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Title II — Promoting democratic change in Venezuela

S. 37 · 119th Congress · Jan 8, 2025 · Lineage

II Promoting democratic change in Venezuela

Sec. 201 United States policy regarding participation of Venezuela in international financial institutions

(a)
In general— The Secretary of the Treasury shall instruct the United States executive director of each international financial institution to use the voice and vote of the United States to oppose the seating of representatives of the regime of Nicolas Maduro or any nondemocratic successor government as a member of that institution.
(b)
Steps after democratically elected government in power— On and after the date on which the President submits to the appropriate congressional committees a determination under section 101(a) that a democratically elected government is in power in Venezuela—
(1)
the President is encouraged to take steps to support the seating of representatives of the democratically elected government to represent Venezuela in each international financial institution; and
(2)
the Secretary of the Treasury shall instruct the United States executive director of each international financial institution to oppose any assistance from the institution to Venezuela that the United States Government does not assess contributes to a stable foundation for a democratically elected government in Venezuela.
(c)
International financial institution defined— In this section, the term international financial institution means each of the following:
(1)
The International Monetary Fund.
(2)
The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
(3)
The International Development Association.
(4)
The International Finance Corporation.
(5)
The Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency.
(6)
The Inter-American Development Bank.

Sec. 202 United States policy regarding participation of Venezuela in the Organization of American States

The President shall instruct the United States Permanent Representative to the Organization of American States to use the voice and vote of the United States to oppose any measure that would allow a nondemocratic government of Venezuela to participate in the Organization of American States until the President submits to the appropriate congressional committees a determination under section 101(a) that a democratically elected government is in power in Venezuela.

Sec. 203 Authorization of support for democratic and human rights groups and international observers

(a)
In general— Notwithstanding any other provision of law (other than section 634A of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2394–1) or any comparable notification requirement contained in any Act making appropriations for the Department of State, foreign operations, and related programs), the President may provide assistance and other support for individuals and independent nongovernmental organizations to support democracy-building efforts in Venezuela, including as described in subsections (b) and (c).
(b)
Organization of American States emergency fund—
(1)
For support of internationally recognized human rights and free and fair elections— The President shall take the necessary steps to encourage the Organization of American States to create a special emergency fund for the explicit purpose of deploying human rights observers and individuals and organizations engaged in election support and election observation in Venezuela.
(2)
Voluntary contributions for fund— The President should provide not less than $5,000,000 of the voluntary contributions of the United States to the Organization of American States solely for the purposes of the special fund referred to in paragraph (1).
(c)
Action of other member states— The President should instruct the United States Permanent Representative to the Organization of American States to encourage other member states of the Organization to join in calling for the Government of Venezuela to allow the immediate deployment of independent human rights monitors of the Organization of American States throughout Venezuela and on-site visits to Venezuela by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.
(d)
Denial of funds to Government of Venezuela— In implementing this section, the President shall take all necessary steps to ensure that no funds or other assistance is provided to a nondemocratic government of Venezuela.

Sec. 204 Support for the people of Venezuela

The President—
(1)
may, pursuant to General License 29 of the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the Department of the Treasury, provide assistance through independent nongovernmental organizations to support humanitarian projects in Venezuela—
(A)
to meet basic human needs;
(B)
to build democracy;
(C)
to provide education;
(D)
for non-commercial development projects; and
(E)
for environmental protection; and
(2)
shall establish safeguards to ensure that any assistance provided pursuant to paragraph (1) is—
(A)
not providing material benefit to the Maduro regime; and
(B)
used for the purposes for which it was intended and only for the use and benefit of the people of Venezuela.