94 S5317 IS: Venezuelan Democracy Act
U.S. Senate
2022-12-20
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
1.Short title; table of contents(a)This Act may be cited as the Venezuelan Democracy Act
.(b)The table of contents for this Act is as follows:Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.Sec. 2. Statement of policy.Sec. 3. Appropriate congressional committees defined.TITLE I—Determinations of a transition government or democratically elected government in VenezuelaSec. 101. Determinations of a transition government or democratically elected government in Venezuela.TITLE II—Promoting democratic change in VenezuelaSec. 201. United States policy regarding membership of Venezuela in international financial institutions.Sec. 202. United States policy regarding membership of Venezuela in the Organization of American States.Sec. 203. Authorization of support for democratic and human rights groups and international observers.Sec. 204. Support for the people of Venezuela.TITLE III—SanctionsSec. 301. Definitions.Sec. 302. Blocking international support for a nondemocratic government in Venezuela.Sec. 303. Financial sanctions with respect to debt instruments of Maduro regime.Sec. 304. Sanctions with respect to cryptocurrency of Venezuela and provision of related technologies.Sec. 305. Blocking property of the Government of Venezuela.Sec. 306. Determination with respect to designation of Maduro regime as a terrorist organization.Sec. 307. Suspension and termination of sanctions.Sec. 308. Implementation; penalties.TITLE IV—Assistance to a free and independent VenezuelaSec. 401. Policy toward a transition government and a democratically elected government in Venezuela.Sec. 402. Assistance for the people of Venezuela.Sec. 403. Report on trade and investment relations between the United States and Venezuela.TITLE V—General provisionsSec. 501. Effect of Act on lawful United States Government activities.Sec. 502. Exception relating to importation of goods.2.It is the policy of the United States—(1)to seek a peaceful transition to democracy and a resumption of economic growth in Venezuela through support for the people of Venezuela and the careful application of sanctions directed at the regime of Nicolàs Maduro and any nondemocratic successor;(2)to seek the cooperation of other democratic countries in supporting a transition described in paragraph (1);(3)to make clear to other countries that, in determining the relations of the United States with those countries, the United States will take into account the willingness of those countries to cooperate in supporting a transition described in paragraph (1);(4)to seek the speedy termination of any remaining military or technical assistance, subsidies, or other forms of assistance to the Maduro regime and any nondemocratic successor from the government of any other country, including the Governments of Cuba, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Russian Federation, and the People’s Republic of China;(5)to continue to vigorously oppose violations of internationally recognized human rights in Venezuela;(6)to maintain sanctions on the Maduro regime so long as it continues to refuse to move toward democratization and greater respect for internationally recognized human rights; and(7)to be prepared to reduce the sanctions imposed with respect to Venezuela in carefully calibrated ways in response to demonstrable progress toward democratization in Venezuela, including the establishment of a transition government that leads to a democratically elected government in Venezuela.3.Appropriate congressional committees definedIn this Act, the term appropriate congressional committees means the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives.<enum>I</enum><header>Determinations of a transition government or democratically elected government in Venezuela</header><section id="id968b8e4c86bf4c49b8e9f3aac13585ca"><enum>101.</enum><header>Determinations of a transition government or democratically elected government in Venezuela</header><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id52e466f2c4e143608c1323c8decd67a1"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Upon making a determination that a transition government or a democratically elected government is in power in Venezuela, the President shall submit that determination to the appropriate congressional committees.</text></subsection><subsection id="ida378c683a1ff4f0a8e6c28e20f8de585"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Requirements for determining a transition government is in power in Venezuela</header><paragraph id="id5990b4e497a44905a079af23f8192205"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>For the purposes of making a determination under subsection (a), a transition government in Venezuela is a government that—</text><subparagraph id="idb5280199b6ae4c6c8be83fa6c5a41237"><enum>(A)</enum><text>is showing respect for the basic civil liberties and internationally recognized human rights of the citizens of Venezuela;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id22afc89725aa4e9994b5cadcc141000e"><enum>(B)</enum><text>has fully reinstated all members of the National Assembly convened on January 6, 2016, following democratic elections that were held on December 6, 2015;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ida4a441dc81494aeb9e81c8cadf3cc709"><enum>(C)</enum><text>has lifted the order of contempt issued by the Venezuelan Supreme Tribunal of Justice (TSJ) on January 11, 2016, against the National Assembly convened on January 6, 2016, including by restoring all powers of said National Assembly and the immunities for deputies;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id39f355f30bee475bbecc006c00db2270"><enum>(D)</enum><text>has ceased to interfere with the functioning of political parties, including by lifting all judicial interventions of political parties has legalized all political activity;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id53abe0c610cb4ab3a74632ea4b05b672"><enum>(E)</enum><text>has released all political prisoners and allowed for investigations of Venezuelan prisons by appropriate international human rights organizations;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ide22f774639a94366b60a0d3cf097ade0"><enum>(F)</enum><text>has dissolved the General Directorate of Military Counterintelligence, the Special Action Forces (FAES), and the Colectivos;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id6a4872711dc84befb8d2c18de428974f"><enum>(G)</enum><text>has made public commitments to organizing free and fair elections for a new government—</text><clause id="id251c028de20747c4a0b813974fc141f0"><enum>(i)</enum><text>to be held in a timely manner within a period not to exceed 12 months after the transition government assumes power;</text></clause><clause id="id88dce76854a44a25982a138481e09461"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>with the participation of multiple independent political parties that have full access to the media on an equal basis, including (in the case of radio, television, or other telecommunications media) in terms of allotments of time for such access and the times of day such allotments are given; and</text></clause><clause id="id6c1283aa8ed04084ba7d0ef018264225"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>to be conducted under the supervision of observers from the Organization of American States, the United Nations, and other internationally recognized election observers;</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id38be46d51ec94314a8bccaf33b851dfe"><enum>(H)</enum><text>makes public commitments to and is making demonstrable progress in—</text><clause id="id116a3d110813473497694e2a53d4f9a9"><enum>(i)</enum><text>establishing an independent judiciary;</text></clause><clause id="id227d1944cbe64a1ead902e72cba6cb50"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>respecting internationally recognized human rights and fundamental freedoms as set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, to which Venezuela is a signatory; and</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="iddd69291aedb0464885b4a2b2976d4fd2"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">allowing the establishment of independent social, economic, and political associations; and</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ida205b0ed5284495f9ce6da171b093f83"><enum>(I)</enum><text>does not include Nicolàs Maduro or any persons—</text><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id943b9e2638c7432fbad5cde5bc693a05"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">with respect to which sanctions have been imposed by the Office of Foreign Assets Control; or </text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id9cad55c12ee44bec946f52e9fb631fa7"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">sought by the United States Department of Justice.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ida8ec362d7cb34860b07c84fe7460e64e"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Additional factors</header><text>In addition to the requirements set forth in paragraph (1), in determining under subsection (a) whether a transition government is in power in Venezuela, the President shall take into account the extent to which that government—</text><subparagraph id="id589abf056f354129859938d055ebe206"><enum>(A)</enum><text>has made public commitments to, and is making demonstrable progress in—</text><clause id="ide59c5ea2aa6e4f1d9538e944140a0612"><enum>(i)</enum><text>effectively guaranteeing the rights of free speech and freedom of the press, including granting permits to privately owned media and telecommunications companies to operate in Venezuela; </text></clause><clause id="id8597417d959d431091153b747a78f1b0"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>implementing the recommendations included in the Final Report of the European Union Election Observation Mission to observe the regional and municipal elections on November 21, 2021, in Venezuela; and </text></clause><clause id="id2767fe8177d146d5b533d4b31c8dc599"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>assuring the right to private property;</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ide908c7bf691844bc8c74346099fb6792"><enum>(B)</enum><text>is taking genuine efforts to extradite or otherwise render to the United States all persons sought by the United States Department of Justice for crimes committed in the United States;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id7ef6feb8f9a44416819dc7b6410737c4"><enum>(C)</enum><text>is not providing any support to any group, in any other country, that seeks the violent overthrow of the government of that country; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ide25a896ff99746538aee6f9a5895a811"><enum>(D)</enum><text>has permitted the deployment throughout Venezuela of independent and unfettered international human rights monitors.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id83d45ec30af44eff89eaec2079da7672"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Requirements for determining a democratically elected government is in power in Venezuela</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">For the purposes of making a determination under subsection (a), a democratically elected government in Venezuela is a government that, in addition to meeting the requirements of subsection (b)—</text><paragraph id="id5303bd6785634dc98dd7caeea110909e"><enum>(1)</enum><text>results from free and fair elections—</text><subparagraph id="id0699968921a04246bb0d0576d3d65dd4"><enum>(A)</enum><text>conducted under the supervision of internationally recognized election observers; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idc5efac00292f4d6ea47ce22435a1d0cc"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in which—</text><clause id="id7d84f3c5aa254888baabd7e37607c102"><enum>(i)</enum><text>opposition parties were permitted ample time to organize and campaign for such elections; and</text></clause><clause id="ide04c4ba3dbbf406eb27665cee314bbfe"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>all candidates were permitted full access to the media;</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idc115e084223b483296eccc9ca3c87422"><enum>(2)</enum><text>is showing respect for the basic civil liberties and internationally recognized human rights of the citizens of Venezuela;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id7caef784d6ba4001803d08bb373f5b39"><enum>(3)</enum><text>is committed to making constitutional changes that would ensure regular free and fair elections and the full enjoyment of basic civil liberties and internationally recognized human rights by the citizens of Venezuela;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id6d683964dc2841c1a8e4d68bd0f72190"><enum>(4)</enum><text>has made demonstrable progress in establishing an independent judiciary; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id1c2edd61415d4f3bb3f2006a6e795517" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(5)</enum><text>has freed all wrongfully detained United States nationals. </text></paragraph></subsection></section><enum>II</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Promoting democratic change in Venezuela</header><section id="id4c021c3d575047d8bd190eae28b0b8a8"><enum>201.</enum><header>United States policy regarding membership of Venezuela in international financial institutions</header><subsection id="id7d203977d0b84ede983bf6d3cbf5ad6d"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Except as provided in subsection (b)(1), the Secretary of the Treasury shall instruct the United States executive director of each covered international financial institution to use the voice and vote of the United States to oppose the admission of Venezuela as a member of that institution until the President submits to the appropriate congressional committees a determination under section 101(a) that a democratically elected government is in power in Venezuela. </text></subsection><subsection id="idD0D123BCF6874DCFAEFD883833745763"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Steps after transition government in power</header><text>On and after the date on which the President submits to the appropriate congressional committees a determination under section 101(a) that a transition government is in power in Venezuela—</text><paragraph id="id998b98c5fc074ded80e492945d023d58" commented="no"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the President is encouraged to take steps to support the processing of the application of Venezuela for membership in any covered international financial institution, subject to the membership taking effect after a democratically elected government is in power in Venezuela; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idfbe1e6cc058943b1a92162ea4bf54b3c" commented="no"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the Secretary of the Treasury is authorized to instruct the United States executive director of each covered international financial institution to support loans or other assistance to Venezuela only to the extent that such loans or assistance contribute to a stable foundation for a democratically elected government in Venezuela.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id309e898bb926428dbfec49c04213aab6"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Reduction in United States payments to international financial institutions</header><paragraph id="id2A83E363A9264BFAAB8590D9F40F0A3C"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>If a covered international financial institution approves a loan or other assistance to the regime of Nicolàs Maduro or any nondemocratic successor government over the opposition of the United States, the Secretary of the Treasury shall withhold from payment to that institution an amount equal to the amount of the loan or other assistance, from either of the following types of payment:</text><subparagraph id="id21d96a5b9a164ba2afc60d4eec26b543"><enum>(A)</enum><text>The paid-in portion of the increase in capital stock of the institution.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ide6f14bbffc18427e9f0f8def9fb1a9f5"><enum>(B)</enum><text>The callable portion of the increase in capital stock of the institution.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id26ebf97fb4a14b6197b2f8b39b9d9d90"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Waiver</header><text>The President may waive the requirement under paragraph (1) if the President, not later than 10 days before the waiver is to take effect, determines and certifies to the appropriate congressional committees that such a waiver is in the national interest of the United States. The President shall submit with the certification a detailed justification explaining the reasons for the waiver. </text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id3868988d6d1d4fa4ba59a0adf2443152"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Covered international financial institution defined</header><text>In this section, the term <term>covered international financial institution</term> means each of the following:</text><paragraph id="idE25E7730DEA84DA78526C95B2B507F79"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The International Monetary Fund. </text></paragraph><paragraph id="id53C33914798E4D7AB43A24B787A28AEF"><enum>(2)</enum><text>The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development. </text></paragraph><paragraph id="id76A6B46CDD314D00802CC76CBA81A134"><enum>(3)</enum><text>The International Development Association. </text></paragraph><paragraph id="idF3865AA660984D23AE1E54B84828AD72"><enum>(4)</enum><text>The International Finance Corporation. </text></paragraph><paragraph id="idA4657BAB3807412890440FC4C94B03D4"><enum>(5)</enum><text>The Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency. </text></paragraph><paragraph id="id75B023CFCF9F4275B8F24311FB282AF8"><enum>(6)</enum><text>The Inter-American Development Bank.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="idfd952ad189bd4518b83a42d33750e8b4"><enum>202.</enum><header>United States policy regarding membership of Venezuela in the Organization of American States</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The President shall instruct the United States Permanent Representative to the Organization of American States to use the voice and vote of the United States to oppose any measure that would allow a nondemocratic Government of Venezuela to participate in the Organization until the President submits to the appropriate congressional committees a determination under section 101(a) that a democratically elected government is in power in Venezuela.</text></section><section id="id9560b6ba5f0a41469252ea85a1a39f92"><enum>203.</enum><header>Authorization of support for democratic and human rights groups and international observers</header><subsection id="idaa150688ed784d1b94fe6353e2706e28"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Notwithstanding any other provision of law (other than section 634A of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/22/2394-1">22 U.S.C. 2394–1</external-xref>) or any comparable notification requirement contained in any Act making appropriations for the Department of State, foreign operations, and related programs), the President may provide assistance and other support for individuals and independent nongovernmental organizations to support democracy-building efforts in Venezuela, including as described in subsections (b) and (c).</text></subsection><subsection id="idff422f13d269449eb877bc7dcfdb7d28"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Organization of American States emergency fund</header><paragraph id="id187eb36f77f84a36a867ae3d75ca1e14"><enum>(1)</enum><header>For support of internationally recognized human rights and free and fair elections</header><text>The President shall take the necessary steps to encourage the Organization of American States to create a special emergency fund for the explicit purpose of deploying human rights observers and individuals and organizations engaged in election support and election observation in Venezuela.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id8ec96583e84d4f5aa01567b60d432b9d"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Voluntary contributions for fund</header><text>The President should provide not less than $5,000,000 of the voluntary contributions of the United States to the Organization of American States solely for the purposes of the special fund referred to in paragraph (1).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id61f0a37438ea47fb8aad484f94eadc4b"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Action of other member states</header><text>The President should instruct the United States Permanent Representative to the Organization of American States to encourage other member states of the Organization to join in calling for the Government of Venezuela to allow the immediate deployment of independent human rights monitors of the Organization throughout Venezuela and on-site visits to Venezuela by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. </text></subsection><subsection id="ida2c5c85275944cf4ab586eb9b20ebfc2"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Denial of funds to Government of Venezuela</header><text>In implementing this section, the President shall take all necessary steps to ensure that no funds or other assistance is provided to a nondemocratic Government of Venezuela.</text></subsection></section><section id="id606c62109fcc4f758eff1107c02ca750"><enum>204.</enum><header>Support for the people of Venezuela</header><subsection id="idca26264acf614603bf918770f3b172c3"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Provisions of law affected</header><text>The provisions of this section apply notwithstanding—</text><paragraph id="id3F312ECA8A9F44C8BCB9897C4A32DE31"><enum>(1)</enum><text>any other provision of law, including section 620(a) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/22/2370">22 U.S.C. 2370(a)</external-xref>); or </text></paragraph><paragraph id="id75A07A48D9ED4951BA0CBA90B3A9B0DE"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the exercise of authorities, before the date of the enactment of this Act, under—</text><subparagraph id="id28A67977CBA2495D8834FECBB7B71EF5"><enum>(A)</enum><text>section 5(b) of the Trading With the Enemy Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/50/4305">50 U.S.C. 4305(b)</external-xref>); </text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id07B5ACEC4D7946769D07122801FDFC66"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/50/1701">50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.</external-xref>); or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id815215C21E8043FAAFB31AC0C530040F"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the Export Control Reform Act of 2018 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/50/4801">50 U.S.C. 4801 et seq.</external-xref>).</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id00cde081321f4a0792d9d0a7e3cbefdb"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Donations of food</header><text>Nothing in this or any other Act shall prohibit donations of food to independent nongovernmental organizations or individuals in Venezuela.</text></subsection><subsection id="id117cfbb8c81c4e5b826b6d50ed86c9e0"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Exports of medicines and medical supplies</header><paragraph id="idA882D6C6816B4A41907D09B54F2B98A9"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), the export of medicines or medical supplies, instruments, or equipment to Venezuela shall not be restricted, except—</text><subparagraph id="idc54de0c607144823b548aae70988e420"><enum>(A)</enum><text>to the extent such a restriction would be permitted under section 203(b)(2) of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/50/1702">50 U.S.C. 1702(b)(2)</external-xref>); or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id93bde6678a324ac795d6eb022b16e976"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in a case in which the President determines—</text><clause id="id2E952A67DFC94CF8B09AF5FBDB062314"><enum>(i)</enum><text>there is a reasonable likelihood that the item to be exported will be used for purposes of torture or other abuses of internationally recognized human rights;</text></clause><clause id="id2e672dd4d00a4aca824dd9dcf35abd8a"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the item to be exported could be used in the production or distribution of illicit narcotics or in activities related to illegal mining; or </text></clause><clause id="id77845045f84a47bfba18d8d6794462ad"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>there is a reasonable likelihood that the item to be exported will be reexported.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id5ae5301c76b745a19b4c5c4394b4045b"><enum>(2)</enum><header>On-site verifications required</header><subparagraph id="id1B8FF0CA6B5649AF8BCD62A5383A7B56"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Except as provided by subparagraph (B), medicines or medical supplies, instruments, or equipment may be exported to Venezuela under paragraph (1) only if the President determines that the United States Government is able to verify, by on-site inspections and other appropriate means, that the item to be exported is to be used for the purposes for which it was intended and only for the use and benefit of the people of Venezuela.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idD3CC3562CBDB41DEA6799CF6378631F9"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Exception</header><text>Subparagraph (A) does not apply to donations to independent nongovernmental organizations in Venezuela of medicines for humanitarian purposes.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id9d9c53ccee8040faa068d5a7f77e2178"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Licenses required</header><text>The export of medicines or medical supplies, instruments, or equipment to Venezuela under paragraph (1) shall be made pursuant to specific licenses issued by the United States Government.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idbdd471abafda47cfba38bd48afe8ed8a"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Assistance To support democracy in Venezuela</header><text>The United States Government may provide assistance, through appropriate independent nongovernmental organizations, for the support of individuals and organizations to promote democratic change in Venezuela.</text></subsection></section><enum>III</enum><header>Sanctions</header><section id="idB861732DF68F4F3796C8EA0E1AC5E85E" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>301.</enum><header>Definitions</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">In this title:</text><paragraph id="idd8916ee03e2f4786a60aa4e1eb188d8e"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Entity</header><text>The term <term>entity</term> means a partnership, association, trust, joint venture, corporation, group, subgroup, or organization.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id17651379ba7a4c10a6373f113b14968c" commented="no"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Government of Venezuela</header><text>The term <term>Government of Venezuela</term> includes—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ide1881bc440804d5590ae971ad0ddcf25"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the state and Government of Venezuela;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id9b10497e4298419aa2ac825f3ff83065"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">any political subdivision, agency, or instrumentality thereof, including the Central Bank of Venezuela and Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A.; </text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idec9ed2bc813343fb92523ff5d0338247"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">any person owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by an entity described in subparagraph (A) or (B); and </text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0ecd2d1f23404419b0933cdd03c28126"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">any person that has acted or purported to act directly or indirectly for or on behalf of, an entity described in subparagraph (A), (B), or (C), including as a member of the regime of Nicolàs Maduro or any nondemocratic successor government in Venezuela.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id1b4573189e3245a0a9e3a828eb8b1b14"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Person</header><text>The term <term>person</term> means an individual or entity.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idd0fe5876e29b4f528ed18d8066aa5843"><enum>(4)</enum><header>United States person</header><text>The term <term>United States person</term> means—</text><subparagraph id="id1bbedf9c3fec41369b602f34aab578cf"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a United States citizen or alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence to the United States;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ida972c415e6a941da91c789daca04b3cb"><enum>(B)</enum><text>any 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</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idd76914b69346497995cb274ec91d46a7" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(C)</enum><text>any person physically located in the United States.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></section><section id="id988db321f763418ba27a718a86b096b5"><enum>302.</enum><header>Blocking international support for a nondemocratic government in Venezuela</header><subsection id="id93d94e19eab645aaad733575b01974b2"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Venezuelan trading partners</header><text>The President should encourage the governments of countries that conduct trade with Venezuela to restrict their trade and credit relations with Venezuela in a manner consistent with the purposes of this Act. </text></subsection><subsection id="idc7030655a11a402dbcc997dacdc99463"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Sanctions against countries assisting a nondemocratic government in Venezuela</header><paragraph id="id7b787433aab24125bc37b6cf6cafd888"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The President may impose the following sanctions with respect to any country that provides assistance to the regime of Nicolàs Maduro or any nondemocratic successor government in Venezuela:</text><subparagraph id="id825817381b4e4792ada8db3df0c85059"><enum>(A)</enum><text>The President may determine that the government of such country is not eligible for nonhumanitarian assistance under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/22/2151">22 U.S.C. 2151 et seq.</external-xref>) or assistance or sales under the Arms Export Control Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/22/2751">22 U.S.C. 2751 et seq.</external-xref>).</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idc5b9b2fcf47d4a25870f08f413b0ef96"><enum>(B)</enum><text>The President may determine that the country is not eligible, under any program, for forgiveness or reduction of debt owed to the United States Government.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idad7ece87676e4978b49ca8ef509d28b3"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Termination</header><text>This section, and any sanctions imposed pursuant to this section, shall cease to apply at such time as the President submits to the appropriate congressional committees a determination under section 101(a) that a democratically elected government is in power in Venezuela.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idCED0E30924B84926B277789C9A36234F"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this section:</text><paragraph id="idE40D0B71559848E3A5E450F694F3E638"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Assistance to Venezuela</header><text>The term <term>assistance to Venezuela</term>—</text><subparagraph id="id53e2af5f2e6843fcb88be044f199c0b4" commented="no"><enum>(A)</enum><text>means assistance to or for the benefit of the Government of Venezuela that is provided by grant, concessional sale, guaranty, or insurance, or by any other means on terms more favorable than that generally available in the applicable market, whether in the form of a loan, lease, credit, or otherwise;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idF2E49D14CDE34D6AB6E427FD744A6823"><enum>(B)</enum><text>includes—</text><clause id="id0E39DA8FDDF9497B9A08A85344F25881"><enum>(i)</enum><text>subsidies for exports to Venezuela; </text></clause><clause id="idE8D86DF4F9A142B6B6F9DBE7F4722BDC"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>favorable tariff treatment of articles that are the growth, product, or manufacture of Venezuela; and</text></clause><clause id="ide5301f125bd84da0b50d39ad4ec4fe12" commented="no"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>an exchange, reduction, or forgiveness of debt owed by the Government of Venezuela to a foreign country in return for a grant of an equity interest in a property, investment, or operation of the Government of Venezuela (including any agency or instrumentality of the Government of Venezuela) or a national of Venezuela; and </text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id388c22bcca6c477187e437245ad84e78"><enum>(C)</enum><text>does not include—</text><clause id="id3b95ba4d2b2d45deaebcb1209bdf96eb"><enum>(i)</enum><text>humanitarian assistance, including donations of food, made available to nongovernmental organizations or individuals in Venezuela; or</text></clause><clause id="id399e10ad4e224c119d082245d07177aa" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>exports of medicines or medical supplies, instruments, or equipment permitted under section 204(c). </text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idECECD267E6614BF6A1AAB4E9849EDF44"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Agency or instrumentality of the Government of Venezuela</header><text>The term <term>agency or instrumentality of the Government of Venezuela</term> has the meaning given the term <quote>agency or instrumentality of a foreign state</quote> in section 1603(b) of title 28, United States Code, except that each reference in such section to <quote>a foreign state</quote> shall be deemed to be a reference to <quote>the Government of Venezuela</quote>.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id94eab689f7a649a1a9a6316092bd7667"><enum>303.</enum><header>Financial sanctions with respect to debt instruments of Maduro regime</header><subsection id="id78d40977662b40e3b764637f7b072d6f"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Prohibition of certain transactions</header><paragraph id="ida70e90626ff8433b9b304f7d9abc0c92"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, all transactions by a United States person or within the United States that relate to, provide financing for, or otherwise deal in debt instruments issued by, for, or on behalf of Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A., or the regime of Nicolàs Maduro or any nondemocratic successor government in Venezuela, are prohibited. </text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idb06bb6339524461587c392e68fd109cf"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Inclusions</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The prohibition under paragraph (1) includes a prohibition on—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id97c7f75b7a0e4bd492f968ec187acd59"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">entering into any transaction in—</text><clause id="id46ae3b15b0ff4f2999dad20561a9177f"><enum>(i)</enum><text>debt instruments with a maturity of more than 90 days issued by Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A., on or after the date of the enactment of this Act;</text></clause><clause id="idea8f6ca50d08476a9bc25211fbcc7e19"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>debt instruments with a maturity of more than 30 days or equity issued by the Maduro regime on or after such date of enactment, other than debt instruments issued by Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A., covered by subparagraph (A);</text></clause><clause id="id0cb1b2466b964c09894272315e965421"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>bonds issued by the Maduro regime before such date of enactment; or</text></clause><clause id="ide28c83a934a846b8a1ea8e820a480c24"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>dividend payments or other distributions of profits to the Maduro regime from any entity owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by the Maduro regime;</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idd843b014cd544386ab297f4343da65cf" commented="no"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the direct or indirect purchase of securities from the Maduro regime, other than—</text><clause id="idffdaf01d3f5940079c910688c757c367" commented="no"><enum>(i)</enum><text>securities qualifying as debt instruments issued by Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A., covered by paragraph (1)(A); and</text></clause><clause id="id9caa2262ee554c85a2a47f30f82a9d44" commented="no"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>securities qualifying as debt instruments issued by the Maduro regime covered by paragraph (1)(B);</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id9a3411f9d02f41fda16e4dad08c12709" commented="no"><enum>(C)</enum><text>purchasing any debt owed to the Maduro regime, including accounts receivable;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id19a52a4c8bf64a128a3a3ee4b6aca002" commented="no"><enum>(D)</enum><text>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; </text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id14f8ed3fe70b4385adc2a4bba8ef2ff1" commented="no"><enum>(E)</enum><text>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; </text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id56647861a18549e8a46ec0a94bf9c51a"><enum>(F)</enum><text>entering into 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; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id122b095a3c984df9accaad1358e924dd"><enum>(G)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">any conspiracy formed to violate any of the prohibitions set forth in this subsection.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id9d26b44f21f24a8fabdac1d2f729f4ef"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Rulemaking</header><paragraph id="idacdbec8280364b1a8c5d109d435a81f1"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State, may take such actions, including prescribing rules and regulations, as are necessary to implement this section.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id96fbc69c3ef345fe8b2072ca09c02370"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Delegation</header><text>The Secretary of the Treasury may redelegate the authority described in paragraph (1) to other officers and agencies of the United States Government. </text></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id874eaa21b52245febf6988d8b80a4c17"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Responsibility of other agencies</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">All agencies of the United States Government shall take all appropriate measures within their authority to carry out the provisions of this section.</text></subsection></section><section id="id21d1e65ac072432b8dfb82df66bc4d60"><enum>304.</enum><header>Sanctions with respect to cryptocurrency of Venezuela and provision of related technologies</header><subsection id="id00ab0f97520541a98c888ce8f607255e"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Prohibition of certain transactions</header><paragraph id="id89b535883acf494c9cba57fe8c4dc233"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, the following transactions are prohibited:</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ide5c4c949ef5b4875a6040412eecb2c4e"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Any transaction 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 regime of Nicolàs Maduro or any nondemocratic successor government.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id3042511b04d34eb399cbfe192895b887"><enum>(B)</enum><text>Any transaction that evades or avoids, has the purpose of evading or avoiding, causes a violation of, or attempts to violate the prohibition under subparagraph (A). </text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ida526567ef6964fbca7181ce2ee840707"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Any conspiracy formed to violate a prohibition under subparagraph (A) or (B). </text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id9d397962699d4d1891e654ad5f4647d5"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Applicability</header><text>The prohibitions under paragraph (1) shall apply—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5a47db8287714df482fed63ff6d82ae6"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to the extent provided by statutes, or in regulations, orders, directives, or licenses that may be issued pursuant to this section; and </text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id116593575c6840c89c9a9ffa4f92a5cf"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">notwithstanding any contract entered into or any license or permit granted before the date of the enactment of this Act.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id5651DAED11564B838CB6FDA1E0AAC752"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Rulemaking</header><paragraph id="id60E865BBEF194ED185009657EE6BA9A6"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State, may take such actions, including prescribing rules and regulations, as are necessary to implement this section.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idA5386AF9EDA24C34B0D3885441D293CA"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Delegation</header><text>The Secretary of the Treasury may redelegate the authority described in paragraph (1) to other officers and agencies of the United States Government. </text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idD9DA308E6A974E8BA732A5611640A736" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Responsibility of other agencies</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">All agencies of the United States Government shall take all appropriate measures within their authority to carry out the provisions of this section.</text></subsection></section><section id="idcb7456e054974b36b4127f7f24c3a7b9"><enum>305.</enum><header>Blocking property of the Government of Venezuela</header><subsection id="id46573c152403462d8e3b95f3eb7fed61"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Blocking of property</header><text>The President shall exercise all powers granted to the President by the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/50/1701">50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.</external-xref>) to the extent necessary to block and prohibit all transactions in all property and interests in property of the Government of Venezuela and any person described in subsection (b) if such property and interests in property are in the United States, come within the United States, or are or come within the possession or control of a United States person.</text></subsection><subsection id="idf34b110b210444faa6fa3805e9bc99fc"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Persons described</header><text>A person described in this subsection is any person determined by the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State—</text><paragraph id="id530557fd15444b0da8f2989295f9d09c" commented="no"><enum>(1)</enum><text>to have materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, any person—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id2e4dcb48d4b341489950f54a51e943b9"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">included on the list of specially designated nationals and blocked persons maintained by the Office of Foreign Assets Control; and </text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idd32c3516f4a34ad087b53f92a6829cda"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the property and interests in property of which are blocked pursuant to subsection (a); or</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id41fd76f9b0864c90acd502ad3857caae" commented="no"><enum>(2)</enum><text>to be owned or controlled by, or to have acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, any person the property and interests in property of which are blocked pursuant to subsection (a).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id42a5da9eadf248299e8cb978a06a3099"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Prohibitions on evasion and conspiracies</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idf62c763684374baa9b71ba66d6dd6532"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Evasion</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Any transaction that evades or avoids, has the purpose of evading or avoiding, causes a violation of, or attempts to violate, the prohibition under subsection (a) is prohibited. </text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idb484cec4d47b422483b49612d54dd763"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Conspiracy</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Any conspiracy formed to violate the prohibition under subsection (a) is prohibited. </text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id8460d8e40cb44aa698d90d5869bc1db3"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Applicability</header><text>Subsection (a) and the prohibitions under subsection (c) shall apply—</text><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id07a90de2f1164cd2bf9b6771e0be44ff"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to the extent provided by statutes, or in regulations, orders, directives, or licenses that may be issued pursuant to this section; and </text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7359bdb618454fa28143655eff2405da"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">notwithstanding any contract entered into or any license or permit granted before the date of the enactment of this Act.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id1DCCA15B969D47EA81D18C520AC0DE5E"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Rulemaking</header><paragraph id="id94303AD444F94C579750226107D71086"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State, may take such actions, including prescribing rules and regulations, as are necessary to implement this section.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id5208AD40DF204A1FB7E527EC23782368"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Delegation</header><text>The Secretary of the Treasury may redelegate the authority described in paragraph (1) to other officers and agencies of the United States Government. </text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idEB9D376706504E8EB2F654BC2DB13729" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Responsibility of other agencies</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">All agencies of the United States Government shall take all appropriate measures within their authority to carry out the provisions of this section.</text></subsection></section><section id="idb256dadf3bb445069831826a84f3685a"><enum>306.</enum><header>Determination with respect to designation of Maduro regime as a terrorist organization</header><subsection id="idd4cb4f29141a4899b4ffdf27695a8185"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Director of National Intelligence, shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees—</text><paragraph id="id0ad2c63a0f924cd5b4fb4e188a040781"><enum>(1)</enum><text>a determination with respect to whether the regime of Nicolàs Maduro meets the criteria for designation as—</text><subparagraph id="idc6c6906147d44e16981d9e9b3094dc32"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a foreign terrorist organization under section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/8/1189">8 U.S.C. 1189</external-xref>); or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id60d4710cfd2746528a8ec161f9a9d307"><enum>(B)</enum><text>a specially designated global terrorist organization under Executive Order 13224 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/50/1701">50 U.S.C. 1701</external-xref> note; relating to blocking property and prohibiting transactions with persons who commit, threaten to commit, or support terrorism), as amended before, on, or after the date of the enactment of this Act; and</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id2a3286539fd94882b84f63006c0e0970"><enum>(2)</enum><text>if the Secretary determines that the Maduro regime does not meet such criteria, a detailed justification with respect to which of such criteria have not been met.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idc13c74fbc16045948cdfe92bdd5431d3" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Form</header><text>The determination required by subsection (a) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include classified annex. </text></subsection></section><section id="id2d83fc09b9354ecb96af1c552389e962"><enum>307.</enum><header>Suspension and termination of sanctions</header><subsection id="id88b8820f7dbc4369887fce94b9302b77"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Authority To suspend sanctions if transition government in power</header><text>Upon submitting to the appropriate congressional committees a determination under section 101(a) that a transition government is in power in Venezuela, the President, after consultation with Congress, may take steps to suspend the sanctions imposed under this title, to the extent that such steps contribute to a stable foundation for a democratically elected government in Venezuela.</text></subsection><subsection id="idfd2ec8d8321a41f98be91b880f81139a"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Termination of sanctions if democratically elected government in power</header><text>Upon submitting to the appropriate congressional committees a determination under section 101(a) that a democratically elected government is in power in Venezuela, the President shall take steps to terminate the sanctions imposed under this title.</text></subsection><subsection id="id12a374f6a41c41e189b83b6a2dc635a2"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Review of suspension of sanctions</header><paragraph id="id5019196e0f724904b0cb90a23a085d8e"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Reporting requirements</header><text>If the President takes action under subsection (a) to suspend the sanctions imposed under this title, the President shall—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idec0d2dfa35644d59a2d1409f688372a5"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">immediately notify Congress of that action; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="iddd86f816b4094efdb543d62a67a008dd"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">submit to Congress, not less frequently than every 180 days thereafter until the President submits to the appropriate congressional committees a determination under section 101(a) that a democratically elected government is in power in Venezuela, a report on the progress being made by Venezuela toward the establishment of a democratically elected government. </text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idb9118d41afb341bca15eae741b53511a"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Congressional review</header><subparagraph id="id7d4b150b31784a82b817b6d4cf291b91"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Joint resolution of disapproval defined</header><text>In this paragraph, the term <term>joint resolution of disapproval</term> means a joint resolution, the sole matter after the resolving clause of which is as follows: <quote>That Congress disapproves the action of the President under section 307(a) of the <short-title>Venezuelan Democracy Act</short-title> to suspend the sanctions imposed under title II of that Act, notice of which was submitted to the Congress on ____.</quote>, with the blank space being filled with the date on which the President notified Congress with respect to the action under paragraph (1)(A).</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ida889b816f8c048e0be86197ed57826c1"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Effect of enactment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">An action taken by the President under subsection (a) shall cease to be effective upon the enactment of a joint resolution of disapproval with respect to that action.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idb28a6d4abde2408eb2331586e740d196"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Referral to committees</header><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7cd55906abd74c9ea82a8c22694ebace"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Senate</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A joint resolution of disapproval introduced in the Senate shall be referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. </text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id04db68ff9d1e466bb815715e8f0c7804"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>House of Representatives</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A joint resolution of disapproval introduced in the House of Representatives shall be referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ide818c50bfe354f4094f03efb324a0561"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Procedures</header><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5973c6c875ff4ca396333d85b9c72c2c"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Senate</header><text>A joint resolution of disapproval shall be considered in the Senate in accordance with the provisions of section 601(b) of the International Security Assistance and Arms Export Control Act of 1976 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/94/329">Public Law 94–329</external-xref>; 90 Stat. 765).</text></clause><clause id="id60238143B66C44309991E8462AE37E58"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>House of Representatives</header><text>For the purpose of expediting the consideration and enactment of a joint resolution of disapproval, a motion to proceed to the consideration of such a resolution after it has been reported by the appropriate committee under subparagraph (C) shall be treated as highly privileged in the House of Representatives.</text></clause><clause id="id3EDA91D5C6004AC6A85DF432C2AD6A02"><enum>(iii)</enum><header>Limitation</header><text>Not more than one joint resolution of disapproval may be considered in the Senate and the House of Representatives in—</text><subclause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id251be9d0b6cc477bb3d0f21012fa4d70"><enum>(I)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the 180-day period beginning on the date on which the President notifies Congress under paragraph (1)(A) with respect to action taken under subsection (a); and </text></subclause><subclause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0cbce7552c004af092697f3f92cbd813"><enum>(II)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">each 180-day period thereafter.</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idf25912f5b4724595bb89dec7d269dc97"><enum>(E)</enum><header>Rules of House of Representatives and Senate</header><text>This paragraph is enacted by Congress—</text><clause id="id385974554c1d48f4bf0a89edba252897"><enum>(i)</enum><text>as an exercise of the rulemaking power of the Senate and the House of Representatives, respectively, and as such is deemed a part of the rules of each House, respectively, and supersedes other rules only to the extent that it is inconsistent with such rules; and</text></clause><clause id="id4e825a33a7cb40e1a253d1df1ebf9a31"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>with full recognition of the constitutional right of either House to change the rules (so far as relating to the procedure of that House) at any time, in the same manner, and to the same extent as in the case of any other rule of that House. </text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id8d716a3c61fa4577b5d8f0fe9dd3a19f"><enum>308.</enum><header>Implementation; penalties</header><subsection id="id11832537523643a2871707a928ea7d74"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Implementation; penalties</header><paragraph id="id2b751f8fa4bd4fc2bdaaa4cc90cef1e7"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Implementation</header><text>The President may exercise all authorities provided to the President under sections 203 and 205 of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1702 and 1704) to carry out this title.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idb1824454a9964c20aa7d48e3377c2aac"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Penalties</header><text>A person that violates, attempts to violate, conspires to violate, or causes a violation of this title or any regulation, license, or order issued to carry out this title shall be subject to the penalties set forth in subsections (b) and (c) of section 206 of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/50/1705">50 U.S.C. 1705</external-xref>) to the same extent as a person that commits an unlawful act described in subsection (a) of that section.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idf57f2bed1b994fb2993c602beefd177c"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Waiver</header><text>The President may waive the application of sanctions under this title with respect to a foreign person if the President, not later than 10 days before the waiver is to take effect, determines and certifies to the appropriate congressional committees that such a waiver is in the vital national security interest of the United States. The President shall submit with the certification a detailed justification explaining the reasons for the waiver. </text></paragraph></subsection></section><enum>IV</enum><header>Assistance to a free and independent Venezuela</header><section id="id99580f3627164432ba49b53bafeb9399"><enum>401.</enum><header>Policy toward a transition government and a democratically elected government in Venezuela</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">It is the policy of the United States—</text><paragraph id="id83ad89ae044c4cffb55b86aca685c7c7"><enum>(1)</enum><text>to support the self-determination of the people of Venezuela;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="ida7439cbd2aa846bcbec0668956d98e36"><enum>(2)</enum><text>to recognize that the self-determination of the people of Venezuela is a sovereign and national right of the citizens of Venezuela, which must be exercised free of interference by the government of any other country;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id4474b15b23ea4b1b841b50c16cabe2a3"><enum>(3)</enum><text>to encourage the people of Venezuela to empower themselves with a government that reflects the self-determination of the people of Venezuela;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idf8a13ed0720646168ba87f5f6eb92154"><enum>(4)</enum><text>to recognize the potential for a difficult transition from the current regime in Venezuela, which may result from the initiatives taken by the people of Venezuela for self-determination in response to the intransigence of the regime of Nicolàs Maduro in not allowing any substantive political or economic reforms; </text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id580bef103e4441c1ae1bc832f18bbc6e"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to be prepared to provide the people of Venezuela with humanitarian, developmental, and other economic assistance;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idaf7d5b81a0fd4987b4f743821ca96700"><enum>(6)</enum><text>in solidarity with the people of Venezuela, to provide appropriate forms of assistance—</text><subparagraph id="id5151bba8aba14640b0e8deea9c6d954b"><enum>(A)</enum><text>to a transition government in Venezuela;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id25529074646a463fbfcb38779764ee72"><enum>(B)</enum><text>to facilitate the rapid movement from such a transition government to a democratically elected government in Venezuela, which results from an expression of the self-determination of the people of Venezuela; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ide4d439795ef842dbb437105dcc900ba0"><enum>(C)</enum><text>to support such a democratically elected government;</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idea81a4ecef8545f8b5d55d49ba11c7b7"><enum>(7)</enum><text>through such assistance, to facilitate a peaceful transition to representative democracy and a market economy in Venezuela and to consolidate democracy in Venezuela;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id6b3bbf66f23041fb9dc7f54f07f790b5"><enum>(8)</enum><text>to deliver such assistance to the people of Venezuela only through—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idab1b0f44c1a041fc813d232d307a01b0"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a transition government in Venezuela; </text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id2a9ec6b589784ce2b4e66c259b848af3"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a democratically elected government in Venezuela; </text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idd8cd86c223c84d9091c17bcab3e9275b"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">United States Federal departments and agencies; or </text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5a141d9cd18948c5a434fade887bab9a"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">United States, international, or appropriate local nongovernmental organizations;</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ide24c077fee7e4c9da1ed26db0448df29"><enum>(9)</enum><text>to encourage other countries and multilateral organizations to provide similar assistance, and to work cooperatively with such countries and organizations to coordinate such assistance;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id46d092dd131447f79566a6348c802d4f"><enum>(10)</enum><text>to ensure that appropriate assistance is rapidly provided and distributed to the people of Venezuela upon the institution of a transition government in Venezuela;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idf9a3270f712e4040946cf435d3e564c7"><enum>(11)</enum><text>not to provide favorable treatment or influence on behalf of any individual or entity in the selection by the people of Venezuela of their future government;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id93c34ad1175242d39a53ced7f7b8f6e4"><enum>(12)</enum><text>to assist a transition government in Venezuela and a democratically elected government in Venezuela to prepare the Venezuelan military forces for an appropriate role in a democracy;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id928a7b411a2644d5b6cd16fd5c0463c2"><enum>(13)</enum><text>to take steps to remove economic and diplomatic sanctions imposed with respect to Venezuelan persons, as appropriate, when the President determines that a transition to a democratically elected government in Venezuela has begun;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="ideefc651b8b7e4181be55a5f5dfd5dd36"><enum>(14)</enum><text>to assist a democratically elected government in Venezuela to strengthen and stabilize the national currency of Venezuela; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id7dfe5b7b7a9043f293e8349b66a2e862"><enum>(15)</enum><text>to pursue mutually beneficial trade relations with a free, democratic, and independent Venezuela.</text></paragraph></section><section id="id90d3ef40a12849d19152470d166b2ec4"><enum>402.</enum><header>Assistance for the people of Venezuela</header><subsection id="id76f4e622394e428e801df04ed91f7556"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Plans for providing assistance</header><paragraph id="idc7a34151c5044b07b12a965f23ad31c2"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Development of plans</header><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id2fa86d93a560418e9f3de528a79dccb3"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The President shall develop—</text><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id64854867205e41558676e2e60a022db3"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a plan for providing assistance to Venezuela under a transition government; and</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idf5d54b9acdc845d1a3dcd3d14661b836"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>a plan for providing assistance to Venezuela under a democratically elected government.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idbdfc8638b2f94a1091bbd5f855cede16"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Strategy for distribution</header><text>Each plan developed under subparagraph (A) shall include a strategy for distributing assistance under the plan.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id00ff4f1022954b9182bf846359a3aeb7"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Types of assistance</header><subparagraph id="idcb73d1dde6cb4519a450c30d2e2af8e2"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Transition government</header><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id47cd9d60526b40319345dc16bbbfb495"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Except as provided in clause (ii), assistance to Venezuela under a transition government under the plan developed under paragraph (1)(A)(i) shall be limited to—</text><subclause id="id41c3bbb487154dfe9afb564ba783c44a"><enum>(I)</enum><text>such food, medicine, medical supplies and equipment, and assistance to meet emergency energy needs, as is necessary to meet the basic human needs of the people of Venezuela; and</text></subclause><subclause id="id7e3a21476d6244d28e0cbbb924c68f88"><enum>(II)</enum><text>assistance described in subparagraph (C).</text></subclause></clause><clause id="ida8fb72e870934775a14219e822883cf4"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Additional assistance</header><text>Assistance in addition to assistance under clause (i) may be provided to Venezuela under a transition government if the President certifies to the appropriate congressional committees, in accordance with procedures applicable to reprogramming notifications under section 634A of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/22/2394-1">22 U.S.C. 2394–1</external-xref>), that such assistance is essential to the successful and timely completion of the transition to democracy.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idc970175e2e304c4c985ec90529774b82"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Democratically elected government</header><text>Assistance to Venezuela under a democratically elected government under the plan developed under paragraph (1)(A)(ii) may include, in addition to assistance available under subparagraphs (A) and (C)—</text><clause id="ida81c31356c594e6ca51aaa113a0eb32d"><enum>(i)</enum><text>assistance under—</text><subclause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id93efd44b96b244518946ed1eb5127ac4"><enum>(I)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">chapter 1 of part I of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/22/2151">22 U.S.C. 2151 et seq.</external-xref>) (relating to development assistance); and</text></subclause><subclause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idfb708ac11be4423991e167f8100e3f04"><enum>(II)</enum><text>chapter 4 of part II of that Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/22/2346">22 U.S.C. 2346 et seq.</external-xref>) (relating to the economic support fund);</text></subclause></clause><clause id="id0b5a94b60b184dd384a243791abecd63"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>assistance under the Food for Peace Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/1691">7 U.S.C. 1691 et seq.</external-xref>);</text></clause><clause id="ide2b96e5fdcfd4a78a609442d863806f5"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>financing, guarantees, and other forms of assistance provided by the Export-Import Bank of the United States;</text></clause><clause id="id36c106eb4d53406dbba5a5bbf4ea5e4a"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>support provided by the United States International Development Finance Corporation for investment projects in Venezuela;</text></clause><clause id="idd58af7b16df84e28bece150363c0d939"><enum>(v)</enum><text>assistance provided by the Trade and Development Agency;</text></clause><clause id="idcd3f665b77a04bdeaa54b4eb80f2c750"><enum>(vi)</enum><text>Peace Corps programs; and</text></clause><clause id="id425d39136aad4dd186196e7b07aa94af"><enum>(vii)</enum><text>other appropriate assistance to carry out the policy set forth in section 401.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id06798d7594374b3a89e34e20ff84b457"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Military adjustment assistance</header><text>Assistance to a transition government in Venezuela and to a democratically elected government in Venezuela shall also include assistance in preparing the Venezuelan military forces to adjust to an appropriate role in a democracy.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id9e629860a7834e539de449d218040a68"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Distribution</header><text>Assistance under a plan developed under paragraph (1) shall be provided through United States Federal departments and agencies and nongovernmental organizations and private and voluntary organizations, whether within or outside the United States, including humanitarian, educational, labor, and private sector organizations.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id867700e79ada496abfa3bdf70e3a2cf5"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Communication with people of venezuela</header><text>The President shall take the necessary steps to communicate to the people of Venezuela the plans for assistance developed under paragraph (1). </text></paragraph><paragraph id="id29a927a80a344158bc799494406aafc3"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Report to congress</header><text>Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report describing in detail the plans developed under paragraph (1). </text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idca1fcf9a26d2454c8b9e98080f52fa33"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Implementation of plans; reports to congress</header><paragraph id="id331e96070587448f9456e9db4e3f1f60"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Implementation with respect to transition government</header><text>Upon submitting to the appropriate congressional committees a determination under section 101(a) that a transition government is in power in Venezuela, the President shall commence the delivery and distribution of assistance to the transition government under the plan developed under subsection (a)(1)(A)(i).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id13bf5591d13541e78c9408e9e5d37d0e"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Reports to congress</header><subparagraph id="idf84f281e1726421c8bd3c600456c8ab8"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Plan for assistance under transition government</header><text>The President shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report—</text><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id264c0731b21a42a89e55cf152ed486f8"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline"> setting forth the plan developed under subsection (a)(1)(A)(i) for providing assistance to Venezuela under a transition government; and</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5580758e629840fdb012a4cb96ef8d5e"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">describing the types of assistance, and the extent to which such assistance has been distributed, in accordance with the plan.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id15e229896066456799af43e460904715"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Deadlines for submission</header><text>The President shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees—</text><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id39377f9945754df2916aebd4f7249d29"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a preliminary report described in subparagraph (A) not later than 15 days after making the determination described in paragraph (1); and</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ideabe7a54d334403e8161ac9c2d81d2f4"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the final report described in subparagraph (A) not later than 90 days after making that determination.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id22b38436e18643f792b38960a9d2cc93"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Implementation with respect to democratically elected government</header><text>Upon submitting to the appropriate congressional committees a determination under section 101(a) that a democratically elected government is in power in Venezuela, the President shall commence the delivery and distribution of assistance to the democratically elected government under the plan developed under subsection (a)(1)(A)(ii).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idb09b5aff250748e89f06fd07ce343658"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Annual reports to congress</header><text>Not later than 60 days after the end of each fiscal year, the President shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the assistance provided under the plans developed under subsection (a), including—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id654d7033e7e3406897f1d8ca7c0123a2"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a description of each type of assistance and the amounts expended for such assistance during the preceding fiscal year; and </text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id95bf4559484941f1b4e17c0046d2f4fa"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a description of the assistance to be provided under the plans in the fiscal year in which the report is submitted.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id98f8931d70b6470ca94f6330bc6731e5"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Coordinating official</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The President shall designate a coordinating official who shall be responsible for—</text><paragraph id="id60e830b65659438494cbbc6e54693cd7"><enum>(1)</enum><text>implementing the strategies for distributing assistance described in subsection (a)(1)(B);</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id64730916123c481589047130b51ec99f"><enum>(2)</enum><text>ensuring the speedy and efficient distribution of such assistance; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idf115f2999a2a42dfbaf05ab958b9bee5" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(3)</enum><text>ensuring coordination among, and appropriate oversight by, the agencies of the United States that provide assistance described in section 402(a), including resolving any disputes among such agencies. </text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id311f27c7eb3f441a92e886e50386d990" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Reprogramming</header><text>Any changes in the assistance to be provided under a plan developed under subsection (a) may not be made unless the President notifies the appropriate congressional committees at least 15 days in advance in accordance with the procedures applicable to reprogramming notifications under section 634A of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/22/2394-1">22 U.S.C. 2394–1</external-xref>). </text></subsection><subsection id="id08baac03800243a6acf85656391757c4"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Funding limitation</header><text>Assistance may be provided under this section only if amounts are authorized to be appropriated, and are appropriated, to provide such assistance. </text></subsection><subsection id="id6041b915e51242df83f8924855242915"><enum>(f)</enum><header>International efforts</header><text>The President shall take the necessary steps—</text><paragraph id="id522c7cdcfb3741b8b8c0e2525ed8873b"><enum>(1)</enum><text>to seek to obtain the agreement of other countries and of international financial institutions and multilateral organizations to provide to a transition government in Venezuela, and to a democratically elected government in Venezuela, assistance comparable to that provided by the United States under this section; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idd909577ed0604c1d8f6b903979828455"><enum>(2)</enum><text>to work with such countries, institutions, and organizations to coordinate all such assistance programs.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="ida03c93ad2c4b4da8b989513f361fc2e5"><enum>403.</enum><header>Report on trade and investment relations between the United States and Venezuela</header><subsection id="idae798545a2614c028b343cb6c15dcb65"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Report to congress</header><text>Upon submitting to the appropriate congressional committees a determination under section 101(a) that a democratically elected government is in power in Venezuela, the President shall submit to the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Finance of the Senate, and the appropriate congressional committees a report that describes—</text><paragraph id="idfaac92ed44894b338959da3fe3bf9342"><enum>(1)</enum><text>acts, policies, and practices that constitute significant barriers to, or distortions of, United States trade in goods or services or foreign direct investment with respect to Venezuela; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idb0bc56514e7649b3badff2f190179622" commented="no"><enum>(2)</enum><text>policy objectives of the United States regarding trade relations with a democratically elected government in Venezuela, and the reasons for such objectives, including possible reciprocal extension of nondiscriminatory trade treatment (most-favored-nation treatment).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id38732cd0964d47a69176785d11fcefac"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Consultation</header><text>With respect to the policy objectives described in subsection (a), the President shall—</text><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id332215863bc942c2a1bf5656d826e476"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">consult with the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Finance of the Senate, and the appropriate congressional committees; and </text></paragraph><paragraph id="id29bdd5f964514f4b904c5bbaec83b1ec" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">seek advice from the appropriate advisory committees established under section 135 of the Trade Act of 1974 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/19/2155">19 U.S.C. 2155</external-xref>). </text></paragraph></subsection></section><enum>V</enum><header>General provisions</header><section id="idc9dea23f80bc485f9302077069b08771"><enum>501.</enum><header>Effect of Act on lawful United States Government activities</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Nothing in this Act prohibits any lawfully authorized investigative, protective, or intelligence activity of a law enforcement agency, or of an intelligence agency, of the United States.</text></section><section id="idc22335db4ed74af88f56076bfcf7471c"><enum>502.</enum><header>Exception relating to importation of goods</header><subsection id="id39924a78248a4248a3403f20dda343ef"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, the authorities and requirements to impose sanctions under this Act shall not include the authority or a requirement to impose sanctions on the importation of goods.</text></subsection><subsection id="id2136c08a8c7e417b90838c62e4a72f2e" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Good defined</header><text>In this section, the term <term>good</term> means any article, natural or manmade substance, material, supply or manufactured product, including inspection and test equipment, and excluding technical data. </text></subsection></section>