---
kind: "section"
citation: "22 U.S.C. § 9731"
title: "22"
title_heading: "Foreign Relations and Intercourse"
number: "9731"
heading: "Support for international election observation and democratic civil society"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/22/9731"
units:
  - "Chapter 104 — Venezuela Assistance"
  - "Subchapter IV — Restoring Democracy and Addressing the Political Crisis in Venezuela"
---

# §9731. Support for international election observation and democratic civil society

- (a) **In general—** The Secretary of State, in coordination with the [Administrator](/usc/22/277d–43.md?p=1) of the United States Agency for International Development—
  - (1) shall work with the Organization of American States to ensure credible international observation of future elections in Venezuela that contributes to free, fair, and transparent democratic electoral processes; and
  - (2) shall work with nongovernmental organizations—
    - (A) to strengthen democratic governance and institutions, including the democratically elected National Assembly of Venezuela;
    - (B) to defend internationally recognized human rights for the people of Venezuela, including [support](/usc/22/7432.md?p=12) for efforts to document crimes against humanity and violations of human rights;
    - (C) to [support](/usc/22/7432.md?p=12) the efforts of independent media outlets to broadcast, distribute, and share information beyond the limited channels made available by the Maduro regime; and
    - (D) to combat corruption and improve the transparency and accountability of institutions that are part of the Maduro regime.
- (b) **Engagement at the Organization of American States—** The Secretary of State, acting through the United States Permanent Representative to the Organization of American States, should advocate and build diplomatic [support](/usc/22/7432.md?p=12) for sending an election observation mission to Venezuela to ensure that democratic electoral processes are organized and carried out in a free, fair, and transparent manner.
- (c) **Briefing requirement—** Not later than 180 days after December 20, 2019, the Secretary of State, in coordination with the [Administrator](/usc/22/277d–43.md?p=1) of the United States Agency for International Development, shall provide a briefing on the strategy to carry out the activities described in [subsection (a)](#a) to—
  - (1) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate;
  - (2) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate;
  - (3) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives; and
  - (4) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives.
- (d) **Authorization of appropriations—**
  - (1) **In general—** There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of State for fiscal year 2020, $17,500,000 to carry out the activities set forth in [subsection (a)](#a).
  - (2) **Notification requirements—** Amounts appropriated pursuant to [paragraph (1)](#d-1) are subject to the notification requirements applicable to expenditures from the Economic [Support](/usc/22/7432.md?p=12) Fund under [section 2346(c) of this title](/usc/22/2346.md?p=c) and from the Development Assistance Fund under [section 2413(a) of this title](/usc/22/2413.md?p=a), to the extent that such funds are expended.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 116–94, div. J, title I, § 143, Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 3038.)