[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 143 (Wednesday, September 21, 2016)]
[House]
[Pages H5779-H5782]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        NICARAGUAN INVESTMENT CONDITIONALITY ACT (NICA) OF 2016

  Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on 
Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Financial Services be discharged 
from further consideration of the bill (H.R. 5708) to oppose loans at 
international financial institutions for the Government of Nicaragua 
unless the Government of Nicaragua is taking effective steps to hold 
free, fair, and transparent elections, and for other purposes, and ask 
for its immediate consideration in the House.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 5708

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Nicaraguan Investment 
     Conditionality Act (NICA) of 2016''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) In 2006, Nicaragua, under President Enrique Bolanos, 
     entered into a $175,000,000, 5-year compact with the 
     Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC).
       (2) After the 2008 municipal elections, the MCC stated that 
     there was a pattern of decline in political rights and civil 
     liberties in Nicaragua.
       (3) In 2009, the MCC terminated the compact and reduced the 
     amount of MCC funds available to Nicaragua by $61,500,000, 
     which led to the compact ending in 2011.
       (4) According to Nicaraguan law, the National Assembly is 
     the only institution allowed to change the constitution but 
     in 2009, Daniel Ortega circumvented the legislature and went 
     to the Supreme Court, which he controls, to rule in his favor 
     that Presidential term limits were inapplicable.
       (5) The House Committee on Foreign Affairs convened a 
     congressional hearing on December 1, 2011, entitled 
     ``Democracy Held Hostage in Nicaragua: Part 1'' where former 
     United States Ambassador to Nicaragua Robert Callahan 
     testified, ``First, that Daniel Ortega's candidacy was 
     illegal, illegitimate, and unconstitutional; second, that the 
     period leading to the elections and the elections themselves 
     were marred by serious fraud; third, that Daniel Ortega and 
     his Sandinista party have systematically undermined the 
     country's fragile governmental institutions''.
       (6) From fiscal year 2012 until present, the Department of 
     State found that Nicaragua did not meet international 
     standards of fiscal transparency.
       (7) On January 25, 2012, a press statement from Secretary 
     of State Hillary Clinton said: ``As noted by international 
     observers and Nicaraguan civil society groups, Nicaragua's 
     recent elections were not conducted in a transparent and 
     impartial manner, and the entire electoral process was marred 
     by significant irregularities. The elections marked a setback 
     to democracy in Nicaragua and undermined the ability of 
     Nicaraguans to hold their government accountable.''.
       (8) According to the Department of State's 2015 Fiscal 
     Transparency Report: ``The government does not publicly 
     account for the expenditure of significant off-budget 
     assistance from Venezuela and this assistance is not subject 
     to audit or legislative oversight. Allocations to and 
     earnings from state-owned enterprises are included in the 
     budget, but most state-owned enterprises are not audited. The 
     supreme audit institution also does not audit the 
     government's full financial statements. Nicaragua's fiscal 
     transparency would be improved by including all off-budget 
     revenue and expenditure in the budget, auditing state-owned 
     enterprises, and conducting a full audit of the government's 
     annual financial statements and making audit reports publicly 
     available within a reasonable period of time.''.
       (9) According to the Department of State's Country Reports 
     on Human Rights Practices for 2015: ``In 2011 the Supreme 
     Electoral Council (CSE) announced the re-election of 
     President Daniel Ortega Saavedra of the Sandinista National 
     Liberation Front (FSLN) in elections that international and 
     domestic observers characterized as seriously flawed. 
     International and domestic organizations raised concerns 
     regarding the constitutional legitimacy of Ortega's re-
     election. The 2011 elections also provided the ruling party 
     with a supermajority in the National Assembly, allowing for 
     changes in the constitution, including extending the reach of 
     executive branch power and the elimination of restrictions on 
     re-election for executive branch officials and mayors. 
     Observers noted serious flaws during the 2012 municipal 
     elections and March 2014 regional elections.''.
       (10) According to the Department of State's Country Reports 
     on Human Rights Practices for 2015 in Nicaragua: ``The 
     principal human rights abuses were restrictions on citizens' 
     right to vote; obstacles to freedom of speech and press, 
     including government intimidation and harassment of 
     journalists and independent media, as well as increased 
     restriction of access to public information, including 
     national statistics from public offices; and increased 
     government harassment and intimidation of nongovernmental 
     organizations (NGOs) and civil society organizations.''.
       (11) The same 2015 report stated: ``Additional significant 
     human rights abuses included considerably biased policies to 
     promote single-party dominance; arbitrary police arrest and 
     detention of suspects, including abuse during detention; 
     harsh and life-threatening prison conditions with arbitrary 
     and lengthy pretrial detention; discrimination against ethnic 
     minorities and indigenous persons and communities.''.
       (12) In February 2016, the Ortega regime detained and 
     expelled Freedom House's Latin America Director, Dr. Carlos 
     Ponce, from Nicaragua.
       (13) On May 10, 2016, the Supreme Electoral Council 
     announced and published the electoral calendar which aims to 
     govern the electoral process.
       (14) After receiving the electoral calendar for the 2016 
     Presidential elections, the Nicaraguan political opposition 
     raised concerns and pointed to a number of anomalies such as: 
     the electoral calendar failed to contemplate national and 
     international observations, failed to agree to publicly 
     publish the precincts results of each Junta Receptora de Voto 
     (JRV), and failed to purge the electoral registration rolls 
     in a transparent and open manner.
       (15) Nicaragua's constitution mandates terms of 5 years for 
     municipal authorities,

[[Page H5780]]

     which would indicate that the next municipal elections must 
     occur in 2017.
       (16) On June 3, 2016, the Nicaraguan Supreme Court--which 
     is controlled by Ortega--instructed the Supreme Electoral 
     Council not to swear in Nicaraguan opposition members to the 
     departmental and regional electoral councils.
       (17) On June 5, 2016, regarding international observers for 
     the 2016 Presidential elections, Daniel Ortega stated: 
     ``Here, the observation ends. Go observe other countries . . 
     . There will be no observation, neither from the European 
     Union, nor the OAS . . .''.
       (18) On June 7, 2016, the Department of State's Bureau of 
     Democracy, Human Rights and Labor posted on social media: 
     ``Disappointed government of Nicaragua said it will deny 
     electoral observers requested by Nicaraguan citizens, church, 
     and private sector . . . We continue to encourage the 
     government of Nicaragua to allow electoral observers as 
     requested by Nicaraguans.''.
       (19) On June 8, 2016, the Supreme Electoral Council--which 
     is controlled by Ortega--announced a ruling, which changed 
     the leadership structure of the opposition party and in 
     practice allegedly barred all existing opposition candidates 
     from running for office.
       (20) On June 14, 2016, Daniel Ortega expelled three United 
     States Government officials (two officials from U.S. Customs 
     and Border Protection and one professor from the National 
     Defense University) from Nicaragua.
       (21) On June 22, 2016, a Global Fellow from the Woodrow 
     Wilson Center chose to leave Nicaragua because of fear. 
     According to a media report, the fellow stated ``Police were 
     following me. I did not understand the reason why they were 
     following me, but it was clear to me what they were doing . . 
     . Of course (I felt fear), I was surprised especially because 
     the research I am doing is completely academic, not 
     journalistic, and that made me wonder why they would be so 
     interested in something like that.''.
       (22) On June 29, 2016, the Department of State issued a 
     Nicaragua Travel Alert which stated: ``The Department of 
     State alerts U.S. citizens about increased government 
     scrutiny of foreigners' activities, new requirements for 
     volunteer groups, and the potential for demonstrations during 
     the upcoming election season in Nicaragua . . . Nicaraguan 
     authorities have denied entry to, detained, questioned, or 
     expelled foreigners, including U.S. government officials, 
     academics, NGO workers, and journalists, for discussions, 
     written reports or articles, photographs, and/or videos 
     related to these topics. Authorities may monitor and question 
     private U.S. citizens concerning their activities, including 
     contact with Nicaraguan citizens.''.
       (23) On June 30, 2016, the Human Rights Foundation issued a 
     press release stating: ``. . . Daniel Ortega has used all 
     sorts of trickery to push for constitutional reforms and 
     illegal court rulings in order to extend his time in power 
     indefinitely . . . If the opposition is not allowed to 
     meaningfully compete, the upcoming elections in Nicaragua 
     cannot be considered free and fair and the Inter-American 
     Democratic Charter should be applied to the Sandinista 
     regime.''. The release continued, stating that ``The 
     principle of alternation of power is enshrined in the Inter-
     American Democratic Charter (IADC) as an essential element of 
     democracy. Even though Ortega pushed through a constitutional 
     amendment allowing for indefinite re-election, he did so by 
     circumventing the separation of powers illegally. An 
     uncontested re-election of Ortega would clearly violate the 
     IADC, which was signed by Nicaragua in 2001. If that is the 
     case, Secretary General Almagro should activate the IADC and, 
     if necessary, call for the suspension of Nicaragua from the 
     OAS.''.

     SEC. 3. STATEMENT OF POLICY.

       It is the policy of the United States to support--
       (1) the rule of law and an independent judiciary and 
     electoral council in Nicaragua;
       (2) independent pro-democracy organizations in Nicaragua; 
     and
       (3) free, fair, and transparent elections under 
     international and domestic observers in Nicaragua in 2016 and 
     2017.

     SEC. 4. INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS.

       (a) In General.--The President shall instruct the United 
     States Executive Director at each international financial 
     institution to use the voice, vote, and influence of the 
     United States to oppose any loan or other utilization of the 
     funds of the respective institution for the benefit of the 
     Government of Nicaragua, other than to address basic human 
     needs or to promote democracy, unless the Secretary of State 
     certifies and reports to the appropriate congressional 
     committees that the Government of Nicaragua is taking 
     effective steps to--
       (1) hold free, fair, and transparent elections overseen by 
     credible domestic and international electoral observers;
       (2) promote democracy, as well as an independent judiciary 
     system and electoral council;
       (3) strengthen the rule of law; and
       (4) respect the right to freedom of association and 
     expression.
       (b) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term 
     ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
       (A) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on 
     Appropriations, and the Committee on Financial Services of 
     the House of Representatives;
       (B) the Committee on Foreign Relations, the Committee on 
     Appropriations, and the Committee on Banking, Housing, and 
     Urban Affairs of the Senate.
       (2) International financial institution.--The term 
     ``international financial institution'' means the 
     International Monetary Fund, International Bank for 
     Reconstruction and Development, European Bank for 
     Reconstruction and Development, International Development 
     Association, International Finance Corporation, Multilateral 
     Investment Guarantee Agency, African Development Bank, 
     African Development Fund, Asian Development Bank, Inter-
     American Development Bank, Bank for Economic Cooperation and 
     Development in the Middle East and North Africa, and Inter-
     American Investment Corporation.
       (c) Termination.--This section shall terminate on the day 
     after the date on which the Secretary of State certifies and 
     reports to the appropriate congressional committees that the 
     requirements of subsection (a) are met.

     SEC. 5. ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds that, according to the 
     Organization of American States (OAS) report on the 
     Nicaraguan 2011 Presidential elections, Nicaragua: Final 
     Report, General Elections, OAS (2011), the OAS made the 
     following recommendations to the Government of Nicaragua:
       (1) ``Prepare alternative procedures for updating the 
     electoral roll when a registered voter dies.''.
       (2) ``Publish the electoral roll so that new additions, 
     changes of address and exclusions can be checked.''.
       (3) ``Reform the mechanism for accreditation of poll 
     watchers using a formula that ensures that the political 
     parties will have greater autonomy to accredit their 
     respective poll watchers.''.
       (4) ``Institute regulations to ensure that party poll 
     watchers are involved in all areas of the electoral 
     structure, including the departmental, regional and municipal 
     electoral councils and polling stations. Rules should be 
     crafted to spell out their authorities and functions and the 
     means by which they can exercise their authority and perform 
     their functions.''.
       (5) ``Redesign the CSE administrative structure at the 
     central and field levels, while standardizing technical and 
     operational procedures, including the design of control 
     mechanisms from the time registration to the delivery of the 
     document to the citizens; the process of issuing identity 
     cards should be timed to the calendar and, to avoid 
     congestion within the process, be evenly spaced.''.
       (b) Electoral Observation Mission.--The President shall 
     direct the United States Permanent Representative to the 
     Organization of American States (OAS) to use the voice, vote, 
     and influence of the United States at the OAS to strongly 
     advocate for an Electoral Observation Mission to be sent to 
     Nicaragua in 2016 and 2017.

     SEC. 6. STATEMENT OF POLICY.

       The Department of State and the United States Agency for 
     International Development should prioritize foreign 
     assistance to the people of Nicaragua to assist civil society 
     in democracy and governance programs, including human rights 
     documentation.

                     Amendment Offered by Mr. Royce

  Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I have an amendment to the bill at the desk.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Clerk will report the amendment.
  The Clerk read as follows:
       Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the 
     following:

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Nicaraguan Investment 
     Conditionality Act (NICA) of 2016''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) In 2006, Nicaragua, under President Enrique Bolanos, 
     entered into a $175,000,000, 5-year compact with the 
     Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC).
       (2) After the 2008 municipal elections, the MCC stated that 
     there was a pattern of decline in political rights and civil 
     liberties in Nicaragua.
       (3) In 2009, the MCC terminated the compact and reduced the 
     amount of MCC funds available to Nicaragua by $61,500,000, 
     which led to the compact ending in 2011.
       (4) According to Nicaraguan law, the National Assembly is 
     the only institution allowed to change the constitution but 
     in 2009, Daniel Ortega circumvented the legislature and went 
     to the Supreme Court, which he controls, to rule in his favor 
     that Presidential term limits were inapplicable.
       (5) The House Committee on Foreign Affairs convened a 
     congressional hearing on December 1, 2011, entitled 
     ``Democracy Held Hostage in Nicaragua: Part 1'' where former 
     United States Ambassador to Nicaragua Robert Callahan 
     testified, ``First, that Daniel Ortega's candidacy was 
     illegal, illegitimate, and unconstitutional; second, that the 
     period leading to the elections and the elections themselves 
     were marred by serious fraud; third, that Daniel Ortega and 
     his Sandinista party have systematically undermined the 
     country's fragile governmental institutions''.
       (6) From fiscal year 2012 until present, the Department of 
     State found that Nicaragua did not meet international 
     standards of fiscal transparency.
       (7) On January 25, 2012, a press statement from Secretary 
     of State Hillary Clinton said:

[[Page H5781]]

     ``As noted by international observers and Nicaraguan civil 
     society groups, Nicaragua's recent elections were not 
     conducted in a transparent and impartial manner, and the 
     entire electoral process was marred by significant 
     irregularities. The elections marked a setback to democracy 
     in Nicaragua and undermined the ability of Nicaraguans to 
     hold their government accountable.''.
       (8) According to the Department of State's 2015 Fiscal 
     Transparency Report: ``Nicaragua's fiscal transparency would 
     be improved by including all off-budget revenue and 
     expenditure in the budget, auditing state-owned enterprises, 
     and conducting a full audit of the government's annual 
     financial statements and making audit reports publicly 
     available within a reasonable period of time.''.
       (9) According to the Department of State's Country Reports 
     on Human Rights Practices for 2015: ``In 2011 the Supreme 
     Electoral Council (CSE) announced the re-election of 
     President Daniel Ortega Saavedra of the Sandinista National 
     Liberation Front (FSLN) in elections that international and 
     domestic observers characterized as seriously flawed. 
     International and domestic organizations raised concerns 
     regarding the constitutional legitimacy of Ortega's re-
     election. The 2011 elections also provided the ruling party 
     with a supermajority in the National Assembly, allowing for 
     changes in the constitution, including extending the reach of 
     executive branch power and the elimination of restrictions on 
     re-election for executive branch officials and mayors. 
     Observers noted serious flaws during the 2012 municipal 
     elections and March 2014 regional elections.''.
       (10) According to the Department of State's Country Reports 
     on Human Rights Practices for 2015 in Nicaragua: ``The 
     principal human rights abuses were restrictions on citizens'' 
     right to vote; obstacles to freedom of speech and press, 
     including government intimidation and harassment of 
     journalists and independent media, as well as increased 
     restriction of access to public information, including 
     national statistics from public offices; and increased 
     government harassment and intimidation of nongovernmental 
     organizations (NGOs) and civil society organizations.
       (11) The same 2015 report stated: ``Additional significant 
     human rights abuses included considerably biased policies to 
     promote single-party dominance; arbitrary police arrest and 
     detention of suspects, including abuse during detention; 
     harsh and life-threatening prison conditions with arbitrary 
     and lengthy pretrial detention; discrimination against ethnic 
     minorities and indigenous persons and communities.''.
       (12) In February 2016, the Ortega regime detained and 
     expelled Freedom House's Latin America Director, Dr. Carlos 
     Ponce, from Nicaragua.
       (13) On May 10, 2016, the Supreme Electoral Council 
     announced and published the electoral calendar which aims to 
     govern the electoral process.
       (14) After receiving the electoral calendar for the 2016 
     Presidential elections, the Nicaraguan political opposition 
     raised concerns and pointed to a number of anomalies such as: 
     the electoral calendar failed to contemplate national and 
     international observations, failed to agree to publicly 
     publish the precincts results of each Junta Receptora de Voto 
     (JRV), and failed to purge the electoral registration rolls 
     in a transparent and open manner.
       (15) Nicaragua's constitution mandates terms of 5 years for 
     municipal authorities, which would indicate that the next 
     municipal elections must occur in 2017.
       (16) On June 3, 2016, the Nicaraguan Supreme Court--which 
     is controlled by Nicaragua's leader, Daniel Ortega--
     instructed the Supreme Electoral Council not to swear in 
     Nicaraguan opposition members to the departmental and 
     regional electoral councils.
       (17) On June 5, 2016, regarding international observers for 
     the 2016 Presidential elections, President Ortega stated: 
     ``Here, the observation ends. Go observe other countries . . 
     . There will be no observation, neither from the European 
     Union, nor the OAS . . .''.
       (18) On June 7, 2016, the Department of State's Bureau of 
     Democracy, Human Rights and Labor posted on social media: 
     ``Disappointed government of Nicaragua said it will deny 
     electoral observers requested by Nicaraguan citizens, church, 
     and private sector . . . We continue to encourage the 
     government of Nicaragua to allow electoral observers as 
     requested by Nicaraguans.''.
       (19) On June 8, 2016, the Supreme Electoral Council--which 
     is controlled by Nicaragua's leader, Daniel Ortega--announced 
     a ruling, which changed the leadership structure of the 
     opposition party and in practice allegedly barred all 
     existing opposition candidates from running for office.
       (20) On June 14, 2016, President Ortega expelled three 
     United States Government officials (two officials from U.S. 
     Customs and Border Protection and one professor from the 
     National Defense University) from Nicaragua.
       (21) On June 29, 2016, the Department of State issued a 
     Nicaragua Travel Alert which stated: ``The Department of 
     State alerts U.S. citizens about increased government 
     scrutiny of foreigners' activities, new requirements for 
     volunteer groups, and the potential for demonstrations during 
     the upcoming election season in Nicaragua . . . Nicaraguan 
     authorities have denied entry to, detained, questioned, or 
     expelled foreigners, including United States Government 
     officials, academics, NGO workers, and journalists, for 
     discussions, written reports or articles, photographs, and/or 
     videos related to these topics. Authorities may monitor and 
     question private United States citizens concerning their 
     activities, including contact with Nicaraguan citizens.''.
       (22) On August 1, 2016, the Department of State issued a 
     press release to express grave concern over the Nicaraguan 
     government limiting democratic space leading up to the 
     elections in November and stated that ``[o]n June 8, the 
     Nicaraguan Supreme Court stripped the opposition Independent 
     Liberal Party (PLI) from its long recognized leader. The 
     Supreme Court took similar action on June 17 when it 
     invalidated the leadership of the Citizen Action Party, the 
     only remaining opposition party with the legal standing to 
     present a presidential candidate. Most recently, on July 29, 
     the Supreme Electoral Council removed 28 PLI national 
     assembly members (16 seated and 12 alternates) from their 
     popularly-elected positions.''.

     SEC. 3. STATEMENT OF POLICY.

       It is the policy of the United States to support--
       (1) the rule of law and an independent judiciary and 
     electoral council in Nicaragua;
       (2) independent pro-democracy organizations in Nicaragua; 
     and
       (3) free, fair, and transparent elections under 
     international and domestic observers in Nicaragua in 2016 and 
     2017.

     SEC. 4. INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS.

       (a) In General.--The President shall instruct the United 
     States Executive Director at each international financial 
     institution to use the voice, vote, and influence of the 
     United States to oppose any loan for the benefit of the 
     Government of Nicaragua, other than to address basic human 
     needs or promote democracy, unless the Secretary of State 
     certifies and reports to the appropriate congressional 
     committees that the Government of Nicaragua is taking 
     effective steps to--
       (1) hold free, fair, and transparent elections overseen by 
     credible domestic and international electoral observers;
       (2) promote democracy, as well as an independent judicial 
     system and electoral council;
       (3) strengthen the rule of law; and
       (4) respect the right to freedom of association and 
     expression.
       (b) Report.--The Secretary of the Treasury shall submit to 
     the appropriate congressional committees a written report 
     assessing--
       (1) the effectiveness of the international financial 
     institutions in enforcing applicable program safeguards in 
     Nicaragua; and
       (2) the effects of the matters described in section 2 on 
     long-term prospects for positive development outcomes in 
     Nicaragua.
       (c) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term 
     ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
       (A) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on 
     Appropriations, and the Committee on Financial Services of 
     the House of Representatives; and
       (B) the Committee on Foreign Relations, the Committee on 
     Appropriations, and the Committee on Banking, Housing, and 
     Urban Affairs of the Senate.
       (2) International financial institution.--The term 
     ``international financial institution'' means the 
     International Monetary Fund, International Bank for 
     Reconstruction and Development, European Bank for 
     Reconstruction and Development, International Development 
     Association, International Finance Corporation, Multilateral 
     Investment Guarantee Agency, African Development Bank, 
     African Development Fund, Asian Development Bank, Inter-
     American Development Bank, Bank for Economic Cooperation and 
     Development in the Middle East and North Africa, and Inter-
     American Investment Corporation.
       (d) Termination.--This section shall terminate on the day 
     after the earlier of--
       (1) the date on which the Secretary of State certifies and 
     reports to the appropriate congressional committees that the 
     requirements of subsection (a) are met; or
       (2) 5 years after the date of the enactment of this Act.
       (e) Waiver.--The President may waive this section if the 
     President determines that such a waiver is in the national 
     interest of the United States.

     SEC. 5. ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds that, according to the 
     Organization of American States (OAS) report on the 
     Nicaraguan 2011 Presidential elections, Nicaragua: Final 
     Report, General Elections, OAS (2011), the OAS made the 
     following recommendations to the Government of Nicaragua:
       (1) ``Prepare alternative procedures for updating the 
     electoral roll when a registered voter dies.''.
       (2) ``Publish the electoral roll so that new additions, 
     changes of address and exclusions can be checked.''.
       (3) ``Reform the mechanism for accreditation of poll 
     watchers using a formula that ensures that the political 
     parties will have greater autonomy to accredit their 
     respective poll watchers.''.
       (4) ``Institute regulations to ensure that party poll 
     watchers are involved in all areas

[[Page H5782]]

     of the electoral structure, including the departmental, 
     regional and municipal electoral councils and polling 
     stations. Rules should be crafted to spell out their 
     authorities and functions and the means by which they can 
     exercise their authority and perform their functions.''.
       (5) ``Redesign the CSE administrative structure at the 
     central and field levels, while standardizing technical and 
     operational procedures, including the design of control 
     mechanisms from the time registration to the delivery of the 
     document to the citizens; the process of issuing identity 
     cards should be timed to the calendar and, to avoid 
     congestion within the process, be evenly spaced.''.
       (b) Electoral Observation Mission.--The President shall 
     direct the United States Permanent Representative to the 
     Organization of American States (OAS) to use the voice, vote, 
     and influence of the United States at the OAS to strongly 
     advocate for an Electoral Observation Mission to be sent to 
     Nicaragua in 2016 and 2017.

     SEC. 6. STATEMENT OF POLICY.

       The Department of State and the United States Agency for 
     International Development should prioritize foreign 
     assistance to the people of Nicaragua to assist civil society 
     in democracy and governance programs, including human rights 
     documentation.

     SEC. 7. REPORT ON CORRUPTION IN NICARAGUA.

       (a) Report Requirement.--Not later than 120 days after the 
     date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in 
     consultation with the intelligence community (as defined in 
     section 3(4) of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 
     3003(4)), shall submit to Congress a report on the 
     involvement of senior Nicaraguan government officials, 
     including members of the Supreme Electoral Council, the 
     National Assembly, and the judicial system, in acts of public 
     corruption or human rights violations in Nicaragua.
       (b) Form.--The report required in subsection (a) shall be 
     submitted in unclassified form, but may contain a classified 
     annex. The unclassified portion of the report shall be made 
     available to the public.

  Mr. ROYCE (during the reading). Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent 
to dispense with the reading of the amendment.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  The amendment was agreed to.
  The bill was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time, was read 
the third time, and passed.
  The title of the bill was amended so as to read: ``A bill to oppose 
loans at international financial institutions for the Government of 
Nicaragua, other than to address basic human needs or promote 
democracy, unless the Government of Nicaragua is taking effective steps 
to hold free, fair, and transparent elections, and for other 
purposes.''.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________