[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 45 (Monday, March 9, 2020)]
[House]
[Pages H1543-H1545]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SUPPORTING PEOPLE OF NICARAGUA IN THEIR PEACEFUL EFFORTS TO PROMOTE 
                       DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS

  Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 754) expressing the sense of the House of 
Representatives that the United States should continue to support the 
people of Nicaragua in their peaceful efforts to promote democracy and 
human rights, and use the tools under United States law to increase 
political and financial pressure on the government of Daniel Ortega, as 
amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 754

       Whereas the government of Daniel Ortega has concentrated 
     power and brought about the progressive deterioration of 
     democratic conditions in Nicaragua;
       Whereas recent elections in Nicaragua, including the 2016 
     Presidential elections, have been marred by irregularities 
     and characterized by significant restrictions on the 
     participation of opposition parties and the absence of 
     credible international and local electoral observers;
       Whereas Nicaraguan security forces, parapolice, and other 
     actors working under the direction of the Ortega regime 
     committed gross violations of human rights and acts of 
     repression, resulting in more than 325 deaths, over 2,000 
     injuries, and at least 800 arbitrary detentions during the 
     peaceful protests that took place in 2018, according to the 
     Organization of American States;
       Whereas a report by the Interdisciplinary Group of 
     Independent Experts, appointed by the Organization of 
     American States Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, 
     determined that the Ortega regime used deliberate, lethal 
     force against protesters and committed acts of torture that 
     meet the international legal standard of crimes against 
     humanity;
       Whereas an estimated 62,000 Nicaraguans fled the country 
     between April 2018 and April 2019, according to the United 
     Nations High Commissioner for Refugees;
       Whereas the Ortega government reneged on its commitment in 
     2019 to release all political prisoners by releasing just 392 
     people, of which 286 were released to house arrest with 
     charges still pending, while the Blue and White National 
     Unity coalition alleges that there remain at least 56 
     political prisoners as of February 15, 2020;
       Whereas a United States citizen and Navy veteran, 57-year-
     old Eddy Montes, was shot and killed while in the custody of 
     the Nicaraguan police at La Modelo Prison on May 16, 2019;
       Whereas the government of Daniel Ortega has severely 
     restricted freedom of the press by closing five local 
     television stations, attacking independent radio stations, 
     arbitrarily detaining journalists, and illegally restricting 
     print supplies from entering the country;
       Whereas the Ortega regime has violated the economic and 
     political rights protections of indigenous communities, rural 
     campesinos, land rights defenders, and those living in the 
     Caribbean Autonomous Regions of Nicaragua;
       Whereas, on November 27, 2018, Executive Order 13851 was 
     issued, which blocks the property of certain persons 
     contributing to the situation in Nicaragua, and its 
     application was expanded on September 4, 2019;
       Whereas the Departments of State and the Treasury have 
     imposed targeted sanctions on over 20 Nicaraguan individuals 
     and entities, including First Lady and Vice President Rosario 
     Murillo and Daniel Ortega's son, Laureano Ortega, as well as 
     Nicaragua's Banco Corporativo (Bancorp);
       Whereas the bipartisan Nicaraguan Investment Conditionality 
     Act (NICA Act), was

[[Page H1544]]

     signed into law on December 20, 2018, allowing the Department 
     of the Treasury to sanction non-United States persons 
     implicated in egregious human rights abuses and corruption in 
     Nicaragua;
       Whereas, in June 2019, Canada imposed sanctions on 12 
     members of the Nicaraguan Government engaged in gross and 
     systemic human rights violations;
       Whereas the Ortega government has not complied with efforts 
     of the commission appointed by the Permanent Council of the 
     Organization of American States seeking a peaceful resolution 
     to the social and political crisis;
       Whereas, on September 15, 2019, the Ortega government 
     denied entry into the country to an official Organization of 
     American States delegation mission; and
       Whereas, beginning on November 14, 2019, Nicaraguan police 
     conducted attacks on churches throughout the country, cut 
     water to hunger strikers barricaded inside a church in 
     Masaya, and arrested 13 people attempting to bring them 
     water: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) calls on the Nicaraguan Government to immediately 
     release all political prisoners without conditions and cease 
     all acts of violence, repression, and intimidation against 
     dissenting voices in Nicaragua;
       (2) condemns the Nicaraguan Government's continued failure 
     to comply with agreements made with the Organization of 
     American States;
       (3) urges the Ortega government to respect Nicaraguans' 
     constitutional rights and implement electoral reforms 
     including free, fair, multiparty elections open to 
     international observers, in compliance with the agreement 
     reached through negotiations with the Civic Alliance for 
     Justice and Democracy and the Blue and White National Unity 
     (UNAB) in March 2019;
       (4) expresses full support for the people of Nicaragua, 
     Nicaraguan independent media, and Nicaraguan civil society 
     organizations that are working for a peaceful return to 
     democratic order in Nicaragua;
       (5) recognizes and supports efforts of the United States 
     Government to promote democracy in Nicaragua and hold corrupt 
     actors and human rights abusers in the Nicaraguan Government 
     accountable for their actions;
       (6) urges the United States Government to continue to apply 
     pressure on the Ortega government and consider additional 
     sanctions against those Nicaraguan officials who have 
     violated the human rights of their citizens or committed acts 
     of significant corruption; and
       (7) urges the international community to hold the Ortega 
     government accountable for human rights abuses, including 
     attacks on religious freedom, and restrict its access to 
     foreign financing unless or until it allows for free, fair, 
     and prompt elections monitored by credible international and 
     local electoral observers.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
Jersey (Mr. Sires) and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Yoho) each will 
control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey.


                             General Leave

  Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 
5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on H. Res. 754.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New Jersey?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to start by thanking Chairman Engel and Ranking 
Member McCaul for their continued focus on the human rights situation 
in Nicaragua.
  I would also like to thank my colleague, Ranking Member Francis 
Rooney from Florida, for working with me to introduce this resolution.
  This resolution highlights the severe human rights abuses that have 
taken place in Nicaragua and conveys bipartisan support for the 
Nicaraguan people as they seek to reclaim their fundamental rights.
  In 2018, repression by Nicaraguan security forces resulted in over 
325 deaths. According to international human rights groups, Nicaraguan 
security forces used a deliberate strategy of shooting to kill, 
committing abuses that rose to the level of crimes against humanity.
  While President Ortega has since released hundreds of political 
prisoners, seemingly in an effort to reduce international pressure, 
there remain at least 56 political prisoners in Nicaragua. Moreover, 
many of those who were released are still routinely harassed by the 
authorities. Political prisoners in Nicaragua are subjected to sexual 
abuse, suffocation with plastic bags, and electric shocks.
  Over 80,000 Nicaraguans have fled the country since April 2018, many 
of them to escape persecution. I urge the administration not to turn 
its back to Nicaraguans who come to the United States fleeing violence 
and persecution.
  This resolution makes clear that the United States Congress stands 
with the Nicaraguan people, who are demanding accountability in the 
face of such brutal repression. It calls for tangible steps from the 
Nicaraguan Government, including immediate release of all political 
prisoners and the implementation of electoral reforms that Nicaraguan 
civil society organizations have long called for.
  I hope that my colleagues will join me in sending this strong 
bipartisan message in support of the Nicaraguan people.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. YOHO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise today in support of H. Res. 754, expressing the support of the 
people of Nicaragua in their peaceful effort to promote democracy and 
human rights, authored by the chairman of the Western Hemisphere, 
Civilian Security, and Trade Subcommittee, Mr. Sires.
  Daniel Ortega and his socialist Sandinista government continue to 
hold onto power through corruption, intimidation, and violence against 
the people of Nicaragua.
  Since his return to power in 2007, Ortega, an ally of Venezuelan 
dictator Nicolas Maduro and the Castro regime in Cuba, has dismantled 
Nicaragua's democratic institutions and enriched himself and his family 
at the expense of the people of one of the poorest countries in the 
Western Hemisphere.
  In 2018, Nicaraguan security forces directed by Ortega violently 
suppressed peaceful protests that led to at least 325 deaths, 2,000 
injuries, and the arbitrary detention of more than 800 Nicaraguans.
  Since then, Ortega has resisted calls by the international community 
to restore respect for human rights in the country and pass reforms to 
allow for free and fair elections.
  In response, the United States imposed individual sanctions on 
Nicaragua's First Lady and two of Ortega's sons. The Treasury 
Department also sanctioned one of Nicaragua's main banks and, most 
recently, Nicaragua's National Police for continuing to facilitate 
corruption and carry out human rights violations on behalf of the 
Ortega regime.
  This resolution condemns the actions of the Ortega regime and 
expresses full support for the freedom-loving people of Nicaragua in 
their struggle for democracy and freedom from Ortega's tyranny.
  This resolution also recognizes the administration's effort to 
promote democracy in Nicaragua and the actions it has taken to hold 
corrupt officials and human rights abusers accountable.
  The United States remains committed to democracy and respect for 
human rights in the Western Hemisphere, and this resolution urges the 
international community in joining us in these efforts.
  I urge my colleagues to support this resolution, and I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume for 
the purpose of closing.
  Consideration of this resolution comes at an important moment for 
Nicaragua. As the 2021 elections approach, it will be key for the 
international community to speak with one voice in demanding that 
specific conditions be met in order for those elections to be deemed 
credible.
  As a first step, President Ortega must take immediate action to allow 
for the creation of a newly comprised and independent electoral 
council, the development of a reliable voter registry, and the granting 
of full access to international election observers for the 2021 
elections.
  Absent immediate and tangible steps to implement these electoral 
reforms, the United States should increase its pressure on Ortega and 
his inner circle.
  I hope our allies in Europe will also step up their efforts and work 
with the United States toward a coordinated sanctions strategy.
  I thank my colleagues for sending this bipartisan message that we 
will

[[Page H1545]]

continue to stand with the Nicaraguan people in their efforts to 
restore democracy in their country.
  Mr. Speaker, I hope all Members will join me in supporting the 
passage of this resolution, and I yield back the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1630

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Sires) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 754, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution, as amended, was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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