United States 113th Congress Status: Died 1 D cosponsors

HR 4587 — Venezuelan Human Rights and Democracy Protection Act

Last action — Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security.

Track this bill free

No card. One bill, free forever — alerts when it moves.

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. Died in session

This bill died with 113th Congress. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Summary

Venezuelan Human Rights and Democracy Protection Act - (Sec. 4) Directs the Secretary of State (Secretary) to require the U.S. Permanent Representative to the Organization of American States (OAS) to use U.S. influence at the OAS to protect the Inter-American Democratic Charter, and strengthen efforts by international and multilateral organizations to protect human rights throughout the Western Hemisphere, especially in Venezuela. (Sec. 5) Directs the President to impose asset blocking sanctions and the Secretary or the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) to impose U.S. exclusion sanctions against any person, including a current or former official of the government of Venezuela or a person acting on behalf of such government, who has: (1) perpetrated or is responsible for directing acts of violence or human rights abuses against individuals participating in protests in Venezuela that began on February 12, 2014; (2) directed or ordered the arrest or prosecution of a person primarily because of the person's exercise of freedom of expression or assembly in relation to such protests; (3) knowingly assisted, sponsored, or provided significant financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services in support of, the commission of such acts; or (4) engaged in censorship against individuals or media outlets disseminating information in relation to such protests. Sets forth related penalty requirements. States that U.S. exclusion sanctions shall not apply if necessary to permit the United States to comply with the Agreement regarding the Headquarters of the United Nations or other applicable international obligations. Authorizes the President to waive sanctions if: (1) in the U.S. national security interests, or (2) conditions in Venezuela have improved with regard to respect for peaceful protest and basic human rights. (Sec. 6) Directs the President to transmit to Congress a list of, and impose sanctions against, persons who: (1) transfer or facilitate the transfer of goods or technologies that are likely to be used to commit serious rights abuses to Venezuela, to any person organized under the laws of Venezuela, or to any national of Venezuela, for use in Venezuela; or (2) provide services with respect to such goods or technologies after their transfer to Venezuela. States that the President shall not be required to include a person on this list if: (1) that person is no longer engaging in or has taken significant steps toward stopping sanctioned activities, and (2) the President has received reliable assurances that such person will not knowingly engage in any new sanctioned activity. Authorizes the President to waive sanctions if: (1) in the U.S. national security interests, or (2) conditions in Venezuela have improved with regard to respect for peaceful protest and basic human rights. (Sec. 7) Directs the Secretary to submit a comprehensive strategy to Congress for promoting internet and information access freedom in Venezuela. (Sec. 8) Directs the Secretary to submit a comprehensive strategy to Congress outlining U.S. support for the citizens of Venezuela in seeking free elections, civil liberties and human rights, and the development of an independent civil society. (Sec. 9) States that it shall be U.S. policy to: (1) support efforts to identify prisoners of conscience and cases of human rights abuses in Venezuela, and (2) offer refugee status or political asylum in the United States to political dissidents in Venezuela or assist in their relocation to other countries. (Sec. 10) Authorizes FY2015 appropriations to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) for assistance to civil society in Venezuela. (Sec. 11) Amends the Enhanced Partnership with Pakistan Act of 2009 to reduce specified funding for Pakistan through FY2014. (Sec. 12) Sunsets this Act two years after its enactment.

Bill Text

We don't have the full text on file for this bill yet.

Read HR 4587 on the official United States source →

Action History

  1. Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security.

  2. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 410.

  3. Received in the Senate.

  4. On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4844-4846)

  5. DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4587.

  6. Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4844-4850)

  7. Ms. Ros-Lehtinen moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

  8. Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H4047)

  9. Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.

  10. Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

  11. Referred to House Judiciary

  12. Referred to House Foreign Affairs

  13. Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

Export CSV (upgrade) →

1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 546 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (546)

546 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 546 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

Arms control and nonproliferation Congressional oversight Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad Elections, voting, political campaign regulation Firearms and explosives Foreign aid and international relief Foreign property Human rights International organizations and cooperation Internet and video services Latin America News media and reporting Organization of American States Protest and dissent Refugees, asylum, displaced persons Sanctions Technology transfer and commercialization Trade restrictions Venezuela Violent crime Visas and passports International affairs
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does HR 4587 do?
Venezuelan Human Rights and Democracy Protection Act - (Sec. 4) Directs the Secretary of State (Secretary) to require the U.S. Permanent Representative to the Organization of American States (OAS) to use U.S. influence at the OAS to protect the Inter-American Democratic Charter, and strengthen efforts by international and multilateral organizations to protect human rights throughout the Western Hemisphere, especially in Venezuela. (Sec. 5) Directs the President to impose asset blocking sanctions and the Secretary or the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) to impose U.S. exclusion sanctions against any person, including a current or former official of the government of Venezuela or a person acting on behalf of such government, who has: (1) perpetrated or is responsible for directing acts of violence or human rights abuses against individuals participating in protests in Venezuela that began on February 12, 2014; (2) directed or ordered the arrest or prosecution of a person primarily because of the person's exercise of freedom of expression or assembly in relation to such protests; (3) knowingly assisted, sponsored, or provided significant financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services in support of, the commission of such acts; or (4) engaged in censorship against individuals or media outlets disseminating information in relation to such protests. Sets forth related penalty requirements. States that U.S. exclusion sanctions shall not apply if necessary to permit the United States to comply with the Agreement regarding the Headquarters of the United Nations or other applicable international obligations. Authorizes the President to waive sanctions if: (1) in the U.S. national security interests, or (2) conditions in Venezuela have improved with regard to respect for peaceful protest and basic human rights. (Sec. 6) Directs the President to transmit to Congress a list of, and impose sanctions against, persons who: (1) transfer or facilitate the transfer of goods or technologies that are likely to be used to commit serious rights abuses to Venezuela, to any person organized under the laws of Venezuela, or to any national of Venezuela, for use in Venezuela; or (2) provide services with respect to such goods or technologies after their transfer to Venezuela. States that the President shall not be required to include a person on this list if: (1) that person is no longer engaging in or has taken significant steps toward stopping sanctioned activities, and (2) the President has received reliable assurances that such person will not knowingly engage in any new sanctioned activity. Authorizes the President to waive sanctions if: (1) in the U.S. national security interests, or (2) conditions in Venezuela have improved with regard to respect for peaceful protest and basic human rights. (Sec. 7) Directs the Secretary to submit a comprehensive strategy to Congress for promoting internet and information access freedom in Venezuela. (Sec. 8) Directs the Secretary to submit a comprehensive strategy to Congress outlining U.S. support for the citizens of Venezuela in seeking free elections, civil liberties and human rights, and the development of an independent civil society. (Sec. 9) States that it shall be U.S. policy to: (1) support efforts to identify prisoners of conscience and cases of human rights abuses in Venezuela, and (2) offer refugee status or political asylum in the United States to political dissidents in Venezuela or assist in their relocation to other countries. (Sec. 10) Authorizes FY2015 appropriations to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) for assistance to civil society in Venezuela. (Sec. 11) Amends the Enhanced Partnership with Pakistan Act of 2009 to reduce specified funding for Pakistan through FY2014. (Sec. 12) Sunsets this Act two years after its enactment.
Who sponsors HR 4587?
HR 4587 is sponsored by Lucille Roybal-Allard (D).
What is the current status of HR 4587?
This bill died with 113th Congress. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track HR 4587?
Track HR 4587 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

Make your voice heard on HR 4587

Find the representatives who decide this bill and tell them where you stand — for yourself, or mobilize your whole list in one click with One Click Politics advocacy software.

Find my representatives → Run a campaign

Stay ahead of HR 4587

Last checked for changes about 9 hours ago · updated continuously

One Click Politics tracks every bill in Congress and all 50 states.

Track this bill →