #ij days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,state1 in consultation with the ,administrator of the ,united ,states ,agency for ,international ,development1 shall submit a multi-year strategy to the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations of the ,senate and the ,committee on ,foreign ,affairs of the ,house of ,representatives that-- 7#a7 describes how the ,united ,states will secure support from international donors1 including regional partners in ,latin ,america and the ,caribbean1 for the provision of humanitarian assistance to the people of ,venezuela2 7#b7 identifies governments that are willing to provide financial and technical assistance for the provision of such humanitarian assistance to the people of ,venezuela and a description of such assistance2 and 7#c7 identifies the financial and technical assistance to be provided by multilateral institutions1 including the ,united ,nations humanitarian agencies listed in subsection 7a71 the ,pan ,american ,health ,organization1 the ,inter-,american ,development ,bank1 and the ,world ,bank1 and a description of such assistance4 7c7 ,diplomatic engagement and coordination ,the ,secretary of ,state1 in coordination with the ,administrator of the ,united ,states ,agency for ,international ,development1 as appropriate1 shall-- 7#a7 carry out diplomatic engagement to secure contributions of financial and technical assistance from international donors and multilateral institutions in support of the strategy submitted under subsection 7b72 and 7#b7 take all necessary steps to ensure effective cooperation among international donors and multilateral institutions in support of such strategy4 7d7 ,briefings ,upon a request from the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations of the ,senate or the ,committee on ,foreign ,affairs of the ,house of ,representatives1 the ,secretary of ,state and the ,administrator of the ,united ,states ,agency for ,international ,development shall brief such committee on the progress made in implementing the strategy submitted under subsection 7b74 #f4 ,support for ,organization of ,american ,states ,inter-,american ,democratic ,charter 7a7 ,findings ,congress makes the following findings3 7#a7 ,article #a of the ,inter-,american ,democratic ,charter1 adopted by the ,organization of ,american ,states in ,lima on ,september #aa1 #bjja1 affirms1 ,the peoples of the ,americas have a right to democracy and their governments have an obligation to promote and defend it44 7#b7 ,article #ai of the ,inter-,american ,democratic ,charter states an unconstitutional interruption of the democratic order or an unconstitutional alteration of the constitutional regime that seriously impairs the democratic order in a member state1 constitutes1 while it persists1 an insurmountable obstacle to its government's participation in sessions of the ,general ,assembly ''' and other bodies of the ,organization44 7#c7 ,article #bj of the ,inter-,american ,democratic ,charter provides-- 7,a7 ,in the event of an unconstitutional alteration of the constitutional regime that seriously impairs the democratic order in a member state1 any member state or the ,secretary ,general may request the immediate convocation of the ,permanent ,council to undertake a collective assessment of the situation and to take such decisions as it deems appropriate42 and 7,b7 ,the ,permanent ,council1 depending on the situation1 may undertake the necessary diplomatic initiatives1 including good offices1 to foster the restoration of democracy44 7b7 ,sense of ,congress ,it is the sense of ,congress that-- 7#a7 ,venezuelan ,president ,nicols ,maduro and the ,supreme ,tribunal of ,justice of ,venezuela have carried out systematic efforts to undermine1 block1 and circumvent the authorities and responsibilities of the ,venezuelan ,national ,assembly as mandated in the ,constitution of the ,bolivarian ,republic of ,venezuela2 7#b7 such efforts by ,president ,maduro and the ,supreme ,tribunal of ,justice of ,venezuela amount to an unconstitutional alternation of the constitutional regime that seriously impairs the democratic order in ,venezuela2 and 7#c7 the ,secretary of ,state1 working through the ,united ,states ,permanent ,mission to the ,organization of ,american ,states1 should take additional steps to support ongoing efforts by ,secretary ,general ,luis ,almagro-- 7,a7 to invoke the ,inter-,american ,democratic ,charter2 7,b7 to advance a collective assessment of the situation in ,venezuela2 and 7,c7 to promote diplomatic initiatives to foster the restoration of ,venezuelan democracy4 #g4 ,support for international election observation missions and democratic civil society in venezuela 7a7 ,in general ,subject to the availability of appropriations1 the ,secretary of ,state1 in coordination with the ,administrator of the ,united ,states ,agency for ,international ,development1 shall work-- 7#a7 with the ,organization of ,american ,states to ensure credible international observation that contributes to free1 fair1 and transparent democratic electoral processes in ,venezuela2 and 7#b7 directly1 or through nongovernmental organizations-- 7,a7 to defend internationally recognized human rights for the people of ,venezuela2 7,b7 to support the efforts of independent media outlets to broadcast1 distribute1 and share information beyond the limited channels made available by the ,government of ,venezuela2 7,c7 to facilitate open and uncensored access to the ,internet for the people of ,venezuela2 and 7,d7 to combat corruption and improve the transparency and accountability of institutions that are part of the ,government of ,venezuela4 7b7 ,voice and vote at the ,,oas ,the ,secretary of ,state1 acting through the ,united ,states ,permanent ,representative to the ,organization of ,american ,states1 should advocate and build diplomatic support for sending an election observation mission to ,venezuela to ensure that democratic electoral processes are organized and carried out in a free1 fair1 and transparent manner4 7c7 ,strategy requirement ,not later than #ij days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,state shall submit a strategy to carry out the activities described in subsection 7a7 to-- 7#a7 the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations of the ,senate2 7#b7 the ,committee on ,appropriations of the ,senate2 7#c7 the ,committee on ,foreign ,affairs of the ,house of ,representatives2 and 7#d7 the ,committee on ,appropriations of the ,house of ,representatives4 7d7 ,authorization of appropriations 7#a7 ,in general ,there are authorized to be appropriated to the ,secretary of ,state for fiscal year #bjah-- 7,a7 #ejj1jjj to carry out the activities set forth in subsection 7a77#a72 and 7,b7 #i1ejj1jjj to carry out the activities set forth in subsection 7a77#b74 7#b7 ,notification requirement 7,a7 ,in general ,except as provided in subparagraph 7,b71 amounts appropriated or otherwise made available pursuant to paragraph 7#a7 may not be obligated until #ae days after the date on which the ,president has provided notice of intent to obligate such funds to the committees listed in subsection 7c74 7,b7 ,waiver 7i7 ,in general ,the ,secretary of ,state may waive the notification requirement under subparagraph 7,a7 if the ,president determines that such requirement would pose a substantial risk to human health or welfare4 7ii7 ,notification requirement ,if a waiver is invoked under clause 7i71 the ,secretary of ,state shall notify the committees listed in subsection 7c7 of the intention to obligate funds under this section as early as practicable1 but in no event later than #c days after taking the action to which such notification requirement was applicable in the context of the circumstances necessitating such waiver4 7e7 ,briefings ,upon a request from one of the committees listed in subsection 7c71 the ,secretary of ,state and the ,administrator of the ,united ,states ,agency for ,international ,development shall brief the committee on the progress made in implementing the strategy submitted under subsection 7c74 #h4 ,support for ,caribbean countries 7a7 ,findings ,congress makes the following findings3 7#a7 ,caribbean countries1 despite facing their own challenges1 can play a significant role in the ,caribbean region by responding to the humanitarian and political crisis in ,venezuela4 7#b7 ,energy security is a major challenge for ,caribbean countries1 which depend largely on high-cost imported fuel for electricity generation1 and many of which have benefited from preferential treatment by ,venezuela4 7#c7 ,caribbean countries-- 7,a7 are a market for ,united ,states products and services2 7,b7 have access to renewable and other energy sources2 and 7,c7 can attract financing to develop and implement new energy technologies and approaches1 with assistance and through public-private partnerships4 7b7 ,sense of ,congress ,it is the ,sense of ,congress that-- 7#a7 the ,secretary of ,state should-- 7,a7 strengthen the ,caribbean ,energy ,security ,initiative2 and 7,b7 extend current programming1 such as the ,caribbean ,sustainable ,energy ,road ,map and ,strategy2 and 7#b7 the ,secretary of ,state1 working with the ,administrator of the ,united ,states ,agency for ,international ,development1 the ,director of the ,united ,states ,trade and ,development ,agency1 and the ,president and ,chief ,executive ,officer of the ,overseas ,private ,investment ,corporation1 should-- 7,a7 support the ,clean ,energy ,finance ,facility for the ,caribbean and ,central ,america to encourage and facilitate regional investments in energy diversification2 7,b7 promote energy efficiency and integration of renewables into ,caribbean energy grids2 and 7,c7 promote ,united ,states energy missions to the ,caribbean4 7c7 ,statement of policy ,according to the ,united ,states-,caribbean ,strategic ,engagement ,act of #bjaf 7,public ,law #aad-bia71 it is the policy of the ,united ,states to increase engagement with-- 7#a7 the governments in the ,caribbean region2 and 7#b7 the private sector and civil society in the ,united ,states and in the ,caribbean4 #i4 ,concerns and report on the involvement of ,venezuelan officials in corruption and illicit narcotics trafficking 7a7 ,findings ,congress makes the following findings3 7#a7 ,the deterioration of governance in ,venezuela has been exacerbated by the involvement of senior officials of the ,government of ,venezuela1 including members of the ,national ,electoral ,council1 the judicial system1 and the ,venezuelan security forces1 in acts of corruption and illicit narcotics trafficking and related money laundering4 7#b7 ,in ,march #bjae1 the ,department of the ,treasury's ,financial ,crimes ,enforcement ,network determined that approximately #b1jjj1jjj1jjj had been siphoned from ,venezuela's public oil company1 ,petrleos de ,venezuela ,s4,a41 in conjunction with its designation of the ,banca ,privada d',andorra as a ,foreign ,financial ,institution of ,primary ,money ,laundering ,concern4 7#c7 ,on ,august #a1 #bjaf1 ,general ,nestor ,reverol1 ,venezuela's current ,minister of ,interior and former ,national ,guard commander1 was indicted in a ,united ,states district court for participating in an international cocaine trafficking conspiracy4 7#d7 ,on ,november #ah1 #bjaf1 ,franqui ,francisco ,flores de ,freitas and ,efrain ,antonio ,campo ,flores1 nephews of ,president ,maduro and ,venezuelan ,first ,lady ,cilia ,flores1 were convicted in a ,united ,states district court on charges of conspiring to import cocaine into the ,united ,states4 7#e7 ,on ,february #ac1 #bjag1 the ,department of the ,treasury's ,office of ,foreign ,assets ,control designated ,venezuelan ,vice ,president ,tareck ,zaidan ,el ,aissami ,maddah for his involvement in illicit narcotics trafficking1 pursuant to the ,foreign ,narcotics ,kingpin ,designation ,act 7#ba ,u4,s4,c4 #aija et seq42 title ,,viii of ,public ,law #ajf-abj74 7#f7 ,the ,department of the ,treasury's ,office of ,foreign ,assets ,control has designated additional individuals and senior ,venezuelan officials for their involvement in illicit narcotics trafficking1 pursuant to such ,act1 including-- 7,a7 ,venezuelan national ,samark ,jose ,lopez ,bello1 who is the primary front man and money launderer for ,tareck ,zaidan ,el ,aissami ,maddah2 7,b7 ,hugo ,armando ,carvajal ,barrios1 who is the current ,national ,assembly ,deputy and the former ,director of ,venezuela's ,military ,intelligence ,directorate2 7,c7 ,henry de ,jesus ,rangel ,silva1 who is the current ,governor of ,trujillo ,state and the former ,director of ,venezuela's ,directorate of ,intelligence and ,prevention ,services2 7,d7 ,ramon ,emilio ,rodriguez ,chacin1 who previously served as the ,minister of ,interior2 and 7,e7 ,freddy ,alirio ,bernal ,rosales1 who previously served as the ,mayor of the ,libertador municipality of ,caracas4 7b7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,corruption ,the term corruption means the extent to which public power is exercised for private gain1 including by bribery1 nepotism1 fraud1 or embezzlement4 7#b7 ,grand corruption ,the term grand corruption means corruption committed at a high level of government that-- 7,a7 distorts policies or the central functioning of the country2 and 7,b7 enables leaders to benefit at the expense of the public good4 7c7 ,reporting requirement 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #ahj days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,state1 acting through the ,bureau of ,intelligence and ,research1 and in consultation with the intelligence community 7as defined in section #c7d7 of the ,national ,security ,act of #aidg 7#ej ,u4,s4,c4 #cjjc7d7771 shall submit a report to ,congress that describes the involvement of senior officials of the ,government of ,venezuela1 including members of the ,national ,electoral ,council1 the judicial system1 and the ,venezuelan security forces1 in acts of corruption in ,venezuela1 with a specific emphasis on acts of grand corruption4 7#b7 ,additional elements ,the report submitted under paragraph 7#a7 shall-- 7,a7 describe how the acts of corruption described in the report pose direct challenges for ,united ,states national security and international security2 7,b7 identify individuals that frustrate the ability of the ,united ,states to combat illicit narcotics trafficking2 and 7,c7 include input from the ,drug ,enforcement ,administration1 the ,office of ,foreign ,assets ,control1 and the ,financial ,crimes ,enforcement ,network4 7#c7 ,form ,the report under paragraph 7#a7 shall be submitted in unclassified form1 but may include a classified annex4 ,the unclassified portion of the report shall be made available to the public4 #aj4 ,sanctions on persons responsible for public corruption and undermining democratic governance in ,venezuela 7a7 ,finding ,executive ,order #acfib 7#ej ,u4,s4,c4 #agja note71 which was signed on ,march #h1 #bjae1 established sanctions against individuals responsible for undermining democratic processes and institutions and involved in acts of public corruption that were not included in the ,venezuela ,defense of ,human ,rights and ,civil ,society ,act of #bjad 7,public ,law #aac-bgh74 7b7 ,sanctions ,section #e of the ,venezuela ,defense of ,human ,rights and ,civil ,society ,act of #bjad 7,public ,law #aac-bgh7 is amended-- 7#a7 in subsection 7a7-- 7,a7 in paragraph 7#b71 by striking or at the end2 7,b7 by redesignating paragraph 7#c7 as paragraph 7#e72 and 7,c7 by inserting after paragraph 7#b7 the following3 7#c7 has perpetrated1 or is responsible for ordering or otherwise directing1 significant actions or policies that undermine democratic processes or institutions2 7#d7 has perpetrated1 or is responsible for ordering or otherwise directing1 significant acts of public corruption2 or 2 7#b7 by redesignating subsections 7e7 and 7f7 as subsections 7f7 and 7g71 respectively2 7#c7 by inserting after subsection 7d7 the following3 7e7 ,briefings ,upon a request from the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations of the ,senate or the ,committee on ,foreign ,affairs of the ,house of ,representatives1 the ,secretary of ,state1 in conjunction with the ,secretary of the ,treasury1 shall offer a classified briefing on the efforts to impose sanctions under this section and the impact of such sanctions4 2 and 7#d7 in subsection 7f71 as redesignated1 by striking ,december #ca1 #bjai and inserting ,december #ca1 #bjbb4 #aa4 ,concerns over ,,pdvsa transactions with ,rosneft 7a7 ,findings ,congress makes the following findings3 7#a7 ,in late #bjaf1 ,venezuelan state owned oil company ,petrleos de ,venezuela1 ,s4,a4 7referred to in this section as ,,pdvsa71 through a no-compete transaction1 secured a loan from ,russian government-controlled oil company ,rosneft1 using #di4i percent of ,,pdvsa's ,american subsidiary1 ,,citgo ,petroleum ,corporation1 including its assets in the ,united ,states1 as collateral4 ,as a result of this transaction1 #ajj percent of ,,citgo is held as collateral by ,,pdvsa's creditors4 7#b7 ,,citgo1 a wholly owned subsidiary of ,,pdvsa1 is engaged in interstate commerce and owns and controls critical energy infrastructure in #ai ,states in the ,united ,states1 including an extensive network of pipelines1 #dh terminals1 and #c refineries1 with a combined oil refining capacity of #gdi1jjj barrels per day4 ,,citgo's refinery in ,lake ,charles1 ,louisiana1 is the sixth largest refinery in the ,united ,states4 7#c7 ,the ,department of the ,treasury imposed sanctions on ,rosneft1 which is controlled by the ,russian ,government1 and its ,executive ,chairman1 ,igor ,sechin1 following ,russia's military invasion of ,ukraine and its illegal annexation of ,crimea in #bjad4 7#d7 ,the ,department of ,homeland ,security has designated the energy sector as critical to ,united ,states infrastructure4 7#e7 ,the growing economic crisis in ,venezuela raises the probability that the ,government of ,venezuela and ,,pdvsa will default on their international debt obligations1 resulting in a scenario in which ,rosneft could come into control of ,,citgo's ,united ,states energy infrastructure holdings4 7b7 ,sense of ,congress ,it is the sense of ,congress that-- 7#a7 control of critical ,united ,states energy infrastructure by ,rosneft1 a ,russian government-controlled entity currently under ,united ,states sanctions1 would pose a significant risk to ,united ,states national security and energy security2 7#b7 the ,president should take all necessary steps to prevent ,rosneft from gaining control of critical ,united ,states interstate energy infrastructure2 7#c7 a default by ,,pdvsa on its loan from ,rosneft1 resulting in ,rosneft coming into possession of ,,pdvsa's ,united ,states ,,citgo assets1 would warrant careful consideration by the ,committee on ,foreign ,investment in the ,united ,states2 7#d7 if ,,pdvsa defaults on its debt obligations1 the ,department of the ,treasury's ,office of ,foreign ,asset ,control should review ,,citgo's transactions with ,united ,states persons to assess and ensure compliance with ,united ,states sanctions policies and regulations2 and 7#e7 the ,department of ,homeland ,security should conduct an assessment of the security risks posed by foreign control of ,,citgo's ,united ,states energy infrastructure holdings4