From the offices of U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL):
House of Representatives Passes Venezuela Sanctions Bill to Hold Maduro Regime Officials Accountable for Human Rights Violations
“The passage of this bill clearly shows that my colleagues and I are committed to supporting the Venezuelan people’s struggle for democracy, rule of law, and liberty, and that we will not look the other way when an abusive autocrat brutalizes his own people.”
(WASHINGTON) – U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Chairman of the Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee, made the following statement regarding the passage of H.R. 4587 – the Venezuelan Human Rights and Democracy Protection Act, which sanctions officials in the regime of Nicolas Maduro who are responsible for committing human rights violations. The measure was passed by unanimous consent by the House of Representatives. Statement by Ros–Lehtinen:
“I’m pleased that the House of Representatives has acted to punish the thugs of the Maduro regime for brutally repressing and violating the human rights of those seeking to exercise their basic freedoms of speech and assembly in Venezuela. The passage of this bill clearly shows that my colleagues and I are committed to supporting the Venezuelan people’s struggle for democracy, rule of law, and liberty, and that we will not look the other way when an abusive autocrat brutalizes his own people. I hope that the Senate can act swiftly to pass the House version of the bill so that we can send it to the President’s desk as soon as possible to ensure that those responsible for human rights abuses are held accountable.”
H.R. 4587, Venezuelan Human Rights and Democracy Protection Act, is important legislation that:
- Denies visas to enter the United States, blocks property, freezes assets, and prohibits financial transactions to members of the Venezuelan regime who are responsible for the commission of serious human rights abuses against the citizens of Venezuela;
- Denies visas to enter the United States, blocks property, freezes assets and prohibits financial transactions to members of the Venezuelan regime who have engaged in censorship against individuals or media outlets disseminating information in relation to protests in Venezuela;
- Calls on the President to transmit to Congress a strategy to promote internet freedom, access to information, and to encourage Venezuela to abide by the Principles enshrined in the Inter-American Democratic Charter; and
- Directs the United States Permanent Representative to the Organization of American States (OAS) to use the voice, vote, and influence of the United States at the OAS to defend and protect the Inter-American Democratic Charter, and strengthen the independent Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to advance the protection of human rights throughout the Western Hemisphere.
NOTE: Cosponsors of H.R. 4587 – the Venezuela Human Rights and Democracy Protection Act are: Reps. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Ted Deutch (D-FL), Frederica Wilson (D-FL), Joe Garcia (D-FL), Matt Salmon (R-AZ), Albio Sires (D-NJ), Patrick Murphy (D-FL), Steve Stockman (R-TX), Corrine Brown (D-FL), Ron DeSantis (R-FL), Michael McCaul (R-TX), Michael Grimm (R-NY), Alan Grayson (D-FL), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Christopher Smith (R-FL), Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), Jeff Duncan (R-SC), Ted Poe (R-TX), Ted Yoho (R-FL), Alcee Hastings (D-FL), and Sean Duffy (R-WI).