US Codex
Bill
Notes

S. 2142 — what changed

Venezuela Defense of Human Rights and Civil Society Act of 2014

From Introduced in Senate to Reported in Senate. 1 section amended and 1 added between Introduced in Senate and Reported in Senate.

Sec. 6 Support for civil society in Venezuela

(a)
changed In general— The Secretary of State and the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development shall, subject to the availability of appropriations, directly or through nongovernmental organizations—
(1)
defend internationally recognized human rights for the people of Venezuela;
(2)
build the organizational and operational capacity of democratic civil society activists and organizations in Venezuela at the national and regional level;
(3)
support the efforts of independent media outlets to broadcast, distribute, and share information beyond the limited channels made available by the Government of Venezuela;
(2)
added strengthen the organizational and operational capacity of democratic civil society in Venezuela;
(3)
added support the efforts of independent media outlets to broadcast, distribute, and share information beyond the limited means available as of the date of the enactment of this Act;
(4)
renumbered was (2)(6) facilitate open and uncensored access to the Internet for the people of Venezuela;
(5)
renumbered was (2)(7) improve transparency and accountability of institutions that are part of the Government of Venezuela;
(6)
renumbered was (2)(8) provide support to civil society organizations, activists, and peaceful demonstrators in Venezuela that have been targeted for exercising internationally recognized civil and political rights, as well as journalists targeted for activities related to the work of a free press; and
(7)
renumbered was (2)(9) provide support for democratic political organizing and election monitoring in Venezuela.
(b)
Strategy requirement— Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall submit a strategy to carry out the activities described in subsection (a) to—
(1)
the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives; and
(2)
the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives.
(c)
Authorization of appropriations—
(1)
In general— There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of State $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2015 to carry out subsection (a). Amounts appropriated for the activities set forth in subsection (a) shall be used pursuant to the authorization and requirements contained in this section. Additional amounts may be authorized to be appropriated under provisions of law.
(2)
Notification requirement—
(A)
In general— Funds appropriated or otherwise made available pursuant to paragraph (1) may not be obligated until until 15 days after the date on which the President has provided notice of intent to obligate such funds to—
(i)
the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives; and
(ii)
the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives.
(B)
Waiver— The President may waive the requirement under subparagraph (A) if the President determines that failure to waive that requirement would pose a substantial risk to human health or welfare, in which case notification shall be provided as early as practicable, but in no event later than 3 days after taking the action to which such notification requirement was applicable in the context of the circumstances necessitating such waiver.

Sec. 7 Report on broadcasting, information distribution, and circumvention technology distribution in Venezuela

added
(a)
added In general— Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Chairman of the Broadcasting Board of Governors (in this section referred to as the “Board”) shall submit to Congress a report that includes—
(1)
added a thorough evaluation of the governmental, political, and technological obstacles faced by the people of Venezuela in their efforts to obtain accurate, objective, and comprehensive news and information about domestic and international affairs;
(2)
added an assessment of current efforts relating to broadcasting, information distribution, and circumvention technology distribution in Venezuela, by the United States Government and otherwise; and
(3)
added a strategy for expanding such efforts in Venezuela, including recommendations for additional measures to expand upon current efforts.
(b)
added Elements— The report required by subsection (a) shall include—
(1)
added an assessment of the current level of Federal funding dedicated to broadcasting, information distribution, and circumvention technology distribution in Venezuela by the Board before the date of the enactment of this Act;
(2)
added an assessment of whether the current level and type of news and related programming and content provided by the Voice of America is sufficiently addressing the informational needs of the people of Venezuela; and
(3)
added specific measures for increasing broadcasting, information distribution, and circumvention technology distribution in Venezuela.