[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 51 (Monday, March 25, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H2781-H2784]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
RUSSIAN-VENEZUELAN THREAT MITIGATION ACT
Mr. MALINOWSKI. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 1477) to require a threat assessment and strategy to counter
Russian influence in Venezuela, an assessment of foreign acquisition of
CITGO assets in the United States, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 1477
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 ``Russian-Venezuelan Threat
Mitigation Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) The Russian Federation's increased presence in the
Western Hemisphere is of concern to the United States and our
allies in the region.
(2) In December 2018, the Russian Federation sent two Tu-
160 nuclear-capable bombers to Venezuela for joint exercises
with the Venezuelan military. The Tu-160 can carry
conventional or nuclear-tipped cruise missiles with an
estimated maximum range of around 3,000 miles.
(3) Russian and Venezuelan forces took part in a joint 10-
hour exercise across the
[[Page H2782]]
Caribbean in December 2018 with the Tu-160 nuclear-capable
bombers.
(4) Nicolas Maduro and his regime have turned to the
Russian Federation, one of its strongest political allies,
for financial support during its current economic crisis and
to counter international support for Juan Guaido.
(5) In January 2018, Russia sent contractors linked to the
Wagner Group to provide security for Nicolas Maduro.
(6) Nicolas Maduro secured loans from the Russian
Federation to be repaid through future oil exports, but fell
behind on those payments in 2017. News reports in December
2018 suggest that Russian State oil company Rosneft has lent
Venezuelan state oil company Petroleos de Venezuela (PdVSA)
$6.5 billion partly as prepayment for crude oil, $3.1 billion
of which remained outstanding as of the end of September
2018.
(7) In 2016, PdVSA secured a $1.5 billion loan from
Rosneft, and PdVSA used 49.9 percent of its shares in United
States-based and Venezuelan-owned company CITGO as
collateral. A Venezuelan default could lead to potential
Russian ownership of United States energy infrastructure.
(8) At the conclusion of a 3-day visit to Moscow in
December 2018, Maduro announced $6 billion worth of Russian
investment pledges focused on the oil and mining sectors as
well as the export of 600,000 tons of Russian wheat to
Venezuela to cover its 2019 needs.
SEC. 3. THREAT ASSESSMENT AND STRATEGY TO COUNTER RUSSIAN
INFLUENCE IN VENEZUELA.
(a) Threat Assessment.--Not later than 120 days after the
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State
shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees an
assessment on Russian-Venezuelan security cooperation and the
potential threat such cooperation poses to the United States
and countries in the Western Hemisphere.
(b) Strategy.--Not later than 30 days after the submission
of the threat assessment required under subsection (a), the
Secretary of State shall submit to the appropriate
congressional committees a strategy to counter threats
identified in such assessment from Russian-Venezuelan
cooperation.
(c) Form.--The threat assessment required under subsection
(a) shall be submitted in unclassified form but may include a
classified annex.
(d) Definition.--In this section, the term ``appropriate
congressional committees'' means the Committee on Foreign
Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Committee on
Foreign Relations of the Senate.
SEC. 4. ASSESSMENT OF FOREIGN ACQUISITION OF CITGO ASSETS IN
THE UNITED STATES.
(a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the President shall transmit to
the appropriate congressional committees an assessment of the
national security risks posed by potential Russian
acquisition of CITGO's United States energy infrastructure
holdings.
(b) Definition.--In this section, the term ``appropriate
congressional committees'' means the Committee on Foreign
Affairs, the Committee on Appropriations, and the Committee
on Financial Services of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Foreign Relations, the Committee on
Appropriations, and the Committee on Banking of the Senate
and the Committee on Financial Services of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Banking of the Senate.
SEC. 5. ALIENS INELIGIBLE FOR VISAS, ADMISSION, OR PAROLE.
(a) In General.--An alien who the Secretary of State or the
Secretary of Homeland Security (or a designee of one of such
Secretaries) knows, or has reason to believe, is an alien who
is acting or has acted on behalf of the Russian Government in
direct support of the Venezuelan security forces is--
(1) inadmissible to the United States;
(2) ineligible to receive a visa or other documentation to
enter the United States; and
(3) otherwise ineligible to be admitted or paroled into the
United States or to receive any other benefit under the
Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.).
(b) Current Visas Revoked.--
(1) In general.--The issuing consular officer, the
Secretary of State, or the Secretary of Homeland Security (or
a designee of one of such Secretaries) shall, in accordance
with section 221(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8
U.S.C. 1201(i)), revoke any visa or other entry documentation
issued to an alien described in subsection (a) regardless of
when the visa or other entry documentation is issued.
(2) Effect of revocation.--A revocation under paragraph (1)
shall--
(A) take effect immediately; and
(B) automatically cancel any other valid visa or entry
documentation that is in the alien's possession.
(c) Exception to Comply With United Nations Headquarters
Agreement or for National Security Reasons.--
(1) International obligations.--This section shall not
apply to an alien if admitting the alien into the United
States is necessary to permit the United States to comply
with--
(A) the Agreement regarding the Headquarters of the United
Nations, signed at Lake Success June 26, 1947, and entered
into force November 21, 1947, between the United Nations and
the United States; or
(B) other applicable international obligations of the
United States.
(2) National security.--The President may waive the
application of this section to an alien if the President--
(A) determines that such a waiver is in the national
interest of the United States; and
(B) transmits to the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the
House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign
Relations a notice of and justification for such waiver.
(d) Termination.--This section shall terminate on the
earlier of--
(1) the date that is one year after the date of the
enactment of this Act; or
(2) the date on which the President certifies to the
Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives
and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate that the
Government of Venezuela has returned to a democratic form of
government with respect for the essential elements of
representative democracy as set forth in Article 3 of the
Inter-American Democratic Charter.
(e) Definition.--In this subsection, the term ``Venezuelan
security forces'' includes the following:
(1) The Bolivarian National Armed Forces, including the
Bolivarian National Guard.
(2) The Bolivarian National Intelligence Service.
(3) The Bolivarian National Police.
(4) The Bureau for Scientific, Criminal and Forensic
Investigations of the Ministry of Interior, Justice, and
Peace.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New
Jersey (Mr. Malinowski) and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Rooney)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey.
General Leave
Mr. MALINOWSKI. Mr. Speaker, I ask that all Members have 5
legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and
include extraneous materials on H.R. 1477, the Russian-Venezuelan
Threat Mitigation Act, as amended.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from New Jersey?
There was no objection.
Mr. MALINOWSKI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1477.
I thank Ms. Wasserman Schultz for authoring this bipartisan bill, and
I am proud to bring it to the floor. I appreciate the Congresswoman's
tireless leadership on Venezuela day in and day out, particularly at
such a difficult moment for that country.
Ms. Wasserman Schultz has the largest Venezuelan American
constituency in the country and works nonstop on behalf of her
constituents in supporting the Venezuelan people.
Russia's unwavering commitment to Nicolas Maduro should not come as a
surprise to any of us. This is part of Putin's larger aspirations for
global reach and influence and Putin knows the importance of having a
loyal Russian ally in South America.
In recent years, Russia has increased its support for the Venezuelan
security forces. Just a few months ago, Russia sent two nuclear capable
bombers to Venezuela for a training exercise.
Just yesterday, two Russian military aircraft landed near Caracas
reportedly carrying 100 Russian troops.
This legislation responds to the increasing security relationship
between the Maduro regime and the Kremlin. Specifically, it requires
the State Department to provide a threat assessment of Russian
influence in Venezuela and its impact on the United States and our
allies in the region and a strategy for the United States to counter
this threat. It also requires the President to monitor the risk of any
foreign acquisition of CITGO assets in the United States.
Finally, it puts into place visa bans on individuals working on
behalf of the Russian Government in direct support of the Venezuelan
security forces. In short, this legislation takes a crucial step in
restricting Maduro's access to financial, political, and military
support from Vladimir Putin.
Congress must pass this legislation to continue to squeeze Nicolas
Maduro and his repressive regime.
I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the
balance of my time.
House of Representatives,
Committee on Foreign Affairs,
Washington, DC, March 14, 2019.
Hon. Jerrold Nadler,
Chairman, Committee on the Judiciary,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: I am writing to you concerning H.R.
1477, Russian-Venezuelan Threat Mitigation Act.
[[Page H2783]]
I appreciate your willingness to work cooperatively on this
legislation. I recognize that the bill contains provisions
that fall within the jurisdiction of the Committee on the
Judiciary. I acknowledge that the Committee will not seek a
referral of or formally consider H.R. 1477 and agree that the
inaction of your Committee with respect to the bill does not
waive any future jurisdictional claim over the matters
contained in H.R. 1477 which fall within your Committee's
Rule X jurisdiction.
I will ensure that our exchange of letters is included in
the Congressional Record during floor consideration of the
bill. I appreciate your cooperation regarding this
legislation and look forward to continuing to work with you
as this measure moves through the legislative process.
Sincerely,
Eliot L. Engel,
Chairman.
____
House of representatives,
Committee on the Judiciary,
Washington, DC, March 20, 2019.
Hon. Eliot L. Engel,
Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: This is to advise you that the Committee
on the Judiciary has now had an opportunity to review the
provisions in H.R. 1477, the ``Russian-Venezuelan Threat
Mitigation Act of 2019,'' that fall within our Rule X
jurisdiction. I appreciate your consulting with us on those
provisions. The Judiciary Committee has no objection to your
including them in the bill for consideration on the House
floor, and to expedite that consideration is willing to waive
sequential referral, with the understanding that we do not
thereby waive any future jurisdictional claim over those
provisions or their subject matters.
In the event a House-Senate conference on this or similar
legislation is convened, the Judiciary Committee reserves the
right to request an appropriate number of conferees to
address any concerns with these or similar provisions that
may arise in conference.
Please place this letter into the Congressional Record
during consideration of the measure on the House floor. Thank
you for the cooperative spirit in which you have worked
regarding this matter and others between our committees.
Sincerely,
Jerrold Nadler,
Chairman.
Mr. ROONEY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Russian-Venezuelan Threat
Mitigation Act introduced by our colleagues from Florida, Congresswoman
Wasserman Schultz and Congressman Diaz-Balart. I also want to thank
Congressman Malinowski for his leadership in bringing this to the floor
right now.
I am also deeply concerned about Russia's continued support for the
Socialist and criminal dictatorship of Nicolas Maduro and the threat
that this relationship poses to the national security of the United
States and the rest of the countries in the Western Hemisphere.
Russia has invested over $16 billion in Venezuela and has provided
billions in military equipment to that murderous regime.
In December of last year Russia sent two nuclear-capable bombers to
conduct joint exercises with the Venezuelan military. In January of
this year, he sent mercenaries to help protect Maduro--this is Mr.
Putin doing that. Just this last weekend, as Congressman Malinowski
referred to, we saw a report of about 100 additional Russian troops
landing in Venezuela.
Russia continues to finance the regime through billions of dollars in
investments and is directly aiding the Maduro regime's efforts to
bypass U.S. sanctions. There is also a great concern over the potential
acquisition of a U.S.-based oil company, CITGO, which has refineries in
Corpus Christi and Lake Charles by the Russian oil company, Rosneft,
which has a collateral position of about half of its equity.
The bill requires that the State Department provide Congress with an
assessment of the threat that the Russia-Venezuela relationship poses
to U.S. national security and a strategy to combat that threat.
The bill also requires the specific assessment of the threat posed by
a potential acquisition of the oil infrastructure I referred to, CITGO,
by their debtor, Russian state oil company Rosneft.
Mr. Speaker, I support this bill, and I urge all of our colleagues to
join us in standing against Russia's continued support for the Maduro
regime and the threat it poses to U.S. national security.
I reserve the balance of my time.
{time} 1915
Mr. MALINOWSKI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman
from Florida (Ms. Wasserman Schultz), the author of this bill.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New
Jersey for yielding and for his leadership on the Foreign Affairs
Committee. His expertise, having been elected to Congress in November,
is welcomed.
It is really wonderful to be able to join him on the floor of the
House of Representatives to make sure that we continue to voice our
support for democracy to be restored in Venezuela and mitigate the
threat that Maduro's regime poses to all of us in the Western
Hemisphere.
I also extend my thanks to Mr. Engel, the chairman of the Foreign
Affairs Committee, and Mr. McCaul, the ranking member, both of whom
have really come together with the bills that were adopted earlier, and
with this one, to make sure that it is demonstrated very clearly that
there is no daylight in the United States when it comes to the issue of
making sure that we can restore democracy to Venezuela.
Mr. Speaker, the people of Venezuela are suffering right now under
the rule of a brutal despot, Nicolas Maduro. The widespread starvation,
economic devastation, and public health crisis he has inflicted on his
own people has been absolutely heartbreaking to witness. I saw this
tragedy up close when my colleague, Representative Donna Shalala, and I
traveled to the Colombian-Venezuelan border earlier this month.
The stories we heard and what we saw was gut-wrenching: easily
avoidable medical tragedies; blockaded humanitarian aid; and because of
a lack of access to vaccines, the rampant spread of disease cured long
ago. We witnessed these tragic realities firsthand.
I also hear these horrific experiences from my own friends and
neighbors when I return to my hometown of Weston, affectionately known
in south Florida and around the world, quite frankly, as Westonzuela.
It is no surprise that this cruel regime has very few friends. Not
surprisingly, one of them is the Kremlin. That is why the Russia-
Venezuelan Threat Mitigation Act is so urgently needed. This bill would
require the State Department to provide a crucial threat assessment of
Russia's influence in Venezuela.
Just this weekend, we saw media reports that more Russian military
officials continue to arrive in Venezuela. According to the latest
reports, planes brought in Russian cargo, advisers, and officials to
train the same Venezuelan military apparatus that is keeping Maduro in
power. This is just the latest attempt in a long-running push by
Vladimir Putin to prop up this brutal autocrat.
In December, the Russian Federation sent two Tu-160 nuclear-capable
bombers to Venezuela for joint exercises. The Tu-160 can carry
conventional or nuclear-tipped cruise missiles with an estimated
maximum range of around 3,000 miles. That same month, Russian and
Venezuelan forces took part in a joint 10-hour exercise across the
Caribbean with these Tu-160 nuclear-capable bombers.
This menacing Kremlin influence creates not only a hurdle to
restoring a functioning, legitimate democracy to the people of
Venezuela, but it also poses an imminent military threat to the entire
Western Hemisphere. We not only need a detailed assessment of what kind
of threat this poses but a strategy for dealing with it. Under this
bill, the State Department would be required to deliver both essential
diplomatic tools to Congress.
Our goal, regardless of party, is to allow for the peaceful
transition to Venezuela's rightful leader, interim President Juan
Guaido, and for the peaceful execution of free and fair elections. That
will not happen soon enough, so long as Putin troops are helping prop
up Maduro's bloody regime.
Another invaluable crutch the Kremlin has handed Maduro is pipelined
through the embattled nation's oil supply. As his people suffer and
protest all around him, Maduro survives inside an oil-soaked cocoon
that the Russian Federation provides to his regime.
[[Page H2784]]
Maduro secures these lifeline loans by promising to repay the
Russians with future oil exports. But amid Venezuela's economic crisis,
Maduro, not surprisingly, fell behind on those payments, reports
indicate, beginning in 2017. News reports suggest that the Russian
state oil company Rosneft lent the Venezuelan state oil company
billions of dollars, partly as a prepayment for its crude oil.
Those oily tentacles are another reason why the Russia-Venezuelan
Threat Mitigation Act is so vital. This bill would also require the
President to give Congress an assessment of the security risks posed by
any potential Russian acquisition of the U.S. energy infrastructure
holdings of CITGO, which is owned by Venezuela. By monitoring the CITGO
acquisition risks, we monitor one of Maduro's vital veins of
sustenance.
Finally, what this bill would also do is allow the United States to
use the diplomatic tools of travel to discourage further Russian-
Venezuelan military entanglements. It would block travel to the United
States by anyone who is acting or has acted on behalf of the Russian
Government in direct support of the Venezuelan security forces.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentlewoman has expired.
Mr. MALINOWSKI. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 2 minutes to the
gentlewoman from Florida.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, except in rare circumstances,
this bill would allow for a ban and immediate revocation of visas from
anyone working on behalf of the Russian Government to directly bolster
the Venezuelan security forces.
Right now, the people of Venezuela are enduring an unimaginable
onslaught of hunger, preventable medical dangers, and dire escalating
economic pain. We cannot stand idly by while Putin assists Maduro in
carrying out this inhumane and barbaric tragedy.
The Russian-Venezuelan Threat Mitigation Act will make it harder for
the Kremlin to outfit Maduro with weapons of oppression. This bill will
also allow the United States to monitor and minimize the threat that
Russia poses to the entire region.
Restoring democracy to Venezuela will not happen overnight. No single
action alone could bring it about. But combined with the strong
humanitarian aid and military export bills my colleagues have crafted
that have passed on the floor tonight, the Russian-Venezuelan Threat
Mitigation Act will provide part of the comprehensive solution this
all-encompassing tragedy needs.
The Venezuelan people, including my friends and neighbors back home,
desperately need this relief.
Mr. Speaker, I have heard real stories of neighbors and friends
standing in front of me, describing the Maduro regime's confiscation of
their businesses, just coming in one day and taking over everything.
They have wrought devastation across that land. Venezuela was once a
vibrant, rich, successful democracy that he has driven into the ground
for his own enrichment.
We can help bring this to an end through bills like the Russian-
Venezuelan Threat Mitigation Act.
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues for their support of this critical
legislation.
Mr. ROONEY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, in closing, I would once again like to thank my
colleagues for the three bipartisan bills on Venezuela that have been
considered by this House today.
This is one issue where all Members of Congress, regardless of party
or background, should stand together with the people of Venezuela and
support interim President Guaido's efforts to bring free and fair
elections to the country.
The criminal socialist dictatorship of Nicolas Maduro has driven
Venezuela to ruin. He is clinging to power by repressing the people of
Venezuela while surrounding himself with foreign forces from Cuba and
Russia.
Millions of Venezuelans have fled the dangerous and deteriorating
circumstances at home, as Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz mentioned
about Weston. We also know about other places in west Miami where the
Venezuelans, fortunately, are adding value to our economy now.
They have created burdens and instability far beyond Venezuela's
border. The average Venezuelan has lost 20 kilos in the last 2 years.
These people are starving to death under a repression that hasn't been
seen since Ceausescu's Romania or Stalin's Russia.
Congress should support the administration's efforts to bring
democracy and prosperity back to Venezuela, and these bills demonstrate
our support for the values of freedom and liberty that the Venezuelan
people desire and deserve.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support H.R. 1477, and I yield
back the balance of my time.
Mr. MALINOWSKI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume for the purpose of closing.
Mr. Speaker, I would once again like to thank Ms. Wasserman Schultz
for authoring this important legislation and for her leadership on
behalf of the Venezuelan people.
As we all know, Vladimir Putin is seeking to expand Russia's
nefarious influence in many parts of the world, always against
democracy, always in opposition to the idea that ordinary people have
the right to stand up for human rights and against corruption,
including in Venezuela.
This is the struggle of our time. This legislation makes it clear
that we stand united with our allies in Latin America and across the
world in rejecting the Kremlin's support for the corrupt Maduro regime.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the legislation, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Malinowski) that the House suspend the
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1477, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________