Rubio, Colleagues Introduce The Venezuela Defense Of Human Rights And Civil Society Act

Press Release

As members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Committee Chairman Robert Menendez (D-NJ), along with Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL), today introduced the Venezuela Defense of Human Rights and Civil Society Act of 2014.

This bipartisan legislation authorizes $15 million in new funding in the FY2015 budget to defend human rights, support democratic civil society organizations, assist independent media, and strengthen good governance and the rule of law in the face of the massive violence and repression being carried out by President Maduro against peaceful protesters.

It also requires President Obama to impose sanctions on persons that have been involved in serious human rights violations against peaceful demonstrators and others in Venezuela, or that have directed or ordered the arrest or prosecution of a person due to their legitimate exercise of freedom of expression or assembly.

Yesterday, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed a resolution introduced by Rubio outlining the framework for legislative action on Venezuela.

"The full U.S. Congress has spoken loudly and clearly that we stand with the Venezuelan people as they exercise their fundamental rights, and we condemn the Maduro regime's deadly wave of repression," said Rubio. "Now it's time for actions that name, shame and punish the Maduro regime's murderers and thugs who are responsible for the crackdown against innocent Venezuelans.

"Now is the time to stand with the Venezuelan people and increase pressure on the Maduro regime," added Rubio. "I hope we can begin to move quickly to consider this legislation when the Senate reconvenes on March 24."

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