Venezuela sanctions bill passes in the US Senate
Sens. Marco Rubio (left, R-FL) and Bob Menendez (D-NJ)
The Venezuela Defense of Human Rights and Civil Society Act of 2014 has passed the US Senate. The bill includes provisions for targeted sanctions against individuals linked to the Venezuelan government found to have violated human rights. These include asset freezes, visa revocations, and other penalties. It also urges the Secretary of State to support civil society in Venezuela.
The text of the bill is here: S. 2142. The press release from Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez (D-NJ) is here.The White House has expressed support for the bill.
This was the bill that Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA) had placed a hold on. Sen. Landrieu was defeated last Saturday in her bid for reelection.
The highlight from Sen. Menendez’s press release:
“We must always stand against human rights violations, political persecution and recrimination anywhere in the world, and certainly in our hemisphere. The Venezuelan people deserve a brighter future, not the dismal nightmare they’re enduring at the hands of President Maduro. Our fight to deliver hope and renewed opportunity to Venezuela has only begun.”
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