,,ii  #aae? ,,congress  #a/ ,session    
,s4 #bbfe  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!      
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,decemb] #ba1 #bjag    
,mr4 ,cruz 7= himself1 ,mr4 ,leahy1 ,mr4
 ,rubio1 ,mr4 ,p]due1 ,mr4 ,m55dez1     
,mrs4 ,capito1 & ,mr4 ,durb97 introduc$ 
! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 read twice & ref]r$
 to ! ,committee on ,=eign ,relations   
,a ,,bill  ,to promote democracy & !    
rule ( law 9 ,nic>agua1 & = o!r         
purposes4  #a4 ,%ort title  ,?is ,act   
may be cit$ z ! ,nic>aguan ,inve/m5t    
,conditionality ,act 7,,nica7 ( #bjag4  
#b4 ,f9d+s ,congress makes ! foll[+     
f9d+s3 7#a7 ,! ,committee on ,=eign     
,affairs ( ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives    
conv5$ a congressional he>+ on ,decemb] 
#a1 #bjaa1 entitl$ ,democracy ,held     
,ho/age 9 ,nic>agua3 ,"p #a :]e =m]     
,unit$ ,/ates ,ambassador to ,nic>agua  
,rob]t ,callahan te/ifi$ fir/1 t ,daniel
 ,ortega's c&idacy 0 illegal1           
illegitimate1 & uncon/itutional2 second1
 t ! p]iod lead+ to ! elections & !     
elections !mselves 7 m>r$ by s]i\s      

fraud2 ?ird1 t ,daniel ,ortega & 8      
,s&9i/a p>ty h sy/ematically und]m9$ !  
c\ntry's fragile gov]nm5tal in/itutions4
  7#b7 ,accord+ to ! ,organization (    
,am]ican ,/ates 7,,oas7 report on !     
#bjaa ,presid5tial elections 9          
,nic>agua1 ! ,,oas recomm5d$ t !        
,gov]nm5t ( ,nic>agua take a numb] (    
/eps to improve its electoral sy/em1    
includ+ accr$it+ poll wat*]s to ensure  
political p>ties & civil society are    
repres5t$ to obs]ve elections1 &        
r$esign+ ! /ructure ( ! ,nic>aguan      
electoral c\ncil to all[ prop]          
regi/ration ( ! electorate4  7#c7 ,on   
,janu>y #be1 #bjab1 a press /atem5t f   
,secret>y ( ,/ate ,hill>y ,cl9ton /at$1 
,z not$ by int]national obs]v]s &       
,nic>aguan civil society gr\ps1         
,nic>agua's rec5t elections 7 n conduct$
 9 a transp>5t & imp>tial mann]1 & !    
entire electoral process 0 m>r$ by      
significant irregul>ities4 ,! elections 
m>k$ a setback to democracy 9 ,nic>agua 
& und]m9$ ! ability ( ,nic>aguans to    

hold _! gov]nm5t acc\ntable44  7#d7     
,accord+ to ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,/ate's #bjae 
,fiscal ,transp>5cy ,report3 ,nic>agua's
 fiscal transp>5cy w\ld be improv$ by   
includ+ all (f-budget rev5ue &          
exp5diture 9 ! budget1 audit+ /ate-own$ 
ent]prises1 & conduct+ a full audit ( ! 
gov]nm5t's annual f9ancial /atem5ts &   
mak+ audit reports publicly available )9
 a reasonable p]iod ( "t44  7#e7        
,accord+ to ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,/ate's       
,c\ntry ,reports on ,human ,rights      
,practices = #bjae 9 ,nic>agua3 ,9 #bjaa
 ! ,supreme ,electoral ,c\ncil 7,,cse7  
ann\nc$ ! re-election ( ,presid5t       
,daniel ,ortega ,saav$ra ( ! ,s&9i/a    
,national ,lib]ation ,front 7,,fsln7 9  
elections t int]national & dome/ic      
obs]v]s *>act]iz$ z s]i\sly flaw$4      
,int]national & dome/ic organizations   
rais$ conc]ns reg>d+ ! con/itutional    
legitimacy ( ,ortega's re-election4 ,!  
#bjaa elections also provid$ ! rul+ p>ty
 ) a sup]majority 9 ! ,national         
,assembly1 all[+ = *anges 9 !           

con/itution1 includ+ ext5d+ ! rea* (    
executive bran* p[] & ! elim9ation (    
re/rictions on re-election = executive  
bran* (ficials & mayors4 ,obs]v]s not$  
s]i\s flaws dur+ ! #bjab municipal      
elections & ,m>* #bjad regional         
elections44  7#f7 ,accord+ to !         
,dep>tm5t ( ,/ate's ,c\ntry ,reports on 
,human ,rights ,practices = #bjae 9     
,nic>agua3 ,! pr9cipal human rights     
abuses 7 re/rictions on citiz5s' "r to  
vote2 ob/acles to fre$om ( spee* &      
press1 includ+ gov]nm5t intimidation &  
h>assm5t ( j\rnali/s & indep5d5t m$ia1 z
 well z increas$ re/riction ( access to 
public in=mation1 includ+ national      
/ati/ics f public (fices2 & increas$    
gov]nm5t h>assm5t & intimidation (      
nongov]nm5tal organizations 7,n,g,os7 & 
civil society organizations4  7#g7 ,!   
same #bjae report /at$3 ,additional     
significant human rights abuses includ$ 
consid]ably bias$ policies to promote   
s+le-p>ty dom9ance2 arbitr>y police     
arre/ & det5tion ( suspects1 includ+    

abuse dur+ det5tion2 h>% & life-?reat5+ 
prison conditions ) arbitr>y & l5g?y    
pretrial det5tion2 discrim9ation aga9/  
e?nic m9orities & indig5\s p]sons &     
communities44  7#h7 ,on ,june #g1 #bjaf1
 ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,/ate's ,bureau (        
,democracy1 ,human ,rights & ,labor po/$
 on social m$ia3 ,disappo9t$ gov]nm5t ( 
,nic>agua said x w d5y electoral obs]v]s
 reque/$ by ,nic>aguan citiz5s1 *ur*1 & 
private sector ''' ,we cont9ue to       
enc\rage ! gov]nm5t ( ,nic>agua to all[ 
electoral obs]v]s z reque/$ by          
,nic>aguans44  7#i7 ,on ,augu/ #a1      
#bjaf1 ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,/ate issu$ a press
 release express+ grave conc]n ) !      
,gov]nm5t ( ,nic>agua limit+ democratic 
space lead+ up to ! elections 9 ,novemb]
 & /at$1 ,on ,june #h1 ! ,nic>aguan     
,supreme ,c\rt /ripp$ ! opposition      
,indep5d5t ,lib]al ,p>ty 7,,pli7 f its  
long recogniz$ lead]4 ,! ,supreme ,c\rt 
took simil> action on ,june #ag :5 x    
invalidat$ ! lead]%ip ( ! ,citiz5       
,action ,p>ty1 ! only rema9+ opposition 

p>ty ) ! legal /&+ to pres5t a          
presid5tial c&idate4 ,mo/ rec5tly1 on   
,july #bi1 ! ,supreme ,electoral ,c\ncil
 remov$ #bh ,,pli national assembly     
memb]s 7#af seat$ & #ab alt]nates7 f _! 
popul>ly-elect$ positions44  7#aj7 ,on  
,novemb] #g1 #bjaf1 ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,/ate 
issu$ a press release /at+1 ,! ,unit$   
,/ates is deeply conc]n$ by ! flaw$     
presid5tial & legislative electoral     
process 9 ,nic>agua1 :i* preclud$ !     
possibility ( a free & fair election on 
,novemb] #f4 ,9 advance ( ! elections1 !
 ,nic>aguan gov]nm5t sidel9$ opposition 
c&idates = presid5t1 limit$ dome/ic     
obs]vation at ! polls & access to vot+  
cr$5tials1 & took o!r actions to d5y    
democratic space 9 ! process4 ,!        
decision by ! ,nic>aguan gov]nm5t n to  
invite indep5d5t int]national electoral 
obs]v]s fur!r degrad$ ! legitimacy ( !  
election44  7#aa7 ,9 ,novemb] & ,decemb]
 ( #bjaf1 ! ,bo>d ( ,executive          
,directors ( ! ,int]-,am]ican           
,developm5t ,bank po/pon$ consid]ation (

 a policy-bas$ loan ( #fe1jjj1jjj to !  
,gov]nm5t ( ,nic>agua due to ! s]i\s    
conc]ns ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates mission ) !   
abs5ce ( transp>5cy1 sy/emic corruption1
 & ! lack ( free & fair elections 9     
,nic>agua4  7#ab7 ,accord+ to !         
,dep>tm5t ( ,/ate's ,c\ntry ,reports on 
,human ,rights ,practices = #bjaf 9     
,nic>agua3 actions by ! rul+ ,s&9i/a    
,national ,lib]ation ,front 7,,fsln7    
p>ty result$ 9 de facto conc5tration (  
p[] 9 a s+le p>ty1 ) an au?orit>ian     
executive bran* ex]cis+ significant     
control ov] ! legislative1 judicial1 &  
electoral functions44  7#ac7 ,accord+ to
 ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,/ate's ,c\ntry ,reports 
on ,human ,rights ,practices = #bjaf 9  
,nic>agua3 ,! ,novemb] #f elections =   
presid5t1 vice presid5t1 national       
assembly memb]s1 & repres5tatives = !   
,c5tral ,am]ican p>liam5t did n meet !  
conditions ( be+ free & fair ''' ,!     
,novemb] #f presid5tial & legislative   
elections 7 m>r$ by allegations (       
in/itutional fraud & ! abs5ce (         

indep5d5t opposition political p>ties4  
,national obs]v]s & opposition lead]s   
claim$ rates ( ab/5tion f #fj to #gj    
p]c5t44  7#ad7 ,accord+ to ! ,dep>tm5t (
 ,/ate's ,c\ntry ,reports on ,human     
,rights ,practices = #bjaf 9 ,nic>agua3 
,companies report$ t brib]y ( public    
(ficials1 unlawful seizures1 & arbitr>y 
assessm5ts by cu/oms & tax au?orities 7 
common ''' ,! c\rts rema9$ p>ticul>ly   
susceptible to bribes1 manipulation1 &  
o!r =ms ( corruption1 especially by !   
,,fsln1 giv+ ! s5se t ! ,,fsln heavily  
influ5c$ ,,csj & l[]-level c\rt         
actions44  7#ae7 ,on ,decemb] #ba1      
#bjag1 ! ,dep>tm5t ( ! ,treasury issu$ a
 press release ann\nc+ ! designation (1 
& sanctions aga9/1 human rights abus]s &
 corrupt actors1 includ+ ,rob]to ,rivas1
 ! ,presid5t ( ,nic>agua's ,supreme     
,electoral ,c\ncil1 pursuant to !       
,global ,magnitsky ,human ,rights       
,acc\ntability ,act 7subtitle ,f ( title
 ,,xii ( ,public ,law #aad-cbh74 ,!     
press release /ates1 9 "p3 ,z ,presid5t 

( ,nic>agua's ,supreme ,electoral       
,c\ncil1 draw+ a report$ gov]nm5t sal>y 
( #fj1jjj p] ye>1 ,rob]to ,jose ,rivas  
,reyes 7,rivas7 has be5 accus$ 9 ! press
 ( amass+ sizeable p]sonal weal?1       
includ+ multiple prop]ties1 private     
jets1 luxury vehicles1 & a ya*t4 ,rivas 
has be5 describ$ by a ,nic>aguan        
,comptroll] ,g5]al z above ! law1 )     
inve/igations into 8 corruption hav+ be5
 block$ by ,nic>aguan gov]nm5t (ficials4
 ,he has also p]petrat$ electoral fraud 
und]m9+ ,nic>agua's electoral           
in/itutions44  #c4 ,/atem5t ( policy ,x 
is ! policy ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates to        
support-- 7#a7 ! rule ( law & an        
indep5d5t judici>y & electoral c\ncil 9 
,nic>agua2  7#b7 indep5d5t pro-democracy
 organizations 9 ,nic>agua2  7#c7 free &
 fair elections ov]se5 by cr$ible       
dome/ic & int]national obs]v]s 9        
,nic>agua2 &  7#d7 anti-corruption &    
transp>5cy ef=ts 9 ,nic>agua4  #d4      
,int]national f9ancial in/itutions  7a7 
,9 g5]al ,! ,presid5t %all in/ruct !    

,unit$ ,/ates ,executive ,director at   
ea* int]national f9ancial in/itution to 
use ! voice & vote ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates to 
oppose any loan = budget support = !    
,gov]nm5t ( ,nic>agua1 o!r ?an to       
address basic human ne$s or to promote  
democracy1 unless1 9 ! prec$+ #ab mon?s1
 ! ,secret>y ( ,/ate has c]tifi$ &      
report$ to ! appropriate congressional  
committees t ! ,gov]nm5t ( ,nic>agua is 
tak+ effective /eps--  7#a7 to hold free
 & fair elections ov]se5 by cr$ible     
dome/ic & int]national electoral        
obs]v]s2  7#b7 to promote democracy1 z  
well z an indep5d5t judicial sy/em &    
electoral c\ncil2  7#c7 to /r5g!n ! rule
 ( law2  7#d7 to respect ! "r to fre$om 
( expression & association2  7#e7 to    
combat corruption1 includ+ inve/igat+ & 
prosecut+ gov]nm5t (ficials cr$ibly     
alleg$ to be corrupt2  7#f7 to protect !
 "r ( political opposition p>ties1      
j\rnali/s1 trade unioni/s1 human rights 
def5d]s1 & o!r civil society activi/s to
 op]ate )\t int]f]5ce2 &  7#g7 to       

protect ! rights ( indig5\s p4  7b7     
,report ,n lat] ?an #ahj days aft] !    
date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 !         
,secret>y ( ! ,treasury %all submit1 to 
! appropriate congressional committees1 
a writt5 report assess+--  7#a7 !       
effectiv5ess ( ! int]national f9ancial  
in/itutions 9 en=c+ applicable program  
safegu>ds 9 ,nic>agua2 &  7#b7 ! impact 
( ! matt]s describ$ 9 section #b on     
long-t]m prospects = positive developm5t
 outcomes 9 ,nic>agua4  7c7 ,annual     
reports by ! ,secret>y ( ,/ate ,!       
,secret>y ( ,/ate %all annually submit1 
to ! appropriate congressional          
committees1 a report on :e!r ! ,gov]nm5t
 ( ,nic>agua is tak+ effective /eps )   
respect to ! matt]s set =? 9 subsection 
7a71 & if ! ,gov]nm5t ( ,nic>agua is    
tak+ effective /eps ) respect to all su*
 matt]s1 %all c]tify su* to !           
appropriate congressional committees4   
7d7 ,t]m9ation ,?is section %all t]m9ate
 on ! day aft] ! e>li] (-- 7#a7 ! date  
on :i* ! ,secret>y ( ,/ate c]tifies &   

reports to ! appropriate congressional  
committees t ! requirem5ts "u subsection
 7a7 h be5 met2 or  7#b7 #e ye>s aft] ! 
date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act4  7e7      
,waiv] ,! ,presid5t may waive !         
requirem5ts "u ?is section if !         
,presid5t det]m9es t su* a waiv] is 9 ! 
national int]e/ ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates4  #e4 
,report on corruption & money laund]+ 9 
,nic>agua  7a7 ,report requirem5t ,n    
lat] ?an #ij days aft] ! date ( !       
enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 ! ,secret>y (      
,/ate1 9 consultation ) ! intellig5ce   
community 7z def9$ 9 section #c7d7 ( !  
,national ,security ,act ( #aidg 7#ej   
,u4,s4,c4 #cjjc7d7771 %all submit1 to ! 
appropriate congressional committees1 a 
report on ! involvem5t ( s5ior ,gov]nm5t
 ( ,nic>agua (ficials1 includ+ memb]s ( 
! ,supreme ,electoral ,c\ncil1 !        
,national ,assembly1 & ! judicial sy/em1
 9 acts ( public corruption1 money      
laund]+1 or human rights violations 9   
,nic>agua4  7b7 ,=m ,! report requir$ "u
 subsection 7a7 %all be submitt$ 9      

unclassifi$ =m1 b may conta9 a classifi$
 annex4 ,! unclassifi$ portion ( !      
report %all be made available to !      
public4  #f4 ,report on activities (    
c]ta9 regimes 9 ,nic>agua  7a7 ,9 g5]al 
,n lat] ?an #ij days aft] ! date ( !    
enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 ! ,secret>y (      
,/ate1 act+ ?r\gh ! ,bureau (           
,intellig5ce & ,rese>* ( ! ,dep>tm5t (  
,/ate & 9 consultation ) ! intellig5ce  
community 7z def9$ 9 section #c7d7 ( !  
,national ,security ,act ( #aidg 7#ej   
,u4,s4,c4 #cjjc7d7771 %all submit1 to ! 
appropriate congressional committees1 a 
report t describes ! ext5t ( coop]ation 
by ! ,gov]nm5ts ( ! ,russian ,f$]ation &
 ! ,boliv>ian ,republic ( ,v5ezuela     
7includ+ ,petroleos de ,v5ezuela1 ,s4,a4
 7,,pdvsa77 ) ! ,gov]nm5t ( ,nic>agua & 
! ,nic>aguan arm$ =ces & security       
p]sonnel4  7b7 ,=m ,! report requir$ "u 
subsection 7a7 %all be submitt$ 9       
unclassifi$ =m1 b may include a         
classifi$ annex4 ,! unclassifi$ portion 
( ! report %all be made available to !  

public4  #g4 ,def9itions ,9 ?is ,act3   
7#a7 ,appropriate congressional         
committees ,! t]m appropriate           
congressional committees means--  7,a7 !
 ,committee on ,=eign ,relations ( !    
,s5ate2  7,b7 ! ,committee on           
,appropriations ( ! ,s5ate2  7,c7 !     
,committee on ,bank+1 ,h\s+1 & ,urban   
,affairs ( ! ,s5ate2  7,d7 ! ,committee 
on ,=eign ,affairs ( ! ,h\se (          
,repres5tatives2  7,e7 ! ,committee on  
,appropriations ( ! ,h\se (             
,repres5tatives2 &  7,f7 ! ,committee on
 ,f9ancial ,s]vices ( ! ,h\se (         
,repres5tatives4  7#b7 ,int]national    
f9ancial in/itution ,! t]m int]national 
f9ancial in/itution includes-- 7,a7 !   
,int]national ,monet>y ,fund2  7,b7 !   
,int]national ,bank = ,recon/ruction &  
,developm5t2  7,c7 ! ,int]national      
,developm5t ,association2  7,d7 !       
,int]national ,f9ance ,corporation2     
7,e7 ! ,multilat]al ,inve/m5t ,gu>antee 
,ag5cy2  7,f7 ! ,int]-,am]ican          
,developm5t ,bank2 &  7,g7 !            

,int]-,am]ican ,inve/m5t ,corporation4