,,ii #aagth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #eahb ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,december #e1 #bjbb ,mr4 ,kaine 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,rubio1 ,mr4 ,cardin1 and ,mr4 ,hagerty7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations ,a ,,bill ,to direct the ,united ,states ,government to support extending the mandate of the ,independent ,international ,fact-,finding ,mission on ,venezuela until a resolution of the ,venezuelan crisis is achieved4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,assuring that the ,fact-,finding ,examination ,continues to ,track ,human ,rights in ,venezuela ,act or the ,,affect ,human ,rights in ,venezuela ,act4 #b4 ,findings ,congress makes the following findings3 7#a7 ,the ,united ,nations ,human ,rights ,council ,resolution adopted ,resolution #db_/be on ,september #bg1 #bjai1 establishing an independent fact-finding mission 7referred to in this ,act as the ,fact-,finding ,mission7 on the ,bolivarian ,republic of ,venezuela to investigate extrajudicial executions1 enforced disappearances1 arbitrary detentions and torture and other cruel1 inhuman or degrading treatment since #bjad with a view to ensuring full accountability for perpetrators and justice for victims4 ,the mandate of the ,fact-,finding ,mission was extended by the ,united ,nations ,human ,rights ,council in #bjbj for two years1 and on ,october #g1 #bjbb1 for an additional two years1 with a view to combating impunity and ensuring full accountability for perpetrators and justice for victims4 7#b7 ,the ,fact-,finding ,mission has identified specific incidents and patterns establishing reasonable grounds to conclude that violations of international human rights and criminal law have been committed in ,venezuela1 according to its ,october #bjbb report4 7#c7 ,the ,fact-,finding ,mission has faced several constraints1 including lack of access to work in-country1 travel limitations due to the ,,covid-#ai pandemic1 disrupted interviews due to electricity and internet failures1 and limited ability to secure witness statements and key documents4 ,despite these challenges1 the ,fact-,finding ,mission has been able to carry out its investigative and analytical work1 and generate reports that serve as an invaluable resource for victims1 civil society organizations1 and international accountability mechanisms4 7#d7 ,the ,united ,states has historically used its voice1 vote1 and influence at the ,united ,nations to address human rights abuses around the world and to seek to hold perpetrators accountable4 7#e7 ,marta ,valias1 ,chair of the ,fact-,finding ,mission on ,venezuela1 stated in ,september #bjbb that the ,mission's investigations and analysis show that the ,venezuelan ,state relies on the intelligence services and its agents to repress dissent in the country4 ,in doing so1 grave crimes and human rights violations are being committed1 including acts of torture and sexual violence4 ,these practices must stop immediately1 and the individuals responsible must be investigated and prosecuted in accordance with the law44 #c4 ,actions relating to the fact-finding mission on ,venezuela 7a7 ,support ,to extend mandate ,the ,secretary of ,state shall take such actions as may be necessary to use the voice1 vote1 and influence of the ,united ,states in the ,united ,nations ,human ,rights ,council 7,,unhrc7 and the ,united ,nations ,general ,assembly 7,,unga7 to seek to-- 7#a7 extend the mandate of the ,independent ,international ,fact-,finding ,mission on the ,bolivarian ,republic of ,venezuela to continue until a resolution of the crisis in ,venezuelan that includes-- 7,a7 holding a new presidential election that complies with international standards for a free1 fair1 and transparent electoral process2 7,b7 ending ,nicolas ,maduro's usurpation of presidential authorities2 7,c7 restoring democracy and the rule of law2 7,d7 freeing political prisoners2 and 7,e7 facilitating the consistent delivery of humanitarian aid2 7#b7 encourage international support to empower the ,fact-,finding ,mission to thoroughly conduct its stated purpose of investigating gross violations of human rights perpetrated in ,venezuela since #bjad2 7#c7 urge the ,fact-,finding ,mission to raise early warnings of further deterioration of the human rights situation in ,venezuela1 particularly ahead of the country's elections expected in the country for #bjbd and #bjbe2 and 7#d7 provide investigative and technical assistance to the ,fact-,finding ,mission as requested and as permitted within the ,united ,nations ,rules and ,regulations and within ,united ,states law4 7b7 ,support for further action ,the ,president is authorized to direct the ,united ,states ,permanent ,representative to the ,united ,nations to use the voice1 vote1 and influence of the ,united ,states to urge the ,united ,nations to provide greater action with respect to human rights violations in ,venezuela by-- 7#a7 urging the ,,unga to consider a resolution condemning the ,venezuelan regime's use of political prisoners and wrongfully detained foreign nationals as leverage to extract concessions from its adversaries consistent with prior ,united ,nations resolutions2 7#b7 assisting efforts by the relevant ,united ,nations ,special ,envoys and ,special ,rapporteurs to secure the release of all political prisoners and wrongfully detained foreign nationals in ,venezuela1 including ,americans1 promote respect for human rights1 and encourage dialogue towards a peaceful and democratic transfer of power2 7#c7 urging the ,united ,nations and specialized agencies to address the humanitarian needs of the people of ,venezuela1 including vulnerable ,venezuelan refugees and migrants in third countries through direct assistance2 and 7#d7 supporting access for humanitarian actors1 independent media1 and credible international legal and judicial entities1 including future ,united ,nations fact-finding missions and similar investigatory mechanisms1 to people residing in ,venezuela and to the growing ,venezuelan diaspora4 7c7 ,due consideration of fact-,finding mission reports ,the ,president and the ,secretary of ,state shall-- 7#a7 appropriately review all past and future reports presented by the ,fact-,finding ,mission to ,united ,nations bodies2 and 7#b7 give due consideration to the ,fact-,finding ,mission's reported conclusions in developing and executing the foreign policy of the ,united ,states with respect to ,venezuela4 7d7 ,report ,not later than #ij days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 and annually thereafter until the expiration of the official mandate of the ,fact-,finding ,mission1 the ,secretary of ,state shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the implementation of the actions described in subsections 7a71 7b71 and 7c74 7e7 ,appropriate congressional committees defined ,in this section1 the term appropriate congressional committees means-- 7#a7 the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations and the ,committee on ,appropriations of the ,senate2 and 7#b7 the ,committee on ,foreign ,affairs and the ,committee on ,appropriations of the ,house of ,representatives4