Bill Summary
The VERDAD Act of 2019, also known as the Venezuela Emergency Relief, Democracy Assistance, and Development Act of 2019, aims to provide humanitarian relief, address political and economic crises, combat corruption and illegal activities, and support the Interim President and democratically elected National Assembly of Venezuela. It includes provisions for international support, sanctions for corrupt actions, and recognition of the legitimacy of the National Assembly. The Act also expresses the importance of negotiating a solution to the crisis and providing humanitarian relief, and includes sections on sanctions exceptions, accountability for crimes against humanity, and support for democratic civil society and election observation. Additionally, it directs engagement with international financial institutions to support reconstruction of Venezuela's economy and recovery of stolen assets. The Act also imposes restrictions on visas for Maduro regime officials, and authorizes briefings and reports on the implementation of various provisions. It also clarifies that the Act does not authorize the use of military force and extends the termination date for sanctions against Venezuela.
Possible Impacts
1. The VERDAD Act of 2019, which aims to provide humanitarian relief and combat corruption in Venezuela, will have a direct impact on the Venezuelan people and migrants by providing much-needed support and assistance.
2. The legislation recognizes the importance of negotiations led by the Interim President and the National Assembly in reaching a solution to the crisis, and expresses the United States' policy to support diplomatic engagement. This will affect not only the current political situation in Venezuela, but also the future of the country and its people.
3. The Act also includes provisions for sanctions and penalties for those involved in corrupt or illegal actions, and calls for the recovery of assets stolen from the Venezuelan people. This will affect individuals and entities involved in these activities, as well as the Venezuelan economy and its people.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1025 Reported in Senate (RS)]
<DOC>
Calendar No. 101
116th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1025
To provide humanitarian relief to the Venezuelan people and Venezuelan
migrants, to advance a constitutional and democratic solution to
Venezuela's political crisis, to address Venezuela's economic
reconstruction, to combat public corruption, narcotics trafficking, and
money laundering, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
April 3, 2019
Mr. Menendez (for himself, Mr. Rubio, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Cruz, Mr. Cardin,
Mr. Cornyn, Mr. Kaine, Mr. Young, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr. Graham, Mr. Bennet,
Mr. Barrasso, Mr. Coons, Mr. Cassidy, Mr. Hawley, Mrs. Gillibrand, Mr.
Carper, and Mr. Gardner) introduced the following bill; which was read
twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations
June 3, 2019
Reported by Mr. Risch, with an amendment
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed
in italic]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To provide humanitarian relief to the Venezuelan people and Venezuelan
migrants, to advance a constitutional and democratic solution to
Venezuela's political crisis, to address Venezuela's economic
reconstruction, to combat public corruption, narcotics trafficking, and
money laundering, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
<DELETED>SECTION 1. SHORT TITLES; TABLE OF CONTENTS.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) Short Titles.--This Act may be cited as the
``Venezuela Emergency Relief, Democracy Assistance, and Development Act
of 2019'' or the ``VERDAD Act of 2019''.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act
is as follows:</DELETED>
<DELETED>Sec. 1. Short titles; table of contents.
<DELETED>Sec. 2. Defined term.
<DELETED>TITLE I--SUPPORT FOR THE INTERIM PRESIDENT OF VENEZUELA AND
RECOGNITION OF THE VENEZUELAN NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
<DELETED>Sec. 101. Findings; sense of Congress in support of the
Interim President of Venezuela.
<DELETED>Sec. 102. Recognition of Venezuela's democratically elected
National Assembly.
<DELETED>Sec. 103. Advancing a negotiated solution to Venezuela's
crisis.
<DELETED>TITLE II--HUMANITARIAN RELIEF FOR VENEZUELA
<DELETED>Sec. 201. Humanitarian relief for the Venezuelan people.
<DELETED>Sec. 202. Humanitarian assistance to Venezuelans in
neighboring countries.
<DELETED>Sec. 203. Requirement for strategy to coordinate international
humanitarian assistance.
<DELETED>Sec. 204. Support for efforts at the United Nations on the
humanitarian crisis in Venezuela.
<DELETED>Sec. 205. Sanctions exceptions for humanitarian assistance.
<DELETED>TITLE III--ADDRESSING REGIME COHESION
<DELETED>Sec. 301. Classified report on declining cohesion inside the
Venezuelan military and the Maduro regime.
<DELETED>Sec. 302. Additional restrictions on visas.
<DELETED>Sec. 303. Waiver for sanctioned officials that recognize the
Interim President of Venezuela.
<DELETED>TITLE IV--RESTORING DEMOCRACY AND ADDRESSING THE POLITICAL
CRISIS IN VENEZUELA
<DELETED>Sec. 401. Special Envoy for Venezuela and Task Force on
Venezuela.
<DELETED>Sec. 402. Support for the Lima Group.
<DELETED>Sec. 403. Accountability for crimes against humanity.
<DELETED>Sec. 404. Upholding the Organization of American States Inter-
American Democratic Charter.
<DELETED>Sec. 405. Support for international election observation and
democratic civil society.
<DELETED>TITLE V--SUPPORTING THE RECONSTRUCTION OF VENEZUELA
<DELETED>Sec. 501. Engaging international financial institutions to
advance the reconstruction of Venezuela's
economy and energy infrastructure.
<DELETED>Sec. 502. Recovering assets stolen from the Venezuelan people.
<DELETED>TITLE VI--RESTORING THE RULE OF LAW IN VENEZUELA
<DELETED>Sec. 601. Developing and implementing a coordinated sanctions
strategy with partners in the Western
Hemisphere and the European Union.
<DELETED>Sec. 602. Classified briefing on the involvement of Venezuelan
officials in corruption and illicit
narcotics trafficking.
<DELETED>Sec. 603. Sanctions on persons responsible for public
corruption and undermining democratic
governance.
<DELETED>Sec. 604. Public information about sanctioned officials.
<DELETED>Sec. 605. Financial sanctions on Maduro regime debt.
<DELETED>Sec. 606. Additional financial sanctions on Maduro regime
debt.
<DELETED>Sec. 607. Expanding kingpin sanctions on narcotics trafficking
and money laundering.
<DELETED>Sec. 608. Sanctions on the Maduro regime's trade in gold.
<DELETED>Sec. 609. Concerns over PDVSA transactions with Rosneft.
<DELETED>Sec. 610. Classified briefing on activities of certain foreign
governments and actors in Venezuela.
<DELETED>TITLE VII--CRYPTOCURRENCY SANCTIONS AND ENSURING THE
EFFECTIVENESS OF UNITED STATES SANCTIONS
<DELETED>Sec. 701. Sanctions on Venezuela's cryptocurrency and the
provision of related technologies.
<DELETED>Sec. 702. Report on the impact of cryptocurrencies on United
States sanctions.
<DELETED>TITLE VIII--MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
<DELETED>Sec. 801. Congressional briefings.
<DELETED>Sec. 802. Extension and termination of sanctions against
Venezuela.
<DELETED>SEC. 2. DEFINED TERM.</DELETED>
<DELETED> In this Act, the term ``Maduro regime'' means any
ministry, agency, political subdivision, or instrumentality of the
Government of Venezuela, including the Central Bank of Venezuela and
Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A., any branch of the Venezuelan armed
forces, and any person owned or controlled by, or acting for or on
behalf of, the Government of Venezuela that remain under the control of
Nicolas Maduro or the subsequent control of a person that comes to
power through any means other than--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) a free, fair, and transparent democratic
election that is monitored by credible international observers;
or</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) the appointment by Venezuela's democratically
elected National Assembly of an Interim President with a
mandate to convene elections described in paragraph (1);
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) a negotiation process described in section
103.</DELETED>
<DELETED>TITLE I--SUPPORT FOR THE INTERIM PRESIDENT OF VENEZUELA AND
RECOGNITION OF THE VENEZUELAN NATIONAL ASSEMBLY</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 101. FINDINGS; SENSE OF CONGRESS IN SUPPORT OF THE
INTERIM PRESIDENT OF VENEZUELA.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following
findings:</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) Venezuela's electoral event on May 20, 2018,
was characterized by widespread fraud and did not comply with
international standards for a free, fair, and transparent
electoral process.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) Given the fraudulent nature of Venezuela's May
20, 2018, electoral event, Nicolas Maduro's tenure as President
of Venezuela ended on January 10, 2019.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) The National Assembly of Venezuela approved a
resolution on January 15, 2019, that terminated Nicolas
Maduro's authority as the President of Venezuela.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (4) On January 23, 2019, the President of the
National Assembly of Venezuela was sworn in as the Interim
President of Venezuela.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (5) The United States Government, the Governments
of Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas,
Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica,
Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic,
Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Guatemala,
Haiti, Honduras, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Kosovo,
Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, North Macedonia, Malta,
Montenegro, Morocco, Netherlands, Panama, Paraguay, Peru,
Poland, Portugal, Romania, South Korea, Spain, Sweden,
Switzerland, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom, the Secretary
General of the Organization of American States, and the
European Parliament have all recognized National Assembly
President Juan Guaido as the Interim President of
Venezuela.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) to support the decisions by the United States
Government, more than 50 governments around the world, the
Secretary General of the Organization of American States, and
the European Parliament to recognize National Assembly
President Juan Guaido as the Interim President of
Venezuela;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) to encourage the Interim President of
Venezuela to advance efforts to hold democratic presidential
elections in the shortest possible period; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) that the Organization of American States, with
support from the United States Government and partner
governments, should provide diplomatic, technical, and
financial support for a new presidential election in Venezuela
that complies with international standards for a free, fair,
and transparent electoral processes.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 102. RECOGNITION OF VENEZUELA'S DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) Findings.--Congress finds that Venezuela's unicameral
National Assembly convened on January 6, 2016, following democratic
elections that were held on December 6, 2015.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) Venezuela's democratically elected National
Assembly is the only national level democratic institution
remaining in the country; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) actions taken by the Maduro regime that
require legislative approval, ratification, or concurrence,
including the provision or refinancing of debts, should only be
recognized as legitimate by the United States and the
international community if such legislative actions are
authorized by the democratically elected National Assembly of
the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (c) Policy.--It is the policy of the United States to
recognize the democratically elected National Assembly of Venezuela as
the only legitimate national legislative body in Venezuela.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (d) Assistance to Venezuela's National Assembly.--The
Secretary of State, in coordination with the Administrator of the
United States Agency for International Development, shall prioritize
efforts to provide technical assistance to support the democratically
elected National Assembly of Venezuela in accordance with section
406.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 103. ADVANCING A NEGOTIATED SOLUTION TO VENEZUELA'S
CRISIS.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) direct, credible negotiations led by the
Interim President of Venezuela and members of Venezuela's
democratically elected National Assembly--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) are supported by stakeholders in the
international community that have recognized the
Interim President of Venezuela;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) include the input and interests of
Venezuelan civil society; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) represent the best opportunity to
reach a solution to the Venezuelan crisis that
includes--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (i) holding a new presidential
election that complies with international
standards for a free, fair, and transparent
electoral process;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (ii) ending Nicolas Maduro's
usurpation of presidential
authorities;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (iii) restoring democracy and the
rule of law;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (iv) freeing political prisoners;
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (v) facilitating the delivery of
humanitarian aid;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) dialogue between the Maduro regime and
political opposition that commenced in October 2017, and were
supported by the Governments of Mexico, of Chile, of Bolivia,
and of Nicaragua, did not result in an agreement because the
Maduro regime failed to credibly participate in the process;
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) negotiations between the Maduro regime and
political opposition that commenced in October 2016, and were
supported by the Vatican, did not result in an agreement
because the Maduro regime failed to credibly participate in the
process.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Policy.--It is the policy of the United States to
support diplomatic engagement in order to advance a negotiated and
peaceful solution to Venezuela's political, economic, and humanitarian
crisis that is described in subsection (a)(1).</DELETED>
<DELETED>TITLE II--HUMANITARIAN RELIEF FOR VENEZUELA</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 201. HUMANITARIAN RELIEF FOR THE VENEZUELAN
PEOPLE.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) the United States Government should expand
efforts to peacefully address Venezuela's humanitarian crisis;
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) humanitarian assistance--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) should be provided directly to the
people of Venezuela; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) should not be passed through the
control or distribution mechanisms of the Maduro
regime.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) In General.--The Secretary of State, in coordination
with the Administrator of the United States Agency for International
Development, shall work through international and nongovernmental
organizations to provide humanitarian assistance to individuals and
communities in Venezuela, including--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) public health commodities to Venezuelan health
facilities and services, including medicines on the World
Health Organization's Model List of Essential Medicines and
basic medical supplies and equipment;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) the basic food commodities and nutritional
supplements needed to address growing malnutrition and improve
food security for the people of Venezuela, with a specific
emphasis on the most vulnerable populations; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) technical assistance to ensure that health and
food commodities are appropriately selected, procured, and
distributed.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (c) Strategy Requirement.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in
coordination with the Administrator of the United States Agency
for International Development shall submit a strategy for
carrying out the activities described in subsection (b) to--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of
the Senate;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) the Committee on Appropriations of the
Senate;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of
the House of Representatives; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (D) the Committee on Appropriations of the
House of Representatives.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) Additional elements.--The strategy required
under paragraph (1) shall be based on independent assessments
of the humanitarian crisis in Venezuela, including assessments
by nongovernmental organizations and the United Nations
humanitarian agencies listed in section 204(a).</DELETED>
<DELETED> (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) In general.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to the Secretary of State $200,000,000 for fiscal
year 2019 to carry out the activities set forth in subsection
(b) in accordance with this section.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) Notification requirement.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) In general.--Except as provided under
subparagraph (B), amounts appropriated or otherwise
made available pursuant to paragraph (1) may not be
obligated until 15 days after the date on which the
President provides notice to the committees listed in
subsection (c)(1) of the intent to obligate such
funds.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) Waiver.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (i) In general.--The Secretary of
State may waive the requirement under
subparagraph (A) if the Secretary of State
determines that such requirement would pose a
substantial risk to human health or
welfare.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (ii) Notification requirement.--If
a waiver is invoked under clause (i), the
President shall notify the committees listed in
subsection (c)(1) of the intention to obligate
funds under this section as early as
practicable, but not later than 3 days after
taking the action to which such notification
requirement was applicable in the context of
the circumstances necessitating such
waiver.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 202. HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO VENEZUELANS IN
NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) In General.--The Secretary of State, in coordination
with the Administrator of the United States Agency for International
Development, shall work through international and nongovernmental
organizations to provide Venezuelans in neighboring countries with
humanitarian aid, such as--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) urgently needed health and nutritional
assistance, including logistical and technical assistance to
hospitals and health centers in affected communities;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) food assistance for vulnerable individuals,
including assistance to improve food security for affected
communities; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) hygiene supplies and sanitation
services.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Additional Elements.--The assistance described in
subsection (a)--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) may be provided--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) directly to Venezuelans in neighboring
countries; or</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) indirectly through the communities in
which the Venezuelans reside; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) should focus on the most vulnerable
Venezuelans in neighboring countries.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (c) Strategy Requirement.--The strategy required under
section 201(c) shall include a strategy for carrying out the activities
described in subsection (a).</DELETED>
<DELETED> (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) In general.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to the Secretary of State $200,000,000 for fiscal
year 2019 to carry out the activities set forth in subsection
(a) in accordance with this section.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) Notification requirement.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) In general.--Except as provided under
subparagraph (B), amounts appropriated or otherwise
made available pursuant to paragraph (1) may not be
obligated until 15 days after the date on which the
President provides notice to the committees listed in
section 201(c)(1) of the intent to obligate such
funds.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) Waiver.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (i) In general.--The Secretary of
State may waive the requirement under
subparagraph (A) if the Secretary determines
that such requirement would pose a substantial
risk to human health or welfare.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (ii) Notification requirement.--If
a waiver is invoked under clause (i), the
President shall notify the committees listed in
section 201(c)(1) of the intention to obligate
funds under this section as early as
practicable, but not later than 3 days after
taking the action to which such notification
requirement was applicable in the context of
the circumstances necessitating such
waiver.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 203. REQUIREMENT FOR STRATEGY TO COORDINATE INTERNATIONAL
HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) Strategy.--The strategy required under section 201(c)
shall include a multiyear strategy that--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) describes United States diplomatic efforts to
ensure support from international donors, including regional
partners in Latin America and the Caribbean, for the provision
of humanitarian assistance to the people of
Venezuela;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) 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 assistance; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) identifies the financial and technical
assistance to be provided by multilateral institutions,
including the United Nations humanitarian agencies listed in
section 104(a), the Pan American Health Organization, the
Inter-American Development Bank, and the World Bank, and a
description of such assistance.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Diplomatic Engagement.--The Secretary of State, in
consultation with the Administrator of the United States Agency for
International Development, shall work with relevant foreign governments
and multilateral organizations to coordinate a donors summit and carry
out diplomatic engagement to advance the strategy described in
subsection (a).</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 204. SUPPORT FOR EFFORTS AT THE UNITED NATIONS ON THE
HUMANITARIAN CRISIS IN VENEZUELA.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that
the United Nations humanitarian agencies, including the Office for the
Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the World Health Organization,
the Pan American Health Organization, the Food and Agriculture
Organization, UNICEF, and the United Nations High Commissioner for
Refugees, should conduct and publish independent assessments
regarding--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) the extent and impact of the shortages of
food, medicine, and medical supplies in Venezuela;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) basic health indicators in Venezuela, such as
maternal and child mortality rates and the prevalence and
treatment of communicable diseases; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) the efforts needed to resolve the shortages
identified in paragraph (1) and to improve the health
indicators referred to in paragraph (2).</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Initial Efforts.--The President shall instruct the
Permanent Representative of the United States to the United Nations to
use the voice and vote of the United States in the United Nations
Security Council to secure the necessary votes--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) to place the humanitarian and political crisis
in Venezuela on the United Nations Security Council's Programme
of Work; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) to secure a Presidential Statement from the
President of the United Nations Security Council urging the
Maduro regime--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) to allow the delivery of humanitarian
relief; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) to lift bureaucratic impediments or
any other obstacles preventing independent
nongovernmental organizations from providing the proper
assistance to the people of Venezuela without any
interference by the Maduro regime.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (c) United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator.--The
President shall instruct the Permanent Representative to the United
Nations to use the voice and influence of the United States to advance
the appointment of a United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator for
Venezuela to lead and coordinate the efforts of humanitarian
organizations in a manner that contributes to Venezuela's long-term
recovery.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (d) Additional Efforts.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) In general.--If the Maduro regime refuses to
allow the delivery of humanitarian relief and to lift
bureaucratic impediments and any other obstacles described in
subsection (b)(2)(B), the President, beginning not later than
30 days after the conclusion of the efforts of the United
Nations described in such subsection, shall instruct the
Permanent Representative of the United States to the United
Nations to use the voice and vote of the United States to
secure the adoption of a resolution described in paragraph
(2).</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) Resolution described.--The resolution
described in this paragraph is a Resolution of the United
Nations Security Council that--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) requires the Maduro regime to promptly
allow safe and unhindered access for humanitarian
agencies and their implementing partners, including
possible support from neighboring countries;
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) calls on the Maduro regime--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (i) to allow the delivery of food
and medicine to the people of
Venezuela;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (ii) to end human rights
violations against the people of
Venezuela;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (iii) to agree to free, fair, and
transparent elections with credible
international observers;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (iv) to cease violence against the
people of Venezuela; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (v) to release all political
prisoners held by the Maduro regime.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 205. SANCTIONS EXCEPTIONS FOR HUMANITARIAN
ASSISTANCE.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) Definitions.--In this section:</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) Agricultural commodity.--The term
``agricultural commodity'' has the meaning given that term in
section 102 of the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 (7 U.S.C.
5602).</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) Medical device.--The term ``medical device''
has the meaning given the term ``device'' in section 201 of the
Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 321).</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) Medicine.--The term ``medicine'' has the
meaning given the term ``drug'' in section 201 of the Federal
Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 321).</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) In General.--Any transaction for the sale of
agricultural commodities, food, medicine, or medical devices to
Venezuela or for the provision of humanitarian assistance to the people
of Venezuela, and any transaction that is incidental or necessary to
any such transaction, regardless of whether the transactions or
provision of humanitarian assistance originate in, or have a connection
to, the United States, shall be exempt from United States sanctions,
including sanctions described in--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) sections 603, 605, 606, 608, and
701;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) the Venezuela Defense of Human Rights and
Civil Society Act of 2014 (Public Law 113-278); or</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) Executive Orders 13692, 13808, 13827, 13835,
13850, and 13857.</DELETED>
<DELETED>TITLE III--ADDRESSING REGIME COHESION</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 301. CLASSIFIED REPORT ON DECLINING COHESION INSIDE THE
VENEZUELAN MILITARY AND THE MADURO REGIME.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) Reporting Requirement.--Not later than 30 days after
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, acting
through the Bureau of Intelligence and Research, and in coordination
with the Director of National Intelligence, shall submit a classified
report to the appropriate congressional committees that assesses the
declining cohesion inside the Venezuelan military and security forces
and the Maduro regime.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Additional Elements.--The report submitted under
subsection (a) shall--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) identify senior members of the Venezuelan
military and the Maduro regime, including generals, admirals,
cabinet ministers, deputy cabinet ministers, and the heads of
intelligence agencies, whose loyalty to Nicolas Maduro is
declining;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) describe the factors that would accelerate the
decision making of individuals identified in paragraph (1)--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) to break with the Maduro regime;
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) to recognize the Interim President of
Venezuela and his government; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) assess and detail the massive number of
desertions and defections that have occurred at the officer and
enlisted levels inside the Venezuelan military and security
forces.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (c) Appropriate Congressional Committees.--In this
section, the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the
Senate;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) the Select Committee on Intelligence of the
Senate;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House
of Representatives; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (4) the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
of the House of Representatives.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 302. ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON VISAS.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) In General.--The Secretary of State shall impose the
visa restrictions described in subsection (c) on any current or former
official of the Maduro regime, or any foreign person acting on behalf
of such regime, who the Secretary determines--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) is responsible for, is complicit in, is
responsible for ordering, controlling, or otherwise directing,
or is knowingly participating in (directly or indirectly) any
activity in or in relation to Venezuela, on or after January
23, 2019, that undermines or threatens the integrity of--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) the democratically elected National
Assembly of Venezuela; or</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) the President of such National
Assembly, while serving as Interim President of
Venezuela, or the government officials under the
supervision of such President;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) is the spouse or child of a foreign person
described in paragraph (1); or</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) is the spouse or child of a foreign person
described or identified under--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) section 5(a) of the Venezuela Defense
of Human Rights and Civil Society Act of 2014 (Public
Law 113-278), as amended by section 603 of this
Act;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) section 804(b) of the Foreign
Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act (21 U.S.C. 1903(b));
or</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) Executive Orders 13692 (50 U.S.C. 1701
note) and 13850.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Removal From Visa Revocation List.--If a person
described in subsection (a)(1) or in subparagraphs (A) through (C) of
subsection (a)(3) publicly recognizes and pledges supports for the
Interim President of Venezuela and the government officials supervised
by such Interim President, any family members of such person who were
subject to visa restrictions pursuant to paragraph (2) or (3) of such
subsection shall no longer be subject to such visa
restrictions.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (c) Visa Restrictions Described.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) Exclusion from the united states and
revocation of visa or other documentation.--Subject to
paragraph (2) and subsection (b), an alien described in
subsection (a)--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) is inadmissible to the United
States;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) is ineligible to receive a visa or
other documentation authorizing entry into the United
States;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) is otherwise ineligible to be admitted
or paroled into the United States or to receive any
benefit under the Immigration and Nationality Act (8
U.S.C. 1101 et seq.); and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (D) shall, in accordance with section
221(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C.
1201(i)), have his or her visa or other documentation
revoked, regardless of when the visa or other
documentation was issued.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) Exception to comply with united nations
headquarters agreement.--Sanctions under paragraph (1) shall
not apply to an alien if admitting the alien into the United
States is necessary to permit the United States to comply with
the Agreement regarding the Headquarters of the United Nations,
signed at Lake Success June 26, 1947, and entered into force
November 21, 1947, between the United Nations and the United
States, or other applicable international
obligations.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (d) Rulemaking.--The President shall issue such
regulations, licenses, and orders as may be necessary to carry out this
section.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 303. WAIVER FOR SANCTIONED OFFICIALS THAT RECOGNIZE THE
INTERIM PRESIDENT OF VENEZUELA.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) Removal From Visa Revocation List.--If a person
sanctioned under any of the provisions of law described in subsection
(b) publicly recognizes and pledges supports for the Interim President
of Venezuela and the government officials supervised by such Interim
President, the person shall no longer be subject to such
sanctions.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Sanctions Described.--The sanctions described in this
subsection are set forth in the following provisions of law:</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1)(A) Paragraphs (3) and (4) of section 5(a) of
the Venezuela Defense of Human Rights and Civil Society Act of
2014 (Public Law 113-278), as amended by section 603 of this
Act.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) Paragraph (5) of section 5(a) of such Act, to
the extent such paragraph relates to the sanctions described in
paragraph (3) or (4) of such subsection.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2)(A) Clauses (1) and (4) of section 1(a)(ii)(A)
of Executive Order 13692 (50 U.S.C. 1701 note).</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) Subparagraph (D)(2) of section 1(a)(ii) of
such Executive Order, to the extent such subparagraph relates
to the provisions of law cited in subparagraph (A).</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3)(A) Section 1(a)(ii) of Executive Order
13850.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) Paragraph (iii) of section 1(a) of such
Executive Order, to the extent such paragraph relates to the
provision of law cited in subparagraph (A).</DELETED>
<DELETED> (c) Rulemaking.--The President shall issue such
regulations, licenses, and orders as may be necessary to carry out this
section.</DELETED>
<DELETED>TITLE IV--RESTORING DEMOCRACY AND ADDRESSING THE POLITICAL
CRISIS IN VENEZUELA</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 401. SPECIAL ENVOY FOR VENEZUELA AND TASK FORCE ON
VENEZUELA.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) Designation.--Not later than 30 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall designate a
Special Envoy for Venezuela (referred to in this section as the
``Special Envoy''), who shall--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) have the rank and status of ambassador;
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) report directly to the Secretary of
State.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Duties.--The Special Envoy shall--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) coordinate United States policy towards
Venezuela between relevant departments and agencies, including
the Department of State, the Department of the Treasury, the
Department of Justice, the Department of Defense, the United
States Agency for International Development, and the
intelligence community;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) develop and conduct oversight of United States
programs and operations related to Venezuela, including
humanitarian assistance, support for regional migration
systems, and assistance to democratic actors and independent
civil society in Venezuela;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) advance efforts--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) to recover the assets described in
section 502(a)(2) that were stolen from the Venezuelan
people; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) to coordinate sanctions with the
United States partners referred to in section
601;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (4) engage and coordinate policy matters related
to Venezuela with the international community, including the
Organization of American States, the United Nations and its
agencies, the Lima Group, the European Union, and other
governments and organizations with interest in
Venezuela;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (5) engage and coordinate with actors supporting
the restoration of democracy in Venezuela, including the
Venezuelan diaspora and the democratic political opposition in
Venezuela; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (6) communicate and coordinate engagement with the
Maduro regime.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (c) Authorization.--Notwithstanding any other provision of
law, the Special Envoy is authorized to directly engage with the Maduro
regime and its officers.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (d) Task Force on Venezuela.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) Establishment.--There is established an
interagency task force, to be known as the ``Task Force on
Venezuela'' (referred to in this subsection as the ``Task
Force''.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) Mission.--The primary mission of the Task
Force is to support the Special Envoy in the exercise of the
duties described in subsection (b).</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) Composition.--The Task Force shall include
representatives of, or liaison officers from, the Department of
State, the Department of the Treasury, the Department of
Justice, the Department of Defense, the United States Agency
for International Development, and the Central Intelligence
Agency. Members of the Task Force shall be selected from among
existing employees of their respective departments.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (e) Monthly Consultation.--Not later than 30 days after
being designated under subsection (a), and every 30 days thereafter,
the Special Envoy shall brief and consult with--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the
Senate;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) the Committee on Appropriations of the
Senate;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House
of Representatives; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (4) the Committee on Appropriations of the House
of Representatives.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 402. SUPPORT FOR THE LIMA GROUP.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following
findings:</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) The Lima Group is a diplomatic bloc whose
members include Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia,
Costa Rica, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Panama, Paraguay,
Peru, and Saint Lucia.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) The Lima Group--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) has recognized National Assembly
President Juan Guaido as the Interim President of
Venezuela;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) has reaffirmed the authority of the
democratically elected National Assembly of
Venezuela;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) has stated that it does not recognize
the legitimacy of Nicolas Maduro's tenure in office
beyond January 10, 2019;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (D) has stated that it does not recognize
the legitimacy of Venezuela's May 20, 2018,
presidential election as it did not comply with
international standards for a democratic, free, fair,
and transparent process;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (E) has called on Nicolas Maduro to
provisionally transfer executive powers to the National
Assembly of Venezuela until new democratic elections
are held;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (F) has condemned the rupture of the
democratic order in Venezuela;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (G) has called on the Maduro regime to
accept humanitarian assistance in order to address the
country's growing economic crisis; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (H) reiterated its ``conviction that the
transition to democracy must be conducted by
Venezuelans themselves, peacefully and within the
framework of the Constitution and international law,
supported by political and diplomatic means, without
the use of force.''.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that
the Secretary of State should conduct diplomatic engagement in support
of efforts by the Lima Group to restore democracy and the rule of law
in Venezuela and facilitate the delivery of humanitarian assistance for
the Venezuelan people.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 403. ACCOUNTABILITY FOR CRIMES AGAINST
HUMANITY.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following
findings:</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) On July 25, 2017, the Secretary General of the
Organization of American States stated ``the systematic attack
against the civilian population [of Venezuela] includes
murders, imprisonment and torture, and it is evident in the
eyes of the international community that we are in the presence
of crimes against humanity.''.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) On September 11, 2017, the United Nations High
Commissioner for Human Rights stated that Venezuelan security
forces may have committed crimes against humanity against
protesters and called for a credible international
investigation.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) A November 29, 2017, report by Human Rights
Watch documented that Venezuelan security forces had used
extreme and, at times, lethal forces against protesters and,
once detained, subjected them to abuses ranging from severe
beatings to torture involving electric shocks, asphyxiation,
and other techniques.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (4) On February 8, 2018, the Prosecutor of the
International Criminal Court opened a preliminary examination
of the situation in Venezuela as it relates to Venezuelan
security forces using excessive force against civilians and the
political opposition.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (5) On May 29, 2018, a panel of independent
international experts convened by the Secretary General of the
Organization of American States found that ``there are
reasonable grounds that satisfy the standard of proof required
by Article 53 of the Rome Statute for considering that acts to
which the civilian population of Venezuela was subjected . . .
constitute crimes against humanity''.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that
the Secretary of State should conduct robust diplomatic engagement in
support of efforts in Venezuela, and on the part of the international
community, to ensure accountability for possible crimes against
humanity and other violations of international humanitarian law and
violations and abuses of human rights.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (c) Report.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit a report to
Congress that--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) evaluates the degree to which the Maduro
regime and its officials, including members of the Venezuelan
security force, have engaged in actions that constitute crimes
against humanity and violations of internationally recognized
humanitarian rights; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) provides options for holding accountable the
perpetrators identified under paragraph (1).</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 404. UPHOLDING THE ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES INTER-
AMERICAN DEMOCRATIC CHARTER.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following
findings:</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) Article 1 of the Inter-American Democratic
Charter, which was adopted by the Organization of American
States in Lima on September 11, 2001, states: ``The peoples of
the Americas have a right to democracy and their governments
have an obligation to promote and defend it.''.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) Article 19 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 state, constitutes, while it persists, an
insurmountable obstacle to its government's participation in
sessions of the General Assembly . . . and other bodies of the
Organization.''.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) Article 20 of the Inter-American Democratic
Charter states the following:</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) ``In the event of an unconstitutional
alteration of the constitutional regime that seriously
impairs the democratic order in a member state, 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
appropriate.''.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) ``The Permanent Council, depending on
the situation, may undertake the necessary diplomatic
initiatives, including good offices, to foster the
restoration of democracy.''.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (4) Article 21 of the Inter-American Democratic
Charter states ``When the special session of the General
Assembly determines that there has been an unconstitutional
interruption of the democratic order of a member state, and
that diplomatic initiatives have failed, the special session
shall take the decision to suspend said member
state.''.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) Nicolas Maduro and the Supreme Tribunal of
Justice of Venezuela have carried out systematic efforts to
undermine, block, and circumvent the authorities and
responsibilities of the Venezuelan National Assembly, as
mandated in the Constitution of the Bolivarian Republic of
Venezuela;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) the electoral process convened by the National
Electoral Council of Venezuela on May 20, 2018 was not
democratic, free, fair, or transparent;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) Nicolas Maduro's attempt to inaugurate himself
for a second term in office on January 10, 2019, was not
legitimate;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (4) such events constitute an unconstitutional
alteration of the constitutional regime that seriously impairs
the democratic order in Venezuela; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (5) the Secretary of State, working through the
United States Permanent Representative to the Organization of
American States, should take additional steps to support
ongoing efforts by the Secretary General--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) to invoke the Inter-American
Democratic Charter; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) to promote diplomatic initiatives to
foster the restoration of Venezuelan
democracy.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 405. SUPPORT FOR INTERNATIONAL ELECTION OBSERVATION AND
DEMOCRATIC CIVIL SOCIETY.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) In General.--The Secretary of State, in coordination
with the Administrator of the United States Agency for International
Development--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) shall work with the Organization of American
States to ensure credible international observation of future
elections in Venezuela that contributes to free, fair, and
transparent democratic electoral processes; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) shall work through nongovernmental
organizations--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) to strengthen democratic governance
and institutions, including the democratically elected
National Assembly of Venezuela;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) to defend internationally recognized
human rights for the people of Venezuela, including
support for efforts to document crimes against humanity
and violations of human rights;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) to support the efforts of independent
media outlets to broadcast, distribute, and share
information beyond the limited channels made available
by the Maduro regime; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (D) to combat corruption and improve the
transparency and accountability of institutions that
are part of the Maduro regime.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Voice and Vote at the Organization of American
States.--The Secretary of State, acting through the United States
Permanent Representative to the Organization of American States, 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 free, fair, and
transparent manner.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (c) Strategy Requirement.--Not later than 180 days after
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in
coordination with the Administrator of the United States Agency for
International Development, shall submit a strategy to carry out the
activities described in subsection (a) to--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the
Senate;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) the Committee on Appropriations of the
Senate;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House
of Representatives; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (4) the Committee on Appropriations of the House
of Representatives.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) In general.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to the Secretary of State for fiscal year 2019--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) $500,000 to carry out the activities
described in subsection (a)(1); and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) $14,500,000 to carry out the
activities described in subsection (a)(2).</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) Notification requirement.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) In general.--Except as provided under
subparagraph (B), amounts appropriated or otherwise
made available pursuant to paragraph (1) may not be
obligated until 15 days after the date on which the
President provides notice to the committees listed in
subsection (c) of intent to obligate such
funds.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) Waiver.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (i) In general.--The Secretary of
State may waive the notification requirement
under subparagraph (A) if the Secretary
determines that such waiver is in the national
security interest of the United
States.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (ii) Notification requirement.--If
a waiver is invoked under clause (i), the
Secretary of State shall notify the committees
listed in subsection (c) of the intention to
obligate funds under this section as early as
practicable, but not later than 3 days after
taking the action to which such notification
requirement was applicable in the context of
the circumstances necessitating such
waiver.</DELETED>
<DELETED>TITLE V--SUPPORTING THE RECONSTRUCTION OF VENEZUELA</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 501. ENGAGING INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS TO
ADVANCE THE RECONSTRUCTION OF VENEZUELA'S ECONOMY AND
ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) In General.--The President shall engage the
International Monetary Fund and the Multilateral Development Banks to
create a framework for the economic reconstruction of Venezuela,
contingent upon the restoration of democracy and the rule of law in the
country.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Additional Elements.--The framework created under
subsection (a) should include policy proposals--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) to provide Venezuelans with humanitarian
assistance, poverty alleviation, and a social safety
net;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) to advance debt restructuring and debt
sustainability measures;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) to restore the production and efficient
management of Venezuela's oil industry, including rebuilding
energy infrastructure;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (4) to eliminate price controls and market
distorting subsidies in the Venezuelan economy; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (5) to address hyperinflation in
Venezuela.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (c) Consultation.--In creating the framework under
subsection (a), the President shall consult with relevant stakeholders
in the humanitarian (including international and nongovernmental
organizations), financial, and energy sectors.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (d) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that
any effort to conduct debt restructuring should--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) include discussions with China, which is
Venezuela's biggest creditor; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) appropriately account for China's and Russia's
high-risk lending to Venezuela.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (e) Certification.--The President may not support lending
or financing for Venezuela from the International Monetary Fund and the
Multilateral Development Banks until the Secretary of State submits a
report to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and
Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives certifying
that any such lending or financing--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) would be managed by the Interim President of
Venezuela or a new, democratically elected President;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) would not be used to repay external creditors
who are not members of the Group of Seven unless such payments
are essential to the restoration of economic stability and
democracy in Venezuela; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) would not benefit the Maduro regime.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 502. RECOVERING ASSETS STOLEN FROM THE VENEZUELAN
PEOPLE.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following
findings:</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) Venezuela ranked 169th out of 180 countries in
Transparency International's Corruption Perception Index
2017.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) In March 2015, the Department of the
Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network determined that
approximately $2,000,000,000 had been siphoned from Venezuela's
public oil company, Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A., in
conjunction with its designation of the Banca Privada d'Andorra
as a Foreign Financial Institution of Primary Money Laundering
Concern.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) In General.--The Secretary of State, in coordination
with the Secretary of the Treasury and the Attorney General, shall
advance a coordinated international effort--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) to carry out special financial investigations
to identify and track assets taken from the people and
institutions of Venezuela through theft, corruption, money
laundering, or other illicit means; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) work with foreign governments--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) to share financial investigations
intelligence, as appropriate;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) to block the assets identified
pursuant to paragraph (1); and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) to advance necessary civil forfeiture
litigation, including providing technical assistance to
help governments establish the necessary legal
framework to carry out asset forfeitures.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (c) Additional Elements.--The coordinated international
effort described in subsection (b) shall--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) include input from--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) the Office of Foreign Assets Control
of the Department of the Treasury;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) the Financial Crimes Enforcement
Network of the Department of the Treasury;
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) the Money Laundering and Asset
Recovery Section of the Department of
Justice;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) identify appropriate steps to advance
necessary civil forfeiture litigation in the United
States;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) include an assessment of whether the United
States or another member of the international community should
establish a managed fund to hold the assets identified pursuant
to subsection (b)(1) that could be returned to a future
democratic government in Venezuela; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (4) include recommendations for new legislative
and regulatory measures in the United States that would be
needed to establish and manage the fund described in paragraph
(3).</DELETED>
<DELETED> (d) Strategy Requirement.--Not later than 180 days after
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall
submit a strategy for carrying out the activities described in
subsection (b) to--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the
Senate;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban
Affairs of the Senate;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) the Committee on the Judiciary of the
Senate;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (4) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House
of Representatives;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (5) the Committee on Financial Services of the
House of Representatives; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (6) the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of
Representatives.</DELETED>
<DELETED>TITLE VI--RESTORING THE RULE OF LAW IN VENEZUELA</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 601. DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING A COORDINATED SANCTIONS
STRATEGY WITH PARTNERS IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE AND THE
EUROPEAN UNION.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) Strengthening Sanctions Capacity in Latin America and
the Caribbean.--The Secretary of State, working through the Assistant
Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement
Affairs and the Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business
Affairs, and in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, shall
provide technical assistance to partner governments in Latin America
and the Caribbean to assist such governments in establishing the
legislative and regulatory frameworks needed to impose targeted
sanctions on officials of the Maduro regime who--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) are responsible for human rights
abuses;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) have engaged in public corruption;
or</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) are undermining democratic institutions and
processes in Venezuela.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Coordinating International Sanctions.--The Secretary
of State, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, shall
engage in diplomatic efforts with partner governments, including the
Government of Canada, governments in the European Union, and
governments in Latin America and the Caribbean, to impose targeted
sanctions on the officials described in subsection (a).</DELETED>
<DELETED> (c) Strategy Requirement.--Not later than 90 days after
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in
consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, shall submit a
strategy for carrying out the activities described in subsection (a)
to--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the
Senate;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) the Committee on Appropriations of the
Senate;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House
of Representatives; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (4) the Committee on Appropriations of the House
of Representatives.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) In general.--There is authorized to be
appropriated, to the Department of State, $3,000,000 for fiscal
year 2019 to carry out the activities set forth in subsection
(a) in accordance with this section.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) Notification requirement.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) In general.--Except as provided under
subparagraph (B), amounts appropriated or otherwise
made available pursuant to paragraph (1) may not be
obligated until 15 days after the date on which the
President provides notice to the committees listed in
subsection (c) of the intent to obligate such
funds.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) Waiver.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (i) In general.--The Secretary of
State may waive the requirement under
subparagraph (A) if the Secretary of State
determines that such waiver is in the national
security interest of the United
States.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (ii) Notification requirement.--If
a waiver is invoked under clause (i), the
President shall notify the committees listed in
subsection (c) of the intention to obligate
funds under this section as early as
practicable, but not later than 3 days after
taking the action to which such notification
requirement was applicable in the context of
the circumstances necessitating such
waiver.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 602. CLASSIFIED BRIEFING ON THE INVOLVEMENT OF VENEZUELAN
OFFICIALS IN CORRUPTION AND ILLICIT NARCOTICS
TRAFFICKING.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) Briefing Requirement.--Not later than 90 days after
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, acting
through the Bureau of Intelligence and Research, and in coordination
with the Director of National Intelligence, shall brief the appropriate
congressional committees on the involvement of senior officials of the
Maduro regime, including members of the National Electoral Council, the
judicial system, and the Venezuelan security forces, in illicit
narcotics trafficking and acts of corruption in Venezuela.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Additional Elements.--The briefing provided under
subsection (a) shall--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) describe how the acts of corruption described
in the report pose challenges for United States national
security and impact the rule of law and democratic governance
in countries of the Western Hemisphere;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) identify individuals that frustrate the
ability of the United States to combat illicit narcotics
trafficking;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) include an assessment of the relationship
between individuals identified under subsection (a) and Nicolas
Maduro or members of his cabinet; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (4) include input from the Drug Enforcement
Administration, the Office of Foreign Assets Control, and the
Financial Crimes Enforcement Network.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (c) Appropriate Congressional Committees.--In this
section, the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the
Senate;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) the Select Committee on Intelligence of the
Senate;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House
of Representatives; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (4) the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
of the House of Representatives.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 603. SANCTIONS ON PERSONS RESPONSIBLE FOR PUBLIC
CORRUPTION AND UNDERMINING DEMOCRATIC
GOVERNANCE.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) Finding.--Executive Order 13692 (50 U.S.C. 1701 note),
which was signed on March 8, 2015, 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 2014 (Public Law 113-278).</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Sanctions.--Section 5(a) of the Venezuela Defense of
Human Rights and Civil Society Act of 2014 (Public Law 113-278) is
amended--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1)--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) by striking ``Government of
Venezuela'' and inserting ``Maduro regime (as defined
in section 4 of the Venezuela Emergency Relief,
Democracy Assistance, and Development Act of 2019)'';
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) by striking ``that Government'' and
inserting ``that regime'';</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) in paragraph (2), by striking ``or'' at the
end;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph
(5);</DELETED>
<DELETED> (4) by inserting after paragraph (2) the
following:</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(3) is responsible for, or complicit in,
ordering, controlling, or otherwise directing, significant
actions or policies that undermine democratic processes or
institutions;</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(4) is a government official, or a senior
associate of such an official, that is responsible for, or
complicit in, ordering, controlling, or otherwise directing,
acts of significant corruption, including the expropriation of
private or public assets for personal gain, corruption related
to government contracts or the extraction of natural resources,
bribery, or the facilitation or transfer of the proceeds of
corruption to foreign jurisdictions; or''; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (5) in paragraph (5), as redesignated, by striking
``paragraph (1) or (2)'' and inserting ``paragraph (1), (2),
(3), or (4)''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 604. PUBLIC INFORMATION ABOUT SANCTIONED
OFFICIALS.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, and every 180 days thereafter, except as
provided in subsection (c), the Secretary of Treasury, in consultation
with the Secretary of State, shall submit a report to Congress that
describes the total assessed value of blocked assets of Venezuelans
designated under sanctions authorized under--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act
(title VIII of Public Law 106-120; 21 U.S.C. 1901 et
seq.);</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) the Venezuela Defense of Human Rights and
Civil Society Act of 2014 (Public Law 113-278), as amended by
section 603 of this Act; or</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) Executive Orders 13692 (50 U.S.C. 1701 note)
and 13850.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Additional Elements.--Reports submitted under
subsection (a) should provide descriptions of specific cases that are
most representative of the endemic corruption and illicit financial
activities occurring in Venezuela.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (c) Subsequent Reports.--The Secretary of Treasury is not
required to submit an updated report to Congress under subsection (a)
unless, since the submission of the preceding report--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) there has been meaningful change in the value
of blocked assets; or</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) additional individuals have been targeted for
sanctions under the authorities listed in subsection
(a).</DELETED>
<DELETED> (d) Briefings.--If the Secretary of Treasury exercises the
exception described in subsection (c), the Secretary of the Treasury,
or designee, shall immediately brief Congress regarding--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) the decision to exercise the exception;
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) information related to the value of blocked
assets described in subsection (a).</DELETED>
<DELETED> (e) Form.--Reports required under this section shall be
submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified
annex.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 605. FINANCIAL SANCTIONS ON MADURO REGIME DEBT.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) Finding.--Executive Order 13808 (82 Fed. Reg. 41155),
which was signed on August 24, 2017, established sanctions against the
Maduro regime's ability to issue public debt.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Definitions.--In this section and in sections 606 and
608:</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) Entity.--The term ``entity'' means a
partnership, association, trust, joint venture, corporation,
group, subgroup, or other organization.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) Person.--The term ``person'' means an
individual or entity.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) United states person.--The term ``United
States person'' means any--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) United States citizen;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) alien lawfully admitted for permanent
residence to the United States;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) entity organized under the laws of the
United States or any jurisdiction within the United
States (including a foreign branch of any such entity);
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (D) any person physically located in the
United States.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (c) In General.--The President may prohibit, in the United
States or by a United States person--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) any transaction related to, provision of
financing for, or other dealing in--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) debt instruments with a maturity of
greater than 90 days issued by Petroleos de Venezuela,
S.A., on or after the date of the enactment of this
Act;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) debt instruments with a maturity of
greater than 30 days or equity issued by the Maduro
regime on or after the date of the enactment of this
Act, excluding debt instruments issued by Petroleos de
Venezuela, S.A., that are not covered under
subparagraph (A);</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) bonds issued by the Maduro regime
before the date of the enactment of this Act;
or</DELETED>
<DELETED> (D) dividend payments or other
distributions of profits to the Maduro regime from any
entity owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by
the Maduro regime;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) the direct or indirect purchase of securities
from the Maduro regime, except for--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) securities qualifying as debt
instruments issued by Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A., on
or after the date of the enactment of this Act that are
not described in paragraph (1)(A); and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) securities qualifying as debt
instruments issued by the Maduro regime on or after the
date of the enactment of this Act that are not
described in paragraph (1)(B);</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) any transaction that evades or avoids, has the
purpose of evading or avoiding, causes a violation of, or
attempts to violate a prohibition under paragraph (1) or (2);
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (4) any conspiracy to violate a prohibition under
paragraph (1), (2), or (3).</DELETED>
<DELETED> (d) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that
the President should waive the prohibitions described in subsection (c)
and in Executive Order 13808 if the related debt instruments, bonds, or
securities have been approved or ratified by the democratically elected
National Assembly of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (e) Implementation; Penalties.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) Implementation.--The President may exercise
all authorities described in sections 203 and 205 of the
International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1702 and
1704) to carry out this section.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) Penalties.--A person that violates, attempts
to violate, conspires to violate, or causes a violation of this
section or any regulation, license, or order issued to carry
out this section shall be subject to the penalties set forth in
subsections (b) and (c) of section 206 of the International
Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1705) to the same
extent as a person that commits an unlawful act described in
subsection (a) of that section.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 606. ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL SANCTIONS ON MADURO REGIME
DEBT.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) Finding.--Executive Order 13835 (83 Fed. Reg. 24001),
which was signed on May 21, 2018, established additional sanctions
against transactions involving the Maduro regime's existing public
debt.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Prohibition.--The President may prohibit a United
States person or any person within the United States from--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) purchasing any debt owed to the Maduro regime,
including accounts receivable;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) entering into any transaction related to any
debt owed to the Maduro regime that is pledged as collateral
after May 21, 2018, including accounts receivable; or</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) entering into any transaction involving the
selling, transferring, assigning, or pledging as collateral by
the Maduro regime of any equity interest in any entity in which
the Maduro regime has a 50 percent or greater ownership
interest.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (c) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that
the President should waive the prohibitions described in subsection (a)
and in Executive Order 13835 if transactions involving related debt
instruments, bonds, or securities have been approved or ratified by the
democratically elected National Assembly of Venezuela.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (d) Enforcement.--The Secretary of the Treasury, in
consultation with the Secretary of State, may promulgate such
regulations as may be necessary to enforce the prohibition set forth in
subsection (b).</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 607. EXPANDING KINGPIN SANCTIONS ON NARCOTICS TRAFFICKING
AND MONEY LAUNDERING.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following
findings:</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) On February 13, 2017, the Department of the
Treasury designated Venezuelan nationals Tareck El Aissami (the
current Vice President of Venezuela) and Samark Lopez Bello
pursuant to the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act (21
U.S.C. 1901 et seq.).</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) On May 7, 2018, the Department of the Treasury
designated Venezuelan nationals Pedro Luis Martin, Walter
Alexander del Nogal, and Mario Antonio Rodriguez pursuant to
such Act.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Financial Sanctions Expansion.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) In general.--The Secretary of the Treasury,
the Attorney General, the Secretary of State, the Secretary of
Defense, and the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency
shall expand investigations, intelligence collection, and
analysis pursuant to the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation
Act (21 U.S.C. 1901 et seq.) to facilitate the identification
and support the application of sanctions against--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) significant foreign narcotics
traffickers, their organizations and networks;
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) the foreign persons who provide
material, financial, or technological support to such
traffickers, organizations, and networks.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) Targets.--The efforts described in paragraph
(1) shall specifically target--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) senior members of the Maduro regime,
including military officers, involved in narcotics
trafficking and money laundering;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) foreign narcotics traffickers and
their organizations and networks that are operating in
Venezuela; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) the foreign persons who provide
material, financial, or technological support to such
traffickers, organizations, and networks that are
operating in Venezuela.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 608. SANCTIONS ON THE MADURO REGIME'S TRADE IN
GOLD.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) Finding.--Executive Order 13850, which was signed on
November 1, 2018, established sanctions against the gold sector of the
Venezuelan economy.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Sanctions Authorized.--The President, in consultation
with the Secretary of the Treasury and the Secretary of State, may
block and prohibit the transfer, payment, exportation, withdrawal, or
other disposition of all property and interests in property of any
person that operates in the gold sector of the Venezuelan economy if
such property is in the United States, comes into the United States, or
is or comes within the possession or control of any United States
person.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 609. CONCERNS OVER PDVSA TRANSACTIONS WITH
ROSNEFT.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following
findings:</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) In late 2016, Venezuelan state-owned oil
company Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A. (referred to in this
section as ``PDVSA''), through a no compete transaction,
secured a loan from Russian government-controlled oil company
Rosneft, using 49.9 percent of PDVSA's American subsidiary,
CITGO Petroleum Corporation, including its assets in the United
States, as collateral. As a result of this transaction, 100
percent of CITGO is held as collateral by PDVSA's
creditors.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) CITGO, a wholly owned subsidiary of PDVSA, is
engaged in interstate commerce and owns and controls critical
energy infrastructure in 19 States of the United States,
including an extensive network of pipelines, 48 terminals, and
3 refineries, with a combined oil refining capacity of 749,000
barrels per day. CITGO's refinery in Lake Charles, Louisiana,
is the sixth largest refinery in the United States.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) The Department of the Treasury imposed
sanctions on Rosneft, which is controlled by the Government of
the Russian Federation, and its Executive Chairman, Igor
Sechin, following Russia's military invasion of Ukraine and its
illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (4) The Department of Homeland Security has
designated the energy sector as critical to United States
infrastructure.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (5) The growing economic crisis in Venezuela
raises the probability that the Maduro regime and PDVSA will
default on their international debt obligations, resulting in a
scenario in which Rosneft could come into control of CITGO's
United States energy infrastructure holdings.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) control of critical United States energy
infrastructure by Rosneft, a Russian government-controlled
entity currently under United States sanctions that is led by
Igor Sechin, who is also under United States sanctions and is a
close associate of Vladimir Putin, would pose a significant
risk to United States national security and energy security;
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) a default by PDVSA on its loan from Rosneft,
resulting in Rosneft coming into possession of PDVSA's United
States CITGO assets, would warrant careful consideration by the
Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (c) Preventing Rosneft From Controlling United States
Energy Infrastructure.--The President shall take all necessary steps to
prevent Rosneft from gaining control of critical United States energy
infrastructure.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (d) Security Risk Assessment.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) In general.--The Secretary of Homeland
Security, in consultation with the Secretary of State, shall
conduct an assessment of the security risks posed by Russian
control of CITGO's United States energy infrastructure
holdings.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) Report.--Not later than 90 days after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland
Security shall submit a report to the Committee on Foreign
Relations of the Senate, the Committee on Homeland Security and
Governmental Affairs of the Senate, the Committee on Foreign
Affairs of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on
Homeland Security of the House of Representatives that contains
the results of the assessment conducted pursuant to paragraph
(1).</DELETED>
<DELETED> (e) Review of CITGO Transactions.--If PDVSA defaults on
its debt obligations, the Secretary of the Treasury should review
CITGO's transactions with United States persons to assess and ensure
compliance with United States sanctions policies and
regulations.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 610. CLASSIFIED BRIEFING ON ACTIVITIES OF CERTAIN FOREIGN
GOVERNMENTS AND ACTORS IN VENEZUELA.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, acting through the
Bureau of Intelligence and Research of the Department of State, and in
coordination with the Director of National Intelligence, shall brief
the appropriate congressional committees on--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) the full extent of cooperation by the
Government of the Russian Federation, the Government of the
People's Republic of China, the Government of Cuba, and the
Government of Iran with the Maduro regime; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) the activities inside Venezuelan territory of
foreign armed groups, including Colombian criminal
organizations and defectors from the Colombian guerilla group
known as the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, and
foreign terrorist organizations, including the Colombian
guerilla group known as the National Liberation Army
(ELN).</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Appropriate Congressional Committees.--In this
section, the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the
Senate;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) the Select Committee on Intelligence of the
Senate;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House
of Representatives; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (4) the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
of the House of Representatives.</DELETED>
<DELETED>TITLE VII--CRYPTOCURRENCY SANCTIONS AND ENSURING THE
EFFECTIVENESS OF UNITED STATES SANCTIONS</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 701. SANCTIONS ON VENEZUELA'S CRYPTOCURRENCY AND THE
PROVISION OF RELATED TECHNOLOGIES.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) Finding.--Executive Order 13827 (83 Fed. Reg. 12469),
which was signed on March 19, 2018, established sanctions against the
Maduro regime's ability to issue a digital currency in an effort to
circumvent United States sanctions.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Definitions.--In this section:</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) Entity.--The term ``entity'' means a
partnership, association, trust, joint venture, corporation,
group, subgroup, or other organization.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) Person.--The term ``person'' means an
individual or entity.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) United states person.--The term ``United
States person'' means any--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) United States citizen;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) alien lawfully admitted for permanent
residence to the United States;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) entity organized under the laws of the
United States or any jurisdiction within the United
States (including a foreign branch of any such entity);
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (D) any person physically located in the
United States.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (c) Prohibition of Certain Transactions.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) In general.--All transactions by a United
States person or within the United States that relate to,
provide financing for, provide software for, or otherwise deal
in any digital currency, digital coin, or digital token, that
was issued by, for, or on behalf of the Maduro regime are
prohibited beginning on the date of the enactment of this
Act.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) Applicability.--The prohibitions under
paragraph (1) shall apply to the extent provided by statutes,
or in regulations, orders, directives, or licenses that may be
issued pursuant to this Act, and notwithstanding any contract
entered into or any license or permit granted before the date
of the enactment of this Act.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) Prohibitions.--Any transaction that evades or
avoids, has the purpose of evading or avoiding, causes a
violation of, or attempts to violate any of the prohibitions
set forth in this subsection is prohibited. Any conspiracy
formed to violate any of the prohibitions set forth in this
subsection is prohibited.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (d) Rulemaking.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) In general.--The Secretary of the Treasury, in
consultation with the Secretary of State, is authorized to take
such actions, including promulgating rules and regulations, to
implement this section.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) Delegation.--The Secretary of the Treasury may
redelegate any of the functions described in paragraph (1) to
other officers and executive departments and agencies of the
United States Government. All agencies of the United States
Government shall take all appropriate measures within their
authority to carry out the provisions of this
section.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 702. REPORT ON THE IMPACT OF CRYPTOCURRENCIES ON UNITED
STATES SANCTIONS.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) Defined Term.--In this section, the term ``appropriate
congressional committees'' means--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the
Senate;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban
Affairs of the Senate;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House
of Representatives; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (4) the Committee on Financial Services of the
House of Representatives.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Reporting Requirement.--Not later than 180 days after
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, after
consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, the Chairman of the
Securities and Exchange Commission, and the Chairman of the Commodity
Futures Trading Commission, shall submit a report to the appropriate
congressional committees that provides an assessment on how digital
currencies affect the effectiveness of United States sanctions around
the world.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (c) Additional Elements.--The report submitted under
subsection (b) shall--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) describe any global efforts, including efforts
by states, state-sponsored actors, and non-state-sponsored
actors, to utilize digital currencies to evade or circumvent
United States sanctions, including through the direct or
indirect use of products or services of United States based
technology, software, or financial services firms;
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) include recommendations for new legislative
and regulatory measures needed to strengthen the United States
Government's ability to prevent states, state-sponsored actors,
and non-state-sponsored actors from using digital currencies to
evade or circumvent United States sanctions, including through
the direct or indirect use of products or services of United
States based technology, software, or financial services
firms.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (d) Form.--The report submitted under subsection (b) shall
be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified
annex.</DELETED>
<DELETED>TITLE VIII--MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 801. CONGRESSIONAL BRIEFINGS.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) Humanitarian Assistance; Sanctioned Coordination.--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) In general.--Not later than 15 days after any
congressional committee listed under paragraph (2) requests a
briefing regarding the implementation of section 201, 202, 203,
or 601, the Secretary of State and the Administrator of the
United States Agency for International Development shall
provide such briefing to such committee.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) Congressional committees.--The committees
listed under this paragraph are--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of
the Senate;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) the Committee on Appropriations of the
Senate;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of
the House of Representatives; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (D) the Committee on Appropriations of the
House of Representatives.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) United Nations; Negotiated Solution; Crimes Against
Humanity.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) In general.--Not later than 15 days after any
congressional committee listed under paragraph (2) requests a
briefing regarding the implementation of section 103, 204, or
403, the Secretary of State shall provide such briefing to such
committee.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) Congressional committees.--The congressional
committees listed under this paragraph are--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of
the Senate; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of
the House of Representatives.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (c) Regime Cohesion; Corruption and Narcotics Trafficking;
Foreign Government Activities.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) In general.--Not later than 15 days after a
congressional committee listed under paragraph (2) requests a
briefing regarding the implementation of section 301, 602, or
610, the Secretary of State and the Director of National
Intelligence shall provide such briefing to such
committee.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) Congressional committees.--The congressional
committees listed under this paragraph are--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of
the Senate;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) the Select Committee on Intelligence
of the Senate;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of
the House of Representatives; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (D) the Permanent Select Committee on
Intelligence of the House of Representatives.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (d) International Election Observation.--Not later than 15
days after a congressional committee listed under subsection (a)(2)
requests a briefing regarding the implementation of section 405, the
Secretary of State, the Administrator of the United States Agency for
International Development, and the United States Ambassador to the
Organization of American States shall provide such briefing to such
committee.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (e) Visa Restrictions; Sanctions Waiver.--Not later than
15 days after a congressional committee listed under subsection (b)(2)
requests a briefing regarding the implementation of section 302 or 303,
the Secretary of State shall provide such briefing to such
committee.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (f) Reconstruction of Venezuela's Energy Infrastructure.--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) In general.--Not later than 15 days after a
congressional committee listed under paragraph (2) requests a
briefing regarding the implementation of section 501, the
Secretary of State, the Secretary of Energy, and the Secretary
of the Treasury shall provide such briefing to such
committee.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) Congressional committees.--The congressional
committees listed under this paragraph are--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of
the Senate;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) the Committee on Energy and Natural
Resources of the Senate;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of
the House of Representatives; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (D) the Committee on Energy and Commerce
of the House of Representatives.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (g) Recovery of Stolen Assets.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) In general.--Not later than 15 days after a
congressional committee listed under paragraph (2) requests a
briefing regarding the implementation of section 502, the
Secretary of State, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the
Attorney General shall provide such briefing to such
committee.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) Congressional committees.--The congressional
committees listed under this paragraph are--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of
the Senate;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) the Committee on Banking, Housing, and
Urban Affairs of the Senate;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) the Committee on the Judiciary of the
Senate;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (D) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of
the House of Representatives;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (E) the Committee on Financial Services of
the House of Representatives; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (F) the Committee on the Judiciary of the
House of Representatives.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (h) Financial Sanctions.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) In general.--Not later than 15 days after a
congressional committee listed under paragraph (2) requests a
briefing regarding the implementation of section 605, 606, or
608, the Secretary of the Treasury shall provide such briefing
to such committee.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) Congressional committees.--The congressional
committees listed under this paragraph are--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of
the Senate;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) the Committee on Banking, Housing, and
Urban Affairs of the Senate;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of
the House of Representatives; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (D) the Committee on Financial Services of
the House of Representatives.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (i) Kingpin Sanctions.--Not later than 15 days after a
congressional committee listed under subsection (h)(2) requests a
briefing regarding the implementation of section 607, the Secretary of
the Treasury, the Attorney General, the Secretary of State, and the
Director of the Central Intelligence Agency shall provide such briefing
to such committee.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (j) PDVSA Transactions With Rosneft.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) In general.--Not later than 15 days after a
congressional committee listed under paragraph (2) requests a
briefing regarding the implementation of section 609, the
Secretary of State, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the
Secretary of Homeland Security shall provide such briefing to
such committee.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) Congressional committees.--The congressional
committees listed under this paragraph are--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of
the Senate;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) the Committee on Homeland Security and
Governmental Affairs of the Senate;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of
the House of Representatives; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (D) the Committee on Homeland Security of
the House of Representatives.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (k) Cryptocurrency Sanctions.--Not later than 15 days
after a congressional committee listed under subsection (h)(2) requests
a briefing regarding the implementation of section 701 or 702, the
Secretary of State, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the Chairman of
the Commodity Futures Trading Commission shall provide such briefing to
such committee.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 802. EXTENSION AND TERMINATION OF SANCTIONS AGAINST
VENEZUELA.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) Amendment.--Section 5(e) of the Venezuela Defense of
Human Rights and Civil Society Act of 2014 (Public Law 113-278; 50
U.S.C. 1701 note) is amended by striking ``December 31, 2019'' and
inserting ``December 31, 2025''.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Termination.--The requirement to impose sanctions
under this Act shall terminate on December 31, 2025.</DELETED>
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLES; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Titles.--This Act may be cited as the ``Venezuela
Emergency Relief, Democracy Assistance, and Development Act of 2019''
or the ``VERDAD Act of 2019''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as
follows:
Sec. 1. Short titles; table of contents.
TITLE I--SUPPORT FOR THE INTERIM PRESIDENT OF VENEZUELA AND RECOGNITION
OF THE VENEZUELAN NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
Sec. 101. Findings; sense of Congress in support of the Interim
President of Venezuela.
Sec. 102. Recognition of Venezuela's democratically elected National
Assembly.
Sec. 103. Advancing a negotiated solution to Venezuela's crisis.
TITLE II--HUMANITARIAN RELIEF FOR VENEZUELA
Sec. 201. Humanitarian relief for the Venezuelan people.
Sec. 202. Support for efforts at the United Nations on the humanitarian
crisis in Venezuela.
Sec. 203. Sanctions exceptions for humanitarian assistance.
Sec. 204. Coordination and distribution of humanitarian assistance to
the people of Venezuela.
TITLE III--ADDRESSING REGIME COHESION
Sec. 301. Classified report on declining cohesion inside the Venezuelan
military and the Maduro regime.
Sec. 302. Additional restrictions on visas.
Sec. 303. Waiver for sanctioned officials that recognize the Interim
President of Venezuela.
TITLE IV--RESTORING DEMOCRACY AND ADDRESSING THE POLITICAL CRISIS IN
VENEZUELA
Sec. 401. Support for the Organization of American States and the Lima
Group.
Sec. 402. Accountability for crimes against humanity.
Sec. 403. Support for international election observation and democratic
civil society.
TITLE V--SUPPORTING THE RECONSTRUCTION OF VENEZUELA
Sec. 501. Engaging international financial institutions to advance the
reconstruction of Venezuela's economy and
energy infrastructure.
Sec. 502. Recovering assets stolen from the Venezuelan people.
TITLE VI--RESTORING THE RULE OF LAW IN VENEZUELA
Sec. 601. Developing and implementing a coordinated sanctions strategy
with partners in the Western Hemisphere and
the European Union.
Sec. 602. Classified briefing on the involvement of Venezuelan
officials in corruption and illicit
narcotics trafficking.
Sec. 603. Sanctions on persons responsible for public corruption and
undermining democratic governance.
Sec. 604. Public information about sanctioned officials.
Sec. 605. Financial sanctions on Maduro regime debt.
Sec. 606. Additional financial sanctions on Maduro regime debt.
Sec. 607. Expanding kingpin sanctions on narcotics trafficking and
money laundering.
Sec. 608. Sanctions on the Maduro regime's trade in gold.
Sec. 609. Concerns over PDVSA transactions with Rosneft.
Sec. 610. Classified briefing on activities of certain foreign
governments and actors in Venezuela.
Sec. 611. Countering Russian influence in Venezuela.
Sec. 612. Restriction on export of covered articles and services to
certain security forces of Venezuela.
TITLE VII--CRYPTOCURRENCY SANCTIONS AND ENSURING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF
UNITED STATES SANCTIONS
Sec. 701. Sanctions on Venezuela's cryptocurrency and the provision of
related technologies.
Sec. 702. Briefing on the impact of cryptocurrencies on United States
sanctions.
TITLE VIII--MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
Sec. 801. Congressional briefings.
Sec. 802. Sanctions implementation and penalties.
Sec. 803. Prohibition on construction of provisions of this Act as an
authorization for the use of military
force.
Sec. 804. Extension and termination of sanctions against Venezuela.
TITLE I--SUPPORT FOR THE INTERIM PRESIDENT OF VENEZUELA AND RECOGNITION
OF THE VENEZUELAN NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
SEC. 101. FINDINGS; SENSE OF CONGRESS IN SUPPORT OF THE INTERIM
PRESIDENT OF VENEZUELA.
(a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Venezuela's electoral event on May 20, 2018 was
characterized by widespread fraud and did not comply with
international standards for a free, fair, and transparent
electoral process.
(2) Given the fraudulent nature of Venezuela's May 20, 2018
electoral event, Nicolas Maduro's tenure as President of
Venezuela ended on January 10, 2019.
(3) The National Assembly of Venezuela approved a
resolution on January 15, 2019 that terminated Nicolas Maduro's
authority as the President of Venezuela.
(4) On January 23, 2019, the President of the National
Assembly of Venezuela was sworn in as the Interim President of
Venezuela.
(b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress--
(1) to support the decisions by the United States
Government, more than 50 governments around the world, the
Organization of American States, the Inter-American Development
Bank, and the European Parliament to recognize National
Assembly President Juan Guaido as the Interim President of
Venezuela;
(2) to encourage the Interim President of Venezuela to
advance efforts to hold democratic presidential elections in
the shortest possible period; and
(3) that the Organization of American States, with support
from the United States Government and partner governments,
should provide diplomatic, technical, and financial support for
a new presidential election in Venezuela that complies with
international standards for a free, fair, and transparent
electoral process.
SEC. 102. RECOGNITION OF VENEZUELA'S DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED NATIONAL
ASSEMBLY.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds that Venezuela's unicameral National
Assembly convened on January 6, 2016, following democratic elections
that were held on December 6, 2015.
(b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that
Venezuela's democratically elected National Assembly is the only
national level democratic institution remaining in the country.
(c) Policy.--It is the policy of the United States to recognize the
democratically elected National Assembly of Venezuela as the only
legitimate national legislative body in Venezuela.
(d) Assistance to Venezuela's National Assembly.--The Secretary of
State, in coordination with the Administrator of the United States
Agency for International Development, shall prioritize efforts to
provide technical assistance to support the democratically elected
National Assembly of Venezuela in accordance with section 404.
SEC. 103. ADVANCING A NEGOTIATED SOLUTION TO VENEZUELA'S CRISIS.
(a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) direct, credible negotiations led by the Interim
President of Venezuela and members of Venezuela's
democratically elected National Assembly--
(A) are supported by stakeholders in the
international community that have recognized the
Interim President of Venezuela;
(B) include the input and interests of Venezuelan
civil society; and
(C) represent the best opportunity to reach a
solution to the Venezuelan crisis that includes--
(i) holding a new presidential election
that complies with international standards for
a free, fair, and transparent electoral
process;
(ii) ending Nicolas Maduro's usurpation of
presidential authorities;
(iii) restoring democracy and the rule of
law;
(iv) freeing political prisoners; and
(v) facilitating the delivery of
humanitarian aid;
(2) dialogue between the Maduro regime and representatives
of the political opposition that commenced in October 2017, and
were supported by the Governments of Mexico, of Chile, of
Bolivia, and of Nicaragua, did not result in an agreement
because the Maduro regime failed to credibly participate in the
process; and
(3) negotiations between the Maduro regime and
representatives of the political opposition that commenced in
October 2016, and were supported by the Vatican, did not result
in an agreement because the Maduro regime failed to credibly
participate in the process.
(b) Policy.--It is the policy of the United States to support
diplomatic engagement in order to advance a negotiated and peaceful
solution to Venezuela's political, economic, and humanitarian crisis
that is described in subsection (a)(1).
TITLE II--HUMANITARIAN RELIEF FOR VENEZUELA
SEC. 201. HUMANITARIAN RELIEF FOR THE VENEZUELAN PEOPLE.
(a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) the United States Government should expand efforts to
peacefully address Venezuela's humanitarian crisis; and
(2) humanitarian assistance--
(A) should be targeted toward those most in need
and delivered through partners that uphold
internationally recognized humanitarian principles; and
(B) should not be passed through the control or
distribution mechanisms of the Maduro regime.
(b) Humanitarian Relief.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of State, in coordination
with the Administrator of the United States Agency for
International Development, shall provide--
(A) humanitarian assistance to individuals and
communities in Venezuela, including--
(i) public health commodities and services,
including medicines and basic medical supplies
and equipment;
(ii) basic food commodities and nutritional
supplements needed to address growing
malnutrition and improve food security for the
people of Venezuela, with a specific emphasis
on the most vulnerable populations; and
(iii) technical assistance to ensure that
health and food commodities are appropriately
selected, procured, targeted, and distributed;
and
(B) Venezuelans and hosting communities, as
appropriate, in neighboring countries with humanitarian
aid, such as--
(i) urgently needed health and nutritional
assistance, including logistical and technical
assistance to hospitals and health centers in
affected communities;
(ii) food assistance for vulnerable
individuals, including assistance to improve
food security for affected communities; and
(iii) hygiene supplies and sanitation
services.
(2) Aid to venezuelans in neighboring countries.--The aid
described in paragraph (1)(B)--
(A) may be provided--
(i) directly to Venezuelans in neighboring
countries, including countries of the
Caribbean; or
(ii) indirectly through the communities in
which the Venezuelans reside; and
(B) should focus on the most vulnerable Venezuelans
in neighboring countries.
(c) Humanitarian Assistance Strategy Update.--Not later than 180
days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of
State, in coordination with the Administrator of the United States
Agency for International Development, shall submit, to the appropriate
congressional committees, an update to the Venezuela humanitarian
assistance strategy described in the conference report accompanying the
Consolidated Appropriations Act (Public Law 116-6), to cover a 2-year
period and include--
(1) a description of the United States humanitarian
assistance provided under this section;
(2) a description of United States diplomatic efforts to
ensure support from international donors, including regional
partners in Latin America and the Caribbean, for the provision
of humanitarian assistance to the people of Venezuela;
(3) the identification of 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 assistance; and
(4) the identification of the financial and technical
assistance to be provided by multilateral institutions,
including the United Nations humanitarian agencies, the Pan
American Health Organization, the Inter-American Development
Bank, and the World Bank, and a description of such assistance.
(d) Diplomatic Engagement.--The Secretary of State, in consultation
with the Administrator of the United States Agency for International
Development, shall work with relevant foreign governments and
multilateral organizations to coordinate a donors summit and carry out
diplomatic engagement to advance the strategy required under subsection
(c).
(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated $400,000,000 for fiscal year 2020 to carry out the
activities set forth in subsection (b).
(f) Defined Term.--In this section, the term ``appropriate
congressional committees'' means--
(1) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate;
(2) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate;
(3) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of
Representatives; and
(4) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives.
SEC. 202. SUPPORT FOR EFFORTS AT THE UNITED NATIONS ON THE HUMANITARIAN
CRISIS IN VENEZUELA.
(a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that the United
Nations humanitarian agencies should conduct and publish independent
assessments of the humanitarian situation in Venezuela, including--
(1) the extent and impact of the shortages of food,
medicine, and medical supplies in Venezuela;
(2) basic health indicators in Venezuela, such as maternal
and child mortality rates and the prevalence and treatment of
communicable diseases; and
(3) the efforts needed to resolve the shortages identified
in paragraph (1) and to improve the health indicators referred
to in paragraph (2).
(b) United Nations Resident Coordinator.--The President should
instruct the Permanent Representative to the United Nations to use the
voice, vote, and influence of the United States at the United Nations
to support the efforts of the Resident Coordinator for Venezuela in a
manner that--
(1) contributes to Venezuela's long-term recovery; and
(2) advances humanitarian efforts in Venezuela and for
Venezuelans residing in neighboring countries.
SEC. 203. SANCTIONS EXCEPTIONS FOR HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Agricultural commodity.--The term ``agricultural
commodity'' has the meaning given that term in section 102 of
the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 (7 U.S.C. 5602).
(2) Medical device.--The term ``medical device'' has the
meaning given the term ``device'' in section 201 of the Federal
Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 321).
(3) Medicine.--The term ``medicine'' has the meaning given
the term ``drug'' in section 201 of the Federal Food, Drug, and
Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 321).
(b) In General.--Any transaction, not otherwise prohibited by under
part V of title 31, Code of Federal Regulations, or any Executive order
relating to the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13692
(50 U.S.C. 1701 note), for the sale of agricultural commodities, food,
medicine, or medical devices to Venezuela, or for the provision of
humanitarian assistance to the people of Venezuela, and any transaction
that is ordinarily incidental or necessary to any such transaction,
regardless of whether the transaction or provision of humanitarian
assistance originate in, or have a connection to, the United States,
shall be exempt from United States sanctions, including sanctions
described in--
(1) sections 603, 605, 606, 608, and 701;
(2) the Venezuela Defense of Human Rights and Civil Society
Act of 2014 (Public Law 113-278); or
(3) Executive Orders 13808 and 13850.
SEC. 204. COORDINATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO
THE PEOPLE OF VENEZUELA.
(a) Short Title.--This section may be cited as the ``Humanitarian
Assistance to the Venezuelan People Act of 2019''.
(b) Defined Term.--In this section, the term ``appropriate
congressional committees'' means--
(1) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate;
(2) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate;
(3) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of
Representatives; and
(4) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives.
(c) Report on the Coordination and Distribution of Humanitarian
Assistance to the People of Venezuela Including Strategy on Future
Efforts.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in
coordination with the Administrator of the United States Agency
for International Development, shall submit a report to the
appropriate congressional committees that evaluates the
delivery and coordination of humanitarian assistance to the
people of Venezuela, whether residing in Venezuela or elsewhere
in the Western Hemisphere.
(2) Matters to be included.--The report required under
paragraph (1) shall--
(A) identify how United States Agency for
International Development and Department of State best
practices are being utilized in providing humanitarian
assistance to Venezuela and countries in the region;
(B) describe the current and anticipated challenges
to distributing humanitarian assistance in Venezuela
and countries hosting Venezuelan migrants; and
(C) describe how the distribution of humanitarian
assistance is being monitored and evaluated,
including--
(i) the number of beneficiaries receiving
such assistance;
(ii) an assessment of how humanitarian and
development assistance is benefitting
Venezuelan migrants inside and outside of the
country; and
(iii) what additional staff may be
necessary to manage such assistance.
TITLE III--ADDRESSING REGIME COHESION
SEC. 301. CLASSIFIED REPORT ON DECLINING COHESION INSIDE THE VENEZUELAN
MILITARY AND THE MADURO REGIME.
(a) Reporting Requirement.--Not later than 90 days after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, acting through
the Bureau of Intelligence and Research, and in coordination with the
Director of National Intelligence, shall submit a classified report to
the appropriate congressional committees that assesses the declining
cohesion inside the Venezuelan military and security forces and the
Maduro regime.
(b) Additional Elements.--The report submitted under subsection (a)
shall--
(1) identify senior members of the Venezuelan military and
the Maduro regime, including generals, admirals, cabinet
ministers, deputy cabinet ministers, and the heads of
intelligence agencies, whose loyalty to Nicolas Maduro is
declining;
(2) describe the factors that would accelerate the decision
making of individuals identified in paragraph (1)--
(A) to break with the Maduro regime; and
(B) to recognize the Interim President of Venezuela
and his government; and
(3) assess and detail the massive number of desertions and
defections that have occurred at the officer and enlisted
levels inside the Venezuelan military and security forces.
(c) Briefing Requirement.--Not later than 30 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, acting through the
Bureau of Intelligence and Research, and in coordination with the
Director of National Intelligence, shall provide a classified briefing
to appropriate congressional committees on the subject matter described
in subsections (a) and (b).
(d) Appropriate Congressional Committees.--In this section, the
term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
(1) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate;
(2) the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate;
(3) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of
Representatives; and
(4) the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the
House of Representatives.
SEC. 302. ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON VISAS.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of State shall impose the visa
restrictions described in subsection (c) on any foreign person who the
Secretary determines--
(1) is a current or former senior official of the Maduro
regime, or any foreign person acting on behalf of such regime,
who is knowingly responsible for, complicit in, responsible for
ordering, controlling, or otherwise directing, or participating
in (directly or indirectly) any activity in or in relation to
Venezuela, on or after January 23, 2019, that significantly
undermines or threatens the integrity of--
(A) the democratically-elected National Assembly of
Venezuela; or
(B) the President of such National Assembly, while
serving as Interim President of Venezuela, or the
senior government officials under the supervision of
such President;
(2) is the spouse or child of a foreign person described in
paragraph (1); or
(3) is the spouse or child of Venezuelan person sanctioned
under--
(A) section 5(a) of the Venezuela Defense of Human
Rights and Civil Society Act of 2014 (Public Law 113-
278), as amended by section 603 of this Act;
(B) section 804(b) of the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin
Designation Act (21 U.S.C. 1903(b)); or
(C) Executive Orders 13692 (50 U.S.C. 1701 note)
and 13850.
(b) Removal From Visa Revocation List.--Pursuant to such procedures
as the Secretary of State may establish to implement this section--
(1) if any person described in subsection (a)(1) recognizes
and pledges support for the Interim President of Venezuela or a
subsequent democratically elected government of Venezuela, that
person and any family members of that person who were subject
to visa restrictions pursuant to subsection (a)(2) shall no
longer be subject to such visa restrictions; and
(2) if any person described in subparagraphs (A) through
(C) of subsection (a)(3) recognizes and pledges support for the
Interim President of Venezuela or a subsequent democratically
elected government of Venezuela, any family members of that
person who were subject to visa restrictions pursuant to
subsection (a)(3) shall no longer be subject to such visa
restrictions.
(c) Visa Restrictions Described.--
(1) Exclusion from the united states and revocation of visa
or other documentation.--Subject to paragraph (2) and
subsection (b), an alien described in subsection (a)--
(A) is inadmissible to the United States;
(B) is ineligible to receive a visa or other
documentation authorizing entry into the United States;
(C) is otherwise ineligible to be admitted into the
United States or to receive any benefit under the
Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et
seq.); and
(D) shall, in accordance with section 221(i) of the
Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1201(i), have
his or her visa or other documentation revoked,
regardless of when the visa or other documentation was
issued.
(2) Exception to comply with united nations headquarters
agreement.--Sanctions under paragraph (1) shall not apply to an
alien if admitting the alien into the United States is
necessary to permit the United States to comply with the
Agreement regarding the Headquarters of the United Nations,
signed at Lake Success June 26, 1947, and entered into force
November 21, 1947, between the United Nations and the United
States, or other applicable international obligations.
(d) Rulemaking.--The President shall issue such regulations,
licenses, and orders as may be necessary to carry out this section.
SEC. 303. WAIVER FOR SANCTIONED OFFICIALS THAT RECOGNIZE THE INTERIM
PRESIDENT OF VENEZUELA.
(a) Removal of Sanctions.--If a person sanctioned under any of the
provisions of law described in subsection (b) recognizes and pledges
supports for the Interim President of Venezuela or a subsequent
democratically elected government, the person shall no longer be
subject to such sanctions, pursuant to such procedures as the Secretary
of State and the Secretary of the Treasury may establish to implement
this section.
(b) Sanctions Described.--The sanctions described in this
subsection are set forth in the following provisions of law:
(1)(A) Paragraphs (3) and (4) of section 5(a) of the
Venezuela Defense of Human Rights and Civil Society Act of 2014
(Public Law 113-278), as amended by section 603 of this Act.
(B) Paragraph (5) of section 5(a) of such Act, to the
extent such paragraph relates to the sanctions described in
paragraph (3) or (4) of such subsection.
(2)(A) Clauses (1) and (4) of section 1(a)(ii)(A) of
Executive Order 13692 (50 U.S.C. 1701 note).
(B) Subparagraph (D)(2) of section 1(a)(ii) of such
Executive Order, to the extent such subparagraph relates to the
provisions of law cited in subparagraph (A).
(3)(A) Section 1(a)(ii) of Executive Order 13850.
(B) Paragraph (iii) of section 1(a) of such Executive
Order, to the extent such paragraph relates to the provision of
law cited in subparagraph (A).
(c) Rulemaking.--The President shall issue such regulations,
licenses, and orders as may be necessary to carry out this section.
TITLE IV--RESTORING DEMOCRACY AND ADDRESSING THE POLITICAL CRISIS IN
VENEZUELA
SEC. 401. SUPPORT FOR THE ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES AND THE LIMA
GROUP.
(a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that the
Secretary of State should--
(1) take additional steps to support ongoing efforts by the
Secretary General of the Organization of American States to
promote diplomatic initiatives to foster the restoration of
democracy and the rule of law in Venezuela;
(2) conduct diplomatic engagement in support of efforts by
the Lima Group to restore democracy and the rule of law in
Venezuela and facilitate the delivery of humanitarian
assistance for the Venezuelan people; and
(3) engage with the International Contact Group on
Venezuela to advance a peaceful and democratic solution to the
current crisis.
(b) Defined Terms.--In this section:
(1) International contact group on venezuela.--The
``International Contact Group on Venezuela'' refers to a
diplomatic bloc--
(A) whose members include the European Union,
France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Sweden, the
Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Ecuador, Costa Rica,
and Uruguay; and
(B) which was established to advance a peaceful and
democratic solution to the current crisis in Venezuela.
(2) Lima group.--The ``Lima Group'' refers to a diplomatic
bloc--
(A) whose members include Argentina, Brazil,
Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Guyana,
Honduras, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, and Saint Lucia; and
(B) which was established to address the political,
economic, and humanitarian crises in Venezuela.
SEC. 402. ACCOUNTABILITY FOR CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY.
(a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that the
Secretary of State should conduct robust diplomatic engagement in
support of efforts in Venezuela, and on the part of the international
community, to ensure accountability for possible crimes against
humanity and serious violations of human rights.
(b) Report.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment
of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit a report to Congress
that--
(1) evaluates the degree to which the Maduro regime and its
officials, including members of the Venezuelan security forces,
have engaged in actions that constitute possible crimes against
humanity and serious violations of human rights; and
(2) provides options for holding accountable the
perpetrators identified under paragraph (1).
SEC. 403. SUPPORT FOR INTERNATIONAL ELECTION OBSERVATION AND DEMOCRATIC
CIVIL SOCIETY.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of State, in coordination with the
Administrator of the United States Agency for International
Development--
(1) shall work with the Organization of American States to
ensure credible international observation of future elections
in Venezuela that contributes to free, fair, and transparent
democratic electoral processes; and
(2) shall work with nongovernmental organizations--
(A) to strengthen democratic governance and
institutions, including the democratically elected
National Assembly of Venezuela;
(B) to defend internationally recognized human
rights for the people of Venezuela, including support
for efforts to document crimes against humanity and
violations of human rights;
(C) to support the efforts of independent media
outlets to broadcast, distribute, and share information
beyond the limited channels made available by the
Maduro regime; and
(D) to combat corruption and improve the
transparency and accountability of institutions that
are part of the Maduro regime.
(b) Engagement at the Organization of American States.--The
Secretary of State, acting through the United States Permanent
Representative to the Organization of American States, 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 free, fair, and transparent manner.
(c) Briefing Requirement.--Not later than 180 days after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in coordination
with the Administrator of the United States Agency for International
Development, shall provide a briefing on the strategy to carry out the
activities described in subsection (a) to--
(1) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate;
(2) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate;
(3) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of
Representatives; and
(4) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives.
(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--
(1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to
the Secretary of State for fiscal year 2020, $17,500,000 to
carry out the activities set forth in subsection (a).
(2) Notification requirements.--Amounts appropriated
pursuant to paragraph (1) are subject to the notification
requirements applicable to expenditures from the Economic
Support Fund under section 531(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act
of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2346(c)) and from the Development Assistance
Fund under section 653(a) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961
(22 U.S.C. 2413(a)), to the extent that such funds are
expended.
TITLE V--SUPPORTING THE RECONSTRUCTION OF VENEZUELA
SEC. 501. ENGAGING INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS TO ADVANCE THE
RECONSTRUCTION OF VENEZUELA'S ECONOMY AND ENERGY
INFRASTRUCTURE.
(a) In General.--The President shall engage the International
Monetary Fund and the Multilateral Development Banks to support a
framework for the economic reconstruction of Venezuela, contingent upon
the restoration of democracy and the rule of law in the country.
(b) Additional Elements.--The framework created under subsection
(a) should include policy proposals--
(1) to provide Venezuelans with humanitarian assistance,
poverty alleviation, and a social safety net;
(2) to advance debt restructuring and debt sustainability
measures;
(3) to restore the production and efficient management of
Venezuela's oil industry, including rebuilding energy
infrastructure;
(4) to eliminate price controls and market distorting
subsidies in the Venezuelan economy; and
(5) to address hyperinflation in Venezuela.
(c) Consultation.--In supporting the framework under subsection
(a), the President shall consult with relevant stakeholders in the
humanitarian (including international and nongovernmental
organizations), financial, and energy sectors.
(d) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that any effort
to conduct debt restructuring should--
(1) include discussions with China, which is Venezuela's
biggest creditor; and
(2) appropriately account for China's and Russia's high-
risk lending to Venezuela.
(e) Certification.--The President may not support lending or
financing for Venezuela from the International Monetary Fund and the
Multilateral Development Banks until the Secretary of State submits a
report to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and
Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives certifying
that any such lending or financing--
(1) would be managed by the Interim President of Venezuela
or a new, democratically-elected President;
(2) would not be used to repay external creditors who are
not members of the Group of Seven unless such payments are
essential to the restoration of economic stability and
democracy in Venezuela; and
(3) would not benefit the Maduro regime.
(f) Waiver.--The President may waive the certification requirement
under subsection (e) if the President--
(1) determines that such waiver is in the national interest
of the United States; and
(2) not later than 30 days after making a determination
under paragraph (1), submits to the congressional committees
referred to in subsection (e)--
(A) an explanation for why such a waiver is in the
United States national interest; and
(B) why the Secretary of State is unable to submit
the certification described in subsection (e).
SEC. 502. RECOVERING ASSETS STOLEN FROM THE VENEZUELAN PEOPLE.
(a) Recovering Assets.--The Secretary of State, the Secretary of
the Treasury, and the Attorney General shall advance a coordinated
international effort--
(1) to carry out special financial investigations to
identify and track assets taken from the people and
institutions of Venezuela through theft, corruption, money
laundering, or other illicit means; and
(2) to work with foreign governments--
(A) to share financial investigations intelligence,
as appropriate;
(B) to block the assets identified pursuant to
paragraph (1); and
(C) to provide technical assistance to help
governments establish the necessary legal framework to
carry out asset forfeitures.
(b) Additional Elements.--The coordinated international effort
described in subsection (a) should include input from--
(1) the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the Department
of the Treasury;
(2) the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network of the
Department of the Treasury; and
(3) the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section of the
Department of Justice.
(c) Strategy Requirement.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, the
Secretary of the Treasury, and the Attorney General shall
submit a strategy for carrying out the activities described in
subsection (a) to--
(A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the
Senate;
(B) the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban
Affairs of the Senate;
(C) the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate;
(D) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House
of Representatives;
(E) the Committee on Financial Services of the
House of Representatives; and
(F) the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of
Representatives.
(2) Additional elements.--The strategy required by
paragraph (1) shall include the following:
(A) An assessment whether the United States or
another member of the international community should
establish a managed fund to hold the assets identified
pursuant to subsection (a)(1) that could be returned to
a future democratic government in Venezuela.
(B) Such recommendations as the Secretaries and the
Attorney General consider appropriate for legislative
or administrative action in the United States that
would be needed to establish and manage the fund
described in subparagraph (A).
TITLE VI--RESTORING THE RULE OF LAW IN VENEZUELA
SEC. 601. DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING A COORDINATED SANCTIONS STRATEGY
WITH PARTNERS IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE AND THE EUROPEAN
UNION.
(a) Strengthening Sanctions Capacity in Latin America and the
Caribbean.--The Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary
of the Treasury, shall offer to provide technical assistance to partner
governments in Latin America and the Caribbean to assist such
governments in establishing the legislative and regulatory frameworks
needed to impose targeted sanctions on officials of the Maduro regime
who--
(1) are responsible for human rights abuses;
(2) have engaged in public corruption; or
(3) are undermining democratic institutions and processes
in Venezuela.
(b) Coordinating International Sanctions.--The Secretary of State,
in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, shall engage in
diplomatic efforts with partner governments, including the Government
of Canada, governments in the European Union, and governments in Latin
America and the Caribbean, to impose targeted sanctions on the Maduro
regime officials described in subsection (a).
(c) Strategy Requirement.--Not later than 90 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in consultation with
the Secretary of the Treasury, shall submit a strategy for carrying out
the activities described in subsection (a) to--
(1) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate;
(2) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate;
(3) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of
Representatives; and
(4) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives.
(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--
(1) In general.--There is authorized to be appropriated to
the Secretary of State for fiscal year 2020, $3,000,000 to
carry out the activities set forth in subsection (a).
(2) Notification requirements.--Amounts appropriated
pursuant to paragraph (1) are subject to the notification
requirements applicable to expenditures from the Economic
Support Fund under section 531(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act
of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2346(c)) and the International Narcotics and
Law Enforcement Fund under section 489 of the Foreign
Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2291h) to the extent that
such funds are expended.
SEC. 602. CLASSIFIED BRIEFING ON THE INVOLVEMENT OF VENEZUELAN
OFFICIALS IN CORRUPTION AND ILLICIT NARCOTICS
TRAFFICKING.
(a) Briefing Requirement.--Not later than 90 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, acting through the
Bureau of Intelligence and Research, and in coordination with the
Director of National Intelligence, shall provide a classified briefing
to the appropriate congressional committees on the involvement of
senior officials of the Maduro regime, including members of the
National Electoral Council, the judicial system, and the Venezuelan
security forces, in illicit narcotics trafficking and significant acts
of public corruption in Venezuela.
(b) Additional Elements.--The briefing provided under subsection
(a) shall--
(1) describe how the significant acts of public corruption
pose challenges for United States national security and impact
the rule of law and democratic governance in countries of the
Western Hemisphere;
(2) identify individuals for whom there is credible
information that they frustrated the ability of the United
States to combat illicit narcotics trafficking;
(3) include an assessment of the relationship between
individuals identified under subsection (a) and Nicolas Maduro
or members of his cabinet; and
(4) include input from the Drug Enforcement Administration,
the Office of Foreign Assets Control, and the Financial Crimes
Enforcement Network.
(c) Appropriate Congressional Committees.--In this section, the
term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
(1) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate;
(2) the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate;
(3) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of
Representatives; and
(4) the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the
House of Representatives.
SEC. 603. SANCTIONS ON PERSONS RESPONSIBLE FOR PUBLIC CORRUPTION AND
UNDERMINING DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE.
(a) Finding.--Executive Order 13692 (50 U.S.C. 1701 note), which
was signed on March 8, 2015, provided for sanctions against any person
determined to be responsible for actions that undermine democratic
processes and institutions or responsible for acts of public corruption
by senior officials within the Government of Venezuela that were not
included in the Venezuela Defense of Human Rights and Civil Society Act
of 2014 (Public Law 113-278).
(b) Sanctions.--Section 5(a) of the Venezuela Defense of Human
Rights and Civil Society Act of 2014 (Public Law 113-278) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (2), by striking ``or'' at the end;
(2) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (5);
(3) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:
``(3) is responsible for, or complicit in, ordering,
controlling, or otherwise directing, significant actions or
policies that undermine democratic processes or institutions;
``(4) is responsible for, complicit in, ordering,
controlling, or otherwise directing, or to have participated
in, directly or indirectly, public corruption by senior
officials within the Government of Venezuela; or''; and
(4) in paragraph (5), as redesignated, by striking
``paragraph (1) or (2)'' and inserting ``paragraph (1), (2),
(3), or (4)''.
SEC. 604. PUBLIC INFORMATION ABOUT SANCTIONED OFFICIALS.
(a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Treasury, in consultation with
the Secretary of State, shall provide a classified briefing to the
appropriate congressional committees on the total assessed value of
blocked assets of Venezuelans designated under sanctions authorized
under--
(1) the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act (title
VIII of Public Law 106-120; 21 U.S.C. 1901 et seq.);
(2) the Venezuela Defense of Human Rights and Civil Society
Act of 2014 (Public Law 113-278), as amended by section 603 of
this Act; or
(3) Executive Orders 13692 (50 U.S.C. 1701 note) and 13850.
(b) Additional Elements.--The briefing provided under subsection
(a) should provide descriptions of specific cases that are most
representative of the endemic corruption and illicit financial
activities occurring in Venezuela.
(c) Appropriate Congressional Committees.--In this section, the
term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
(1) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate;
(2) the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of
the Senate;
(3) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of
Representatives; and
(4) the Committee on Financial Services of the House of
Representatives.
SEC. 605. FINANCIAL SANCTIONS ON MADURO REGIME DEBT.
(a) Finding.--Executive Order 13808 (82 Fed. Reg. 41155), which was
signed on August 24, 2017, provided for sanctions intended to limit the
ability of the Maduro regime to issue public debt.
(b) Definitions.--In this section and in sections 606 and 608:
(1) Entity.--The term ``entity'' means a partnership,
association, trust, joint venture, corporation, group,
subgroup, or organization.
(2) Person.--The term ``person'' means an individual or
entity.
(3) United states person.--The term ``United States
person'' means any--
(A) United States citizen;
(B) alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence
to the United States;
(C) entity organized under the laws of the United
States or any jurisdiction within the United States
(including a foreign branch of any such entity); and
(D) any person physically located in the United
States.
(c) In General.--The President may prohibit, in the United States
or by a United States person--
(1) any transaction related to, provision of financing for,
or other dealing in--
(A) debt instruments with a maturity of greater
than 90 days issued by Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A., on
or after the date of the enactment of this Act;
(B) debt instruments with a maturity of greater
than 30 days or equity issued by the Maduro regime on
or after the date of the enactment of this Act,
excluding debt instruments issued by Petroleos de
Venezuela, S.A., that are not covered under
subparagraph (A);
(C) bonds issued by the Maduro regime before the
date of the enactment of this Act; or
(D) dividend payments or other distributions of
profits to the Maduro regime from any entity owned or
controlled, directly or indirectly, by the Maduro
regime;
(2) the direct or indirect purchase of securities from the
Maduro regime, except for--
(A) securities qualifying as debt instruments
issued by Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A., on or after the
date of the enactment of this Act that are not
described in paragraph (1)(A); and
(B) securities qualifying as debt instruments
issued by the Maduro regime on or after the date of the
enactment of this Act that are not described in
paragraph (1)(B);
(3) any transaction that evades or avoids, has the purpose
of evading or avoiding, causes a violation of, or attempts to
violate a prohibition under paragraph (1) or (2); and
(4) any conspiracy to violate a prohibition under paragraph
(1), (2), or (3).
(d) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that the
President should waive the prohibitions described in subsection (c) and
in Executive Order 13808 if the related debt instruments, bonds, or
securities have been approved or ratified by the democratically elected
National Assembly of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
SEC. 606. ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL SANCTIONS ON MADURO REGIME DEBT.
(a) Finding.--Executive Order 13835 (83 Fed. Reg. 24001), which was
signed on May 21, 2018, provided for additional sanctions against
transactions involving the existing public debt of the Maduro regime.
(b) Prohibition.--The President may prohibit a United States person
or any person within the United States from--
(1) purchasing any debt owed to the Maduro regime,
including accounts receivable;
(2) entering into any transaction related to any debt owed
to the Maduro regime that is pledged as collateral after May
21, 2018, including accounts receivable; or
(3) entering into any transaction involving the selling,
transferring, assigning, or pledging as collateral by the
Maduro regime of any equity interest in any entity in which the
Maduro regime has a 50 percent or greater ownership interest.
(c) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that the
President should waive the prohibitions described in subsection (a) and
in Executive Order 13835 if transactions involving related debt
instruments, bonds, or securities have been approved or ratified by the
democratically elected National Assembly of Venezuela.
SEC. 607. EXPANDING KINGPIN SANCTIONS ON NARCOTICS TRAFFICKING AND
MONEY LAUNDERING.
(a) Financial Sanctions Expansion.--The Secretary of the Treasury,
the Attorney General, the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Defense,
and the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency should expand
investigations, intelligence collection, and analysis pursuant to the
Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act (21 U.S.C. 1901 et seq.) to
facilitate the identification and support the application of sanctions
against--
(1) significant foreign narcotics traffickers, their
organizations and networks; and
(2) the foreign persons who provide material, financial, or
technological support to such traffickers, organizations, and
networks.
(b) Targets.--The efforts described in subsection (a) should
specifically target--
(1) senior members of the Maduro regime, including military
officers, involved in narcotics trafficking and money
laundering;
(2) foreign narcotics traffickers and their organizations
and networks that are operating in Venezuela; and
(3) the foreign persons who provide material, financial, or
technological support to such traffickers, organizations, and
networks that are operating in Venezuela.
SEC. 608. SANCTIONS ON THE MADURO REGIME'S TRADE IN GOLD.
(a) Finding.--Executive Order 13850, which was signed on November
1, 2018, ordered sanctions against the gold sector of the Venezuelan
economy.
(b) Sanctions Authorized.--The President, in consultation with the
Secretary of the Treasury and the Secretary of State, may block and
prohibit the transfer, payment, exportation, withdrawal, or other
disposition of all property and interests in property of any person
that operates in the gold sector of the Venezuelan economy if such
property is in the United States, comes into the United States, or is
or comes within the possession or control of any United States person.
(c) Report.--Not later than 30 days after enactment of this Act,
the Secretary of the Treasury shall submit a report to the appropriate
congressional committees (as defined in section 612(b)) that--
(1) details whether section 5318A of title 31, United
States Code, provides the Secretary of the Treasury with
sufficient authority to fully address the extent to which
transactions related to finished and unfinished precious metals
are used to assist in money-laundering transactions,
particularly with respect to high-risk jurisdictions, including
Venezuela;
(2) includes recommendations the Secretary of the Treasury
considers necessary and appropriate for United States
legislative or administrative action that would be needed to
address any findings referred to in paragraph (1); and
(3) includes, in a classified annex, an explanation for how
the Department of the Treasury is currently using its
authorities under section 5318A of title 31, United States
Code, to address transactions related to precious metals that
are used to assist in money-laundering transactions.
SEC. 609. CONCERNS OVER PDVSA TRANSACTIONS WITH ROSNEFT.
(a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
(1) In late 2016, Venezuelan state-owned oil company
Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A. (referred to in this section as
``PDVSA''), through a no compete transaction, secured a loan
from Russian government-controlled oil company Rosneft, using
49.9 percent of PDVSA's American subsidiary, CITGO Petroleum
Corporation, including its assets in the United States, as
collateral. As a result of this transaction, 100 percent of
CITGO is held as collateral by PDVSA's creditors.
(2) CITGO, a wholly owned subsidiary of PDVSA, is engaged
in interstate commerce and owns and controls critical energy
infrastructure in 19 States of the United States, including an
extensive network of pipelines, 48 terminals, and 3 refineries,
with a combined oil refining capacity of 749,000 barrels per
day. CITGO's refinery in Lake Charles, Louisiana, is the sixth
largest refinery in the United States.
(3) The Department of the Treasury imposed sanctions on
Rosneft, which is controlled by the Government of the Russian
Federation, and its Executive Chairman, Igor Sechin, following
Russia's military invasion of Ukraine and its illegal
annexation of Crimea in 2014.
(4) The Department of Homeland Security has designated the
energy sector as critical to United States infrastructure.
(5) The growing economic crisis in Venezuela raises the
probability that the Maduro regime and PDVSA will default on
their international debt obligations, resulting in a scenario
in which Rosneft could come into control of CITGO's United
States energy infrastructure holdings.
(b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) control of critical United States energy infrastructure
by Rosneft, a Russian government-controlled entity currently
under United States sanctions that is led by Igor Sechin, who
is also under United States sanctions and is a close associate
of Vladimir Putin, would pose a significant risk to United
States national security and energy security; and
(2) a default by PDVSA on its loan from Rosneft, resulting
in Rosneft coming into possession of PDVSA's United States
CITGO assets, would warrant careful consideration by the
Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States.
(c) Preventing Rosneft From Controlling United States Energy
Infrastructure.--The President shall take all necessary steps to
prevent Rosneft from gaining control of critical United States energy
infrastructure.
(d) Security Risk Briefing.--Not later than 90 days after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security and
the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of
State and the Secretary of Energy, shall provide a briefing on the
security risks posed by Russian control of CITGO's United States energy
infrastructure holdings to--
(1) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate;
(2) the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental
Affairs of the Senate;
(3) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of
Representatives; and
(4) the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of
Representatives.
SEC. 610. CLASSIFIED BRIEFING ON ACTIVITIES OF CERTAIN FOREIGN
GOVERNMENTS AND ACTORS IN VENEZUELA.
(a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, acting through the
Bureau of Intelligence and Research of the Department of State, and in
coordination with the Director of National Intelligence, shall provide
a classified briefing to the appropriate congressional committees on--
(1) the full extent of cooperation by the Government of the
Russian Federation, the Government of the People's Republic of
China, the Government of Cuba, and the Government of Iran with
the Maduro regime; and
(2) the activities inside Venezuelan territory of foreign
armed groups, including Colombian criminal organizations and
defectors from the Colombian guerilla group known as the
Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, and foreign terrorist
organizations, including the Colombian guerilla group known as
the National Liberation Army (ELN).
(b) Appropriate Congressional Committees.--In this section, the
term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
(1) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate;
(2) the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate;
(3) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of
Representatives; and
(4) the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the
House of Representatives.
SEC. 611. COUNTERING RUSSIAN INFLUENCE IN VENEZUELA.
(a) Short Title.--This section may be cited as the ``Russian-
Venezuelan Threat Mitigation Act''.
(b) Threat Assessment and Strategy to Counter Russian Influence in
Venezuela.--
(1) Defined term.--In this subsection, the term
``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
(A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the
Senate; and
(B) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House
of Representatives.
(2) Threat assessment.--Not later than 90 days after the
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall
brief the appropriate congressional committees regarding--
(A) an assessment of Russian-Venezuelan security
cooperation; and
(B) the potential threat such cooperation poses to
the United States and countries in the Western
Hemisphere.
(3) Strategy.--Not later than 30 days after the briefing
required under paragraph (2), the Secretary of State shall
brief the appropriate congressional committees regarding a
strategy to counter threats identified in such assessment from
Russian-Venezuelan cooperation.
(c) Aliens Ineligible for Visas, Admission, or Parole.--
(1) In general.--An alien who the Secretary of State or the
Secretary of Homeland Security (or a designee of either
Secretary) knows, or has reason to believe, is an alien who is
acting or has acted on behalf of the Russian Government in
direct support of the security forces of the Maduro regime is--
(A) inadmissible to the United States;
(B) ineligible to receive a visa or other
documentation to enter the United States; and
(C) otherwise ineligible to be admitted into the
United States or to receive any other benefit under the
Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et
seq.).
(2) Current visas revoked.--
(A) In general.--The issuing consular officer, the
Secretary of State, or the Secretary of Homeland
Security (or a designee of one of such Secretaries)
shall, in accordance with section 221(i) of the
Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1201(i)),
revoke any visa or other entry documentation issued to
an alien described in paragraph (1) regardless of when
the visa or other entry documentation is issued.
(B) Effect of revocation.--A revocation under
subparagraph (A) shall--
(i) take effect immediately; and
(ii) automatically cancel any other valid
visa or entry documentation that is in the
alien's possession.
(3) Exception to comply with united nations headquarters
agreement or for national security reasons.--
(A) International obligations.--This section shall
not apply to an alien if admitting or paroling the
alien into the United States is necessary to permit the
United States to comply with--
(i) the Agreement regarding the
Headquarters of the United Nations, signed at
Lake Success June 26, 1947, and entered into
force November 21, 1947, between the United
Nations and the United States; or
(ii) other applicable international
obligations of the United States.
(B) National security.--The President may waive the
application of this section to an alien if the
President--
(i) determines that such a waiver is in the
national interest of the United States; and
(ii) submits a notice of, and justification
for, such waiver to the appropriate
congressional committees.
(4) Sunset.--This subsection shall terminate on the date
that is 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act.
SEC. 612. RESTRICTION ON EXPORT OF COVERED ARTICLES AND SERVICES TO
CERTAIN SECURITY FORCES OF VENEZUELA.
(a) Short Title.--This section may be cited as the ``Venezuela Arms
Restriction Act''.
(b) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term
``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
(A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the
Senate;
(B) the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban
Affairs of the Senate;
(C) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House
of Representatives; and
(D) the Committee on Financial Services of the
House of Representatives.
(2) Covered article or service.--The term ``covered article
or service''--
(A) for purposes of subsection (c), means--
(i) a defense article or defense service
(as such terms are defined in section 47 of the
Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2794)); and
(ii) any article included on the Commerce
Control List set forth in Supplement No. 1 to
part 774 of the Export Administration
Regulations under subchapter C of chapter VII
of title 15, Code of Federal Regulations, and
controlled for crime control purposes, if the
end user is likely to use the article to
violate the human rights of the citizens of
Venezuela; and
(B) for purposes of subsection (d), means--
(i) any defense article or defense service
of the type described in section 47 of the Arms
Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2794); and
(ii) any article of the type included on
the Commerce Control List set forth in
Supplement No. 1 to part 774 of the Export
Administration Regulations and controlled for
crime control purposes.
(3) Foreign person.--The term ``foreign person'' means a
person that is not a United States person.
(4) Person.--The term ``person'' means an individual or
entity.
(5) Security forces of venezuela.--The term ``security
forces of Venezuela'' includes--
(A) the Bolivarian National Armed Forces, including
the Bolivarian National Guard;
(B) the Bolivarian National Intelligence Service;
(C) the Bolivarian National Police; and
(D) the Bureau for Scientific, Criminal and
Forensic Investigations of the Ministry of Interior,
Justice, and Peace.
(6) United states person.--The term ``United States
person'' means--
(A) a United States citizen or an alien lawfully
admitted for permanent residence to the United States;
or
(B) an entity organized under the laws of the
United States or of any jurisdiction within the United
States, including a foreign branch of such an entity.
(c) Restriction on Export of Covered Articles and Services to
Certain Security Forces of Venezuela.--
(1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of
law, covered articles or services may not be exported from the
United States to any element of the security forces of the
Maduro regime.
(2) Determination.--Not later than 180 days after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in
consultation with the Secretary of Commerce and the heads of
other departments and agencies, as appropriate, shall--
(A) determine, using such information that is
available to the Secretary of State, whether any
covered article or service has been transferred since
July 2017 to the security forces of Venezuela without a
license or other authorization as required by law; and
(B) submit such determination in writing to the
appropriate congressional committees.
(d) Briefing.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in
consultation with the Secretary of Commerce, as appropriate,
shall brief the appropriate congressional committees regarding
the transfer by foreign persons of covered articles or services
to elements of the security forces of Venezuela that are under
the authority of the Maduro regime.
(2) Matters to be included.--The briefing required under
paragraph (1) shall include--
(A) a list of all significant transfers by foreign
persons of covered articles or services to such
elements of the security forces of Venezuela since July
2017;
(B) a list of all foreign persons who maintain an
existing defense relationship with such elements of the
security forces of Venezuela; and
(C) any known use of covered articles or services
by such elements of the security forces of Venezuela or
associated forces, including paramilitary groups, that
have coordinated with such security forces to assault,
intimidate, or murder political activists, protesters,
dissidents, and other civil society leaders, including
Juan Guaido.
(e) Sunset.--This section shall terminate on the earlier of--
(1) the date that is 3 years after the date of the
enactment of this Act; or
(2) the date on which the President certifies to the
appropriate congressional committees that the Government of
Venezuela has returned to a democratic form of government with
respect for the essential elements of representative democracy
as set forth in Article 3 of the Inter-American Democratic
Charter, adopted by the Organization of American States in Lima
on September 11, 2001.
TITLE VII--CRYPTOCURRENCY SANCTIONS AND ENSURING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF
UNITED STATES SANCTIONS
SEC. 701. SANCTIONS ON VENEZUELA'S CRYPTOCURRENCY AND THE PROVISION OF
RELATED TECHNOLOGIES.
(a) Finding.--Executive Order 13827 (83 Fed. Reg. 12469), which was
signed on March 19, 2018, provided for sanctions intended to limit the
effectiveness of the issuance by the Maduro regime of a digital
currency in an effort to circumvent United States sanctions.
(b) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Entity.--The term ``entity'' means a partnership,
association, trust, joint venture, corporation, group,
subgroup, or organization.
(2) Person.--The term ``person'' means an individual or
entity.
(3) United states person.--The term ``United States
person'' means any--
(A) United States citizen;
(B) alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence
to the United States;
(C) entity organized under the laws of the United
States or any jurisdiction within the United States
(including a foreign branch of any such entity); and
(D) any person physically located in the United
States.
(c) Prohibition of Certain Transactions.--
(1) In general.--All transactions by a United States person
or within the United States that relate to, provide financing
for, or otherwise deal in any digital currency, digital coin,
or digital token, that was issued by, for, or on behalf of the
Maduro regime are prohibited beginning on the date of the
enactment of this Act.
(2) Applicability.--The prohibitions under paragraph (1)
shall apply to the extent provided by statutes, or in
regulations, orders, directives, or licenses that may be issued
pursuant to this Act, and notwithstanding any contract entered
into or any license or permit granted before the date of the
enactment of this Act.
(3) Prohibitions.--Any transaction that evades or avoids,
has the purpose of evading or avoiding, causes a violation of,
or attempts to violate any of the prohibitions set forth in
this subsection is prohibited. Any conspiracy formed to violate
any of the prohibitions set forth in this subsection is
prohibited.
(d) Rulemaking.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of the Treasury, in
consultation with the Secretary of State, is authorized to take
such actions, including promulgating rules and regulations, to
implement this section.
(2) Delegation.--The Secretary of the Treasury may
redelegate any of the functions described in paragraph (1) to
other officers and executive departments and agencies of the
United States Government. All agencies of the United States
Government shall take all appropriate measures within their
authority to carry out the provisions of this section.
(e) Waiver.--The President may waive the prohibition under
subsection (c)(1) if the President--
(1) determines that such waiver is in the national interest
of the United States; and
(2) not later than 30 days after making a determination
under paragraph (1), submits a written explanation for why such
a waiver is in the United States national interest to--
(A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the
Senate;
(B) the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban
Affairs of the Senate;
(C) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House
of Representatives; and
(D) the Committee on Financial Services of the
House of Representatives.
SEC. 702. BRIEFING ON THE IMPACT OF CRYPTOCURRENCIES ON UNITED STATES
SANCTIONS.
(a) Definition.--In this section, the term ``appropriate
congressional committees'' means--
(1) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate;
(2) the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of
the Senate;
(3) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of
Representatives; and
(4) the Committee on Financial Services of the House of
Representatives.
(b) Methodology.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State and the Secretary of the
Treasury, after consultation with the Chairman of the Securities and
Exchange Commission and the Chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading
Commission, shall develop a methodology to assess how any digital
currency, digital coin, or digital token, that was issued by, for, or
on behalf of the Maduro regime is being utilized to circumvent or
undermine United States sanctions.
(c) Briefing.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State and the Secretary of the
Treasury shall brief the appropriate congressional committees on the
methodology developed under subsection (b).
TITLE VIII--MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
SEC. 801. CONGRESSIONAL BRIEFINGS.
(a) Humanitarian Assistance; Sanctions Coordination.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 15 days after any of the
congressional committees listed in paragraph (2) requests a
briefing regarding the implementation--
(A) of section 201, the Secretary of State and the
Administrator of the United States Agency for
International Development shall provide such briefing
to such committee; and
(B) of section 601, the Secretary of State shall
provide such briefing to such committee.
(2) Congressional committees.--The committees listed in
this paragraph are--
(A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the
Senate;
(B) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate;
(C) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House
of Representatives; and
(D) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives.
(b) United Nations; Negotiated Solution; Crimes Against Humanity.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 15 days after any
congressional committee listed in paragraph (2) requests a
briefing regarding the implementation of section 103, 202, or
403, the Secretary of State shall provide such briefing to such
committee.
(2) Congressional committees.--The congressional committees
listed in this paragraph are--
(A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the
Senate; and
(B) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House
of Representatives.
(c) Regime Cohesion.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 15 days after a
congressional committee listed in paragraph (2) requests a
briefing regarding the implementation of section 301, the
Secretary of State and the Director of National Intelligence
shall provide such briefing to such committee.
(2) Congressional committees.--The congressional committees
listed in this paragraph are--
(A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the
Senate;
(B) the Select Committee on Intelligence of the
Senate;
(C) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House
of Representatives; and
(D) the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
of the House of Representatives.
(d) International Election Observation; Democratic Civil Society.--
Not later than 15 days after a congressional committee listed in
subsection (a)(2) requests a briefing regarding the implementation of
section 405, the Secretary of State and the Administrator of the United
States Agency for International Development shall provide such briefing
to such committee.
(e) Visa Restrictions; Sanctions Waiver.--Not later than 15 days
after a congressional committee listed in subsection (b)(2) requests a
briefing regarding the implementation of section 302 or 303, the
Secretary of State shall provide such briefing to such committee.
(f) Reconstruction of Venezuela's Energy Infrastructure.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 15 days after a
congressional committee listed in paragraph (2) requests a
briefing regarding the implementation of section 501, the
Secretary of State, the Secretary of Energy, and the Secretary
of the Treasury shall provide such briefing to such committee.
(2) Congressional committees.--The congressional committees
listed in this paragraph are--
(A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the
Senate;
(B) the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
of the Senate;
(C) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House
of Representatives; and
(D) the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the
House of Representatives.
(g) Recovery of Stolen Assets.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 15 days after a
congressional committee listed in paragraph (2) requests a
briefing regarding the implementation of section 502, the
Secretary of State, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the
Attorney General shall provide such briefing to such committee.
(2) Congressional committees.--The congressional committees
listed in this paragraph are--
(A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the
Senate;
(B) the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban
Affairs of the Senate;
(C) the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate;
(D) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House
of Representatives;
(E) the Committee on Financial Services of the
House of Representatives; and
(F) the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of
Representatives.
(h) Financial Sanctions.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 15 days after a
congressional committee listed in paragraph (2) requests a
briefing regarding the implementation of section 605, 606, or
608, the Secretary of the Treasury shall provide such briefing
to such committee.
(2) Congressional committees.--The congressional committees
listed in this paragraph are--
(A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the
Senate;
(B) the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban
Affairs of the Senate;
(C) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House
of Representatives; and
(D) the Committee on Financial Services of the
House of Representatives.
(i) Kingpin Sanctions.--Not later than 15 days after a
congressional committee listed in subsection (h)(2) requests a briefing
regarding the implementation of section 607, the Secretary of the
Treasury, the Attorney General, the Secretary of State, and the
Director of the Central Intelligence Agency shall provide such briefing
to such committee.
(j) PDVSA Transactions With Rosneft.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 15 days after a
congressional committee listed in paragraph (2) requests a
briefing regarding the implementation of section 609, the
Secretary of State, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the
Secretary of Homeland Security shall provide such briefing to
such committee.
(2) Congressional committees.--The congressional committees
listed in this paragraph are--
(A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the
Senate;
(B) the Committee on Homeland Security and
Governmental Affairs of the Senate;
(C) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House
of Representatives; and
(D) the Committee on Homeland Security of the House
of Representatives.
(k) Cryptocurrency Sanctions.--Not later than 15 days after a
congressional committee listed in subsection (h)(2) requests a briefing
regarding the implementation of section 701 or 702, the Secretary of
State and the Secretary of the Treasury shall provide such briefing to
such committee.
SEC. 802. SANCTIONS IMPLEMENTATION AND PENALTIES.
(a) Implementation.--
(1) President.--The President may exercise all of the
authorities described in sections 203 and 205 of the
International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1702 and
1704) to carry out sections 603, 605, 606, 607, 608, and 701 of
this Act.
(2) Secretary of the treasury.--The Secretary of the
Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State, may
promulgate such regulations as may be necessary to implement
the provisions set forth in sections 603, 605, 606, 607, 608,
and 701 of this Act.
(b) Penalties.--Any person that violates, attempts to violate,
conspires to violate, or causes a violation of any of the sanctions
described in sections 603, 605, 606, 607, 608 and 701, or of any
regulation, license, or order issued to carry out those sections, shall
be subject to the penalties set forth in subsections (b) and (c) of
section 206 of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50
U.S.C. 1705) to the same extent as a person that commits an unlawful
act described in subsection (a) of that section.
SEC. 803. PROHIBITION ON CONSTRUCTION OF PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT AS AN
AUTHORIZATION FOR THE USE OF MILITARY FORCE.
Nothing in this Act may be construed as an authorization for the
use of military force.
SEC. 804. EXTENSION AND TERMINATION OF SANCTIONS AGAINST VENEZUELA.
(a) Amendment.--Section 5(e) of the Venezuela Defense of Human
Rights and Civil Society Act of 2014 (Public Law 113-278; 50 U.S.C.
1701 note) is amended by striking ``December 31, 2019'' and inserting
``December 31, 2025''.
(b) Termination.--The requirement to impose sanctions under this
Act shall terminate on December 31, 2025.
Calendar No. 101
116th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1025
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To provide humanitarian relief to the Venezuelan people and Venezuelan
migrants, to advance a constitutional and democratic solution to
Venezuela's political crisis, to address Venezuela's economic
reconstruction, to combat public corruption, narcotics trafficking, and
money laundering, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
June 3, 2019
Reported with an amendment