The publication is reproduced in full below:
REINFORCING NICARAGUA'S ADHERENCE TO CONDITIONS FOR ELECTORAL REFORM
ACT OF 2021
Mr. DEUTCH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 1064) to advance the strategic alignment of United States diplomatic tools toward the realization of free, fair, and transparent elections in Nicaragua and to reaffirm the commitment of the United States to protect the fundamental freedoms and human rights of the people of Nicaragua, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
S. 1064
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the
``Reinforcing Nicaragua's Adherence to Conditions for Electoral Reform Act of 2021'' or the ``RENACER Act''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Sense of Congress.
Sec. 3. Review of participation of Nicaragua in Dominican Republic-
Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement.
Sec. 4. Restrictions on international financial institutions relating to Nicaragua.
Sec. 5. Targeted sanctions to advance democratic elections.
Sec. 6. Developing and implementing a coordinated sanctions strategy with diplomatic partners.
Sec. 7. Inclusion of Nicaragua in list of countries subject to certain sanctions relating to corruption.
Sec. 8. Classified report on the involvement of Ortega family members and Nicaraguan government officials in corruption.
Sec. 9. Classified report on the activities of the Russian Federation in Nicaragua.
Sec. 10. Report on certain purchases by and agreements entered into by
Government of Nicaragua relating to military or intelligence sector of Nicaragua.
Sec. 11. Report on human rights abuses in Nicaragua.
Sec. 12. Supporting independent news media and freedom of information in Nicaragua.
Sec. 13. Amendment to short title of Public Law 115-335.
Sec. 14. Definition.
SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS.
It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) ongoing efforts by the government of President Daniel Ortega in Nicaragua to suppress the voice and actions of political opponents through intimidation and unlawful detainment, civil society, and independent news media violate the fundamental freedoms and basic human rights of the people of Nicaragua;
(2) Congress unequivocally condemns the politically motivated and unlawful detention of presidential candidates Cristiana Chamorro, Arturo Cruz, Felix Maradiaga, and Juan Sebastian Chamorro;
(3) Congress unequivocally condemns the passage of the Foreign Agents Regulation Law, the Special Cybercrimes Law, the Self-Determination Law, and the Consumer Protection Law by the National Assembly of Nicaragua, which represent clear attempts by the Ortega government to curtail the fundamental freedoms and basic human rights of the people of Nicaragua;
(4) Congress recognizes that free, fair, and transparent elections predicated on robust reform measures and the presence of domestic and international observers represent the best opportunity for the people of Nicaragua to restore democracy and reach a peaceful solution to the political and social crisis in Nicaragua;
(5) the United States recognizes the right of the people of Nicaragua to freely determine their own political future as vital to ensuring the sustainable restoration of democracy in their country;
(6) the United States should align the use of diplomatic engagement and all other foreign policy tools, including the use of targeted sanctions, in support of efforts by democratic political actors and civil society in Nicaragua to advance the necessary conditions for free, fair, and transparent elections in Nicaragua;
(7) the United States, in order to maximize the effectiveness of efforts described in paragraph (6), should--
(A) coordinate with diplomatic partners, including the Government of Canada, the European Union, and partners in Latin America and the Caribbean;
(B) advance diplomatic initiatives in consultation with the Organization of American States and the United Nations; and
(C) thoroughly investigate the assets and holdings of the Nicaraguan Armed Forces in the United States and consider appropriate actions to hold such forces accountable for gross violations of human rights; and
(8) pursuant to section 6(b) of the Nicaragua Investment Conditionality Act of 2018, the President should waive the application of restrictions under section 4 of that Act and the sanctions under section 5 of that Act if the Secretary of State certifies that the Government of Nicaragua is taking the steps identified in section 6(a) of that Act, including taking steps to ``to hold free and fair elections overseen by credible domestic and international observers''.
SEC. 3. REVIEW OF PARTICIPATION OF NICARAGUA IN DOMINICAN
REPUBLIC-CENTRAL AMERICA-UNITED STATES FREE
TRADE AGREEMENT.
(a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
(1) On November 27, 2018, the President signed Executive Order 13851 (50 U.S.C. 1701 note; relating to blocking property of certain persons contributing to the situation in Nicaragua), which stated that ``the situation in Nicaragua, including the violent response by the Government of Nicaragua to the protests that began on April 18, 2018, and the Ortega regime's systematic dismantling and undermining of democratic institutions and the rule of law, its use of indiscriminate violence and repressive tactics against civilians, as well as its corruption leading to the destabilization of Nicaragua's economy, constitutes an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States''.
(2) Article 21.2 of the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement approved by Congress under section 101(a)(1) of the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act (19 U.S.C. 4011(a)(1)) states, ``Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed . . . to preclude a Party from applying measures that it considers necessary for the fulfillment of its obligations with respect to the maintenance or restoration of international peace or security, or the protection of its own essential security interests.''.
(b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that the President should review the continued participation of Nicaragua in the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement if the Government of Nicaragua continues to tighten its authoritarian rule in an attempt to subvert democratic elections in November 2021 and undermine democracy and human rights in Nicaragua.
SEC. 4. RESTRICTIONS ON INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
RELATING TO NICARAGUA.
Section 4 of the Nicaragua Investment Conditionality Act of 2018 is amended--
(1) by redesignating subsections (a), (b), and (c) as subsections (b), (c), and (d), respectively;
(2) by inserting before subsection (b), as redesignated by paragraph (1), the following:
``(a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that the Secretary of the Treasury should take all possible steps, including through the full implementation of the exceptions set forth in subsection (c), to ensure that the restrictions required under subsection (b) do not negatively impact the basic human needs of the people of Nicaragua.'';
(3) in subsection (c), as so redesignated, by striking
``subsection (a)'' and inserting ``subsection (b)''; and
(4) by striking subsection (d), as so redesignated, and inserting the following:
``(d) Increased Oversight.--
``(1) In general.--The United States Executive Director at each international financial institution of the World Bank Group, the United States Executive Director at the Inter-American Development Bank, and the United States Executive Director at each other international financial institution, including the International Monetary Fund, shall take all practicable steps--
``(A) to increase scrutiny of any loan or financial or technical assistance provided for a project in Nicaragua; and
``(B) to ensure that the loan or assistance is administered through an entity with full technical, administrative, and financial independence from the Government of Nicaragua.
``(2) Mechanisms for increased scrutiny.--The United States Executive Director at each international financial institution described in paragraph (1) shall use the voice, vote, and influence of the United States to encourage that institution to increase oversight mechanisms for new and existing loans or financial or technical assistance provided for a project in Nicaragua.
``(e) Interagency Consultation.--Before implementing the restrictions described in subsection (b), or before exercising an exception under subsection (c), the Secretary of the Treasury shall consult with the Secretary of State and with the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development to ensure that all loans and financial or technical assistance to Nicaragua are consistent with United States foreign policy objectives as defined in section 3.
``(f) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of the RENACER Act, and annually thereafter until the termination date specified in section 10, the Secretary of the Treasury, in coordination with the Secretary of State and the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the implementation of this section, which shall include--
``(1) summary of any loans and financial and technical assistance provided by international financial institutions for projects in Nicaragua;
``(2) a description of the implementation of the restrictions described in subsection (b);
``(3) an identification of the occasions in which the exceptions under subsection (c) are exercised and an assessment of how the loan or assistance provided with each such exception may address basic human needs or promote democracy in Nicaragua;
``(4) a description of the results of the increased oversight conducted under subsection (d); and
``(5) a description of international efforts to address the humanitarian needs of the people of Nicaragua.''.
SEC. 5. TARGETED SANCTIONS TO ADVANCE DEMOCRATIC ELECTIONS.
(a) Coordinated Strategy.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of State and the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the intelligence community (as defined in section 3 of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3003)), shall develop and implement a coordinated strategy to align diplomatic engagement efforts with the implementation of targeted sanctions in order to support efforts to facilitate the necessary conditions for free, fair, and transparent elections in Nicaragua.
(2) Briefing required.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and every 90 days thereafter until December 31, 2022, the Secretary of State and the Secretary of the Treasury shall brief the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives on steps to be taken by the United States Government to develop and implement the coordinated strategy required by paragraph (1).
(b) Targeted Sanctions Prioritization.--
(1) In general.--Pursuant to the coordinated strategy required by subsection (a), the President shall prioritize the implementation of the targeted sanctions required under section 5 of the Nicaragua Investment Conditionality Act of 2018.
(2) Targets.--In carrying out paragraph (1), the President--
(A) shall examine whether foreign persons involved in directly or indirectly obstructing the establishment of conditions necessary for the realization of free, fair, and transparent elections in Nicaragua are subject to sanctions under section 5 of the Nicaragua Investment Conditionality Act of 2018; and
(B) should, in particular, examine whether the following persons have engaged in conduct subject to such sanctions:
(i) Officials in the government of President Daniel Ortega.
(ii) Family members of President Daniel Ortega.
(iii) High-ranking members of the National Nicaraguan Police.
(iv) High-ranking members of the Nicaraguan Armed Forces.
(v) Members of the Supreme Electoral Council of Nicaragua.
(vi) Officials of the Central Bank of Nicaragua.
(vii) Party members and elected officials from the Sandinista National Liberation Front and their family members.
(viii) Individuals or entities affiliated with businesses engaged in corrupt financial transactions with officials in the government of President Daniel Ortega, his party, or his family.
(ix) Individuals identified in the report required by section 8 as involved in significant acts of public corruption in Nicaragua.
SEC. 6. DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING A COORDINATED SANCTIONS
STRATEGY WITH DIPLOMATIC PARTNERS.
(a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
(1) On June 21, 2019, the Government of Canada, pursuant to its Special Economic Measures Act, designated 9 officials of the Government of Nicaragua for the imposition of sanctions in response to gross and systematic human rights violations in Nicaragua.
(2) On May 4, 2020, the European Union imposed sanctions with respect to 6 officials of the Government of Nicaragua identified as responsible for serious human rights violations and for the repression of civil society and democratic opposition in Nicaragua.
(3) On October 12, 2020, the European Union extended its authority to impose restrictive measures on ``persons and entities responsible for serious human rights violations or abuses or for the repression of civil society and democratic opposition in Nicaragua, as well as persons and entities whose actions, policies or activities otherwise undermine democracy and the rule of law in Nicaragua, and persons associated with them''.
(b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that the United States should encourage the Government of Canada, the European Union and governments of members countries of the European Union, and governments of countries in Latin America and the Caribbean to use targeted sanctions with respect to persons involved in human rights violations and the obstruction of free, fair, and transparent elections in Nicaragua.
(c) Coordinating International Sanctions.--The Secretary of State, working through the head of the Office of Sanctions Coordination established by section 1(h) of the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 (22 U.S.C. 2651a(h)), and in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, shall engage in diplomatic efforts with governments of countries that are partners of the United States, including the Government of Canada, governments of countries in the European Union, and governments of countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, to impose targeted sanctions with respect to the persons described in section 5(b) in order to advance democratic elections in Nicaragua.
(d) Briefing Requirement.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and every 90 days thereafter until December 31, 2022, the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, shall brief the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives on the implementation of this section.
SEC. 7. INCLUSION OF NICARAGUA IN LIST OF COUNTRIES SUBJECT
TO CERTAIN SANCTIONS RELATING TO CORRUPTION.
Section 353 of title III of division FF of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Public Law 116-260) is amended--
(1) in the section heading, by striking ``and honduras'' and inserting ``, honduras, and nicaragua''; and
(2) by striking ``and Honduras'' each place it appears and inserting ``, Honduras, and Nicaragua''.
SEC. 8. CLASSIFIED REPORT ON THE INVOLVEMENT OF ORTEGA FAMILY
MEMBERS AND NICARAGUAN GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS IN
CORRUPTION.
(a) Report Required.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, acting through the Bureau of Intelligence and Research of the Department of State, and in coordination with the Director of National Intelligence, shall submit a classified report to the appropriate congressional committees on significant acts of public corruption in Nicaragua that--
(1) involve--
(A) the President of Nicaragua, Daniel Ortega;
(B) members of the family of Daniel Ortega; and
(C) senior officials of the Ortega government, including--
(i) members of the Supreme Electoral Council, the Nicaraguan Armed Forces, and the National Nicaraguan Police; and
(ii) elected officials from the Sandinista National Liberation Front party;
(2) pose challenges for United States national security and regional stability;
(3) impede the realization of free, fair, and transparent elections in Nicaragua; and
(4) violate the fundamental freedoms of civil society and political opponents in Nicaragua.
(b) Appropriate Congressional Committees.--In this section, the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
(1) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate; and
(2) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives.
SEC. 9. CLASSIFIED REPORT ON THE ACTIVITIES OF THE RUSSIAN
FEDERATION IN NICARAGUA.
(a) Report Required.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, acting through the Bureau of Intelligence and Research of the Department of State, and in coordination with the Director of National Intelligence, shall submit a classified report to the appropriate congressional committees on activities of the Government of the Russian Federation in Nicaragua, including--
(1) cooperation between Russian and Nicaraguan military personnel, intelligence services, security forces, and law enforcement, and private Russian security contractors;
(2) cooperation related to telecommunications and satellite navigation;
(3) other political and economic cooperation, including with respect to banking, disinformation, and election interference; and
(4) the threats and risks that such activities pose to United States national interests and national security.
(b) Appropriate Congressional Committees.--In this section, the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
(1) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate; and
(2) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives.
SEC. 10. REPORT ON CERTAIN PURCHASES BY AND AGREEMENTS
ENTERED INTO BY GOVERNMENT OF NICARAGUA
RELATING TO MILITARY OR INTELLIGENCE SECTOR OF
NICARAGUA.
(a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, acting through the Bureau of Intelligence and Research of the Department of State, and in coordination with the Director of National Intelligence and the Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, shall submit to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives a report that includes--
(1) a list of--
(A) all equipment, technology, or infrastructure with respect to the military or intelligence sector of Nicaragua purchased, on or after January 1, 2011, by the Government of Nicaragua from an entity identified by the Department of State under section 231(e) of the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (22 U.S.C. 9525(e)); and
(B) all agreements with respect to the military or intelligence sector of Nicaragua entered into, on or after January 1, 2011, by the Government of Nicaragua with an entity described in subparagraph (A); and
(2) a description of and date for each purchase and agreement described in paragraph (1).
(b) Consideration.--The report required by subsection (a) shall be prepared after consideration of the content of the report of the Defense Intelligence Agency entitled, ``Russia: Defense Cooperation with Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela'' and dated February 4, 2019.
(c) Form of Report.--The report required by subsection (a) shall be submitted in unclassified form but may include a classified annex.
SEC. 11. REPORT ON HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN NICARAGUA.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds that, since the June 2018 initiation of ``Operation Clean-up'', an effort of the government of Daniel Ortega to dismantle barricades constructed throughout Nicaragua during social demonstrations in April 2018, the Ortega government has increased its abuse of campesinos and members of indigenous communities, including arbitrary detentions, torture, and sexual violence as a form of intimidation.
(b) Report Required.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report that documents the perpetration of gross human rights violations by the Ortega government against the citizens of Nicaragua, including campesinos and indigenous communities in the interior of Nicaragua.
(c) Elements.--The report required by subsection (b) shall--
(1) include a compilation of human rights violations committed by the Ortega government against the citizens of Nicaragua, with a focus on such violations committed since April 2018, including human rights abuses and extrajudicial killings in--
(A) the cities of Managua, Carazo, and Masaya between April and June of 2018; and
(B) the municipalities of Wiwili, El Cua, San Jose de Bocay, and Santa Maria de Pantasma in the Department of Jinotega, Esquipulas in the Department of Rivas, and Bilwi in the North Caribbean Coast Autonomous Region between 2018 and 2021;
(2) outline efforts by the Ortega government to intimidate and disrupt the activities of civil society organizations attempting to hold the government accountable for infringing on the fundamental rights and freedoms of the people of Nicaragua; and
(3) provide recommendations on how the United States, in collaboration with international partners and Nicaraguan civil society, should leverage bilateral and regional relationships to curtail the gross human rights violations perpetrated by the Ortega government and better support the victims of human rights violations in Nicaragua.
(d) Appropriate Congressional Committees Defined.--In this section, the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
(1) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate; and
(2) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives.
SEC. 12. SUPPORTING INDEPENDENT NEWS MEDIA AND FREEDOM OF
INFORMATION IN NICARAGUA.
(a) Report Required.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, the Administrator for the United States Agency for International Development, and the Chief Executive Officer of the United States Agency for Global Media, shall submit to Congress a report that includes--
(1) an evaluation of the governmental, political, and technological obstacles faced by the people of Nicaragua in their efforts to obtain accurate, objective, and comprehensive news and information about domestic and international affairs; and
(2) a list of all TV channels, radio stations, online news sites, and other media platforms operating in Nicaragua that are directly or indirectly owned or controlled by President Daniel Ortega, members of the Ortega family, or known allies of the Ortega government.
(b) Elements.--The report required by subsection (a) shall include--
(1) an assessment of the extent to which the current level and type of news and related programming and content provided by the Voice of America and other sources is addressing the informational needs of the people of Nicaragua;
(2) a description of existing United States efforts to strengthen freedom of the press and freedom of expression in Nicaragua, including recommendations to expand upon those efforts; and
(3) a strategy for strengthening independent broadcasting, information distribution, and media platforms in Nicaragua.
SEC. 13. AMENDMENT TO SHORT TITLE OF PUBLIC LAW 115-335.
Section 1(a) of the Nicaragua Human Rights and Anticorruption Act of 2018 (Public Law 115-335; 50 U.S.C. 1701 note) is amended to read as follows:
``(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the `Nicaragua Investment Conditionality Act of 2018' or the `NICA Act'.''.
SEC. 14. DEFINITION.
In this Act, the term ``Nicaragua Investment Conditionality Act of 2018'' means the Public Law 115-335 (50 U.S.C. 1701 note), as amended by section 13.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Deutch) and the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Green) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Florida.
General Leave
Mr. DEUTCH. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on S. 1064.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Florida?
There was no objection.
Mr. DEUTCH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 1064, the RENACER Act.
I thank my good friend, Albio Sires from New Jersey, for his tireless work in championing this bill and continuously drawing attention to the antidemocratic actions taken by the Ortega regime.
This legislation makes clear that the United States will not sit by quietly as another country in our hemisphere slides further away from our democratic values. Working with our friends and partners in the international community, this bill will allow us to continue applying pressure on the Ortega regime ahead of the elections later this month. Sadly, all signs indicate that these elections will be far from free and fair.
Passing this bill will demonstrate the United States Government's strong belief that a commitment to upholding human rights and free expression are key pillars of promoting and preserving democracy.
The legislation takes a number of important steps. It restricts the Ortega regime's ability to access capital for corrupt purposes via international financial institutions and will bolster transparency mechanisms to ensure any that funds Nicaragua receives are not siphoned off for illicit or illegal purposes.
The RENACER Act will also ensure our sanctions policy is thoughtful and effective by focusing targeted sanctions on bad actors undermining the rule of law and democracy and not on the Nicaraguan people.
Crucially, the legislation requires the Secretary of State to work with partners to make our sanctions multilateral and even more effective.
The RENACER Act also serves a crucial factfinding purpose by including important reports on regime corruption, human rights abuses, arms sales, and Russia's role in the country. Just as this bill builds on the Nicaragua Human Rights and Anticorruption Act of 2018, these report provisions will help Congress develop and mold additional responses should the Ortega regime continue down an illiberal and undemocratic path.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
House of Representatives,
Committee on Financial Services,
Washington, DC, November 2, 2021.Hon. Gregory Meeks,Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs,House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: I am writing concerning S. 1064, Reinforcing Nicaragua's Adherence to Conditions for Electoral Reform (RENACER) Act of 2021. In order to permit S. 1064 to proceed expeditiously to the House Floor, I agree to forgo formal consideration of the bill.
The Committee on Financial Services takes this action to forego formal consideration of S. 1064 in light of our mutual understanding that, by foregoing formal consideration of S. 1064 at this time, we do not waive any jurisdiction over the subject matter contained in this or similar legislation, and that our Committee will be appropriately consulted and involved as this or similar legislation moves forward with regard to any matters in the Committee's jurisdiction. The Committee also reserves the right to seek appointment of an appropriate number of conferees to any House-Senate conference involving this or similar legislation that involves the Committee's jurisdiction and request your support for any such request.
Finally, I would appreciate your response to this letter confirming this understanding, and I would ask that a copy of our exchange of letters on this matter be included in the Congressional Record during Floor consideration of S. 1064.
Sincerely,
Maxine Waters,Chairwoman.
____
House of Representatives,
Committee on Foreign Affairs,
Washington, DC, November 2, 2021.Hon. Maxine Waters,Committee on Financial Services,House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Chairwoman Waters: I am writing to you concerning S. 1064, Reinforcing Nicaragua's Adherence to Conditions for Electoral Reform (RENACER) Act of 2021. I appreciate your willingness to work cooperatively on this legislation.
I acknowledge that provisions of the bill fall within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Financial Services under House Rule X, and that your Committee will forgo action on S. 1064 to expedite floor consideration. I further acknowledge that the inaction of your Committee with respect to the bill does not waive any future jurisdictional claim over the matters contained in the bill that fall within your jurisdiction. I also acknowledge that your Committee will be appropriately consulted and involved as this or similar legislation moves forward, and will support the appointment of Committee on Financial Services conferees during any House-Senate conference convened on this legislation.
Lastly, I will ensure that our exchange of letters is included in the Congressional Record during floor consideration of the bill. Thank you again for your cooperation regarding the legislation. I look forward to continuing to work with you as the measure moves through the legislative process.
Sincerely,
Gregory W. Meeks,
Chairman.
{time} 1415
Mr. GREEN of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this legislation, the RENACER Act, that seeks to address the Ortega regime's dismantling of Nicaragua's democracy, and seeks to support freedom-loving Nicaraguan's democratic aspirations.
Frankly, Mr. Speaker, this legislation should have been passed months ago when Congress had an opportunity to stop Ortega's campaign of terror.
The world has watched in horror as Nicaragua, under Daniel Ortega's authoritarian rule, has brutally consolidated into one-party dictatorship. Joining the governments in Cuba and Venezuela, Ortega's Nicaragua is now Latin America's third socialist regime.
On November 7, this coming Sunday, Nicaragua will hold a political farce claiming to resemble elections. Meanwhile, Daniel Ortega holds opposition candidates and over 140 political prisoners unlawfully incarcerated. This includes people like opposition student leader Lesther Aleman, a 23-year-old who cannot even walk due to the brutality he has endured while illegally detained; or the husbands of Victoria Cardenas and Berta Valle. They were leading presidential candidates who planned to oppose Ortega in the next election, but found themselves imprisoned in inhumane conditions and deprived of due process.
I have met with these brave women and I admire their courage and advocacy for all of Nicaragua's unjustly detained.
I am a lead cosponsor of this bill, and I am grateful for the leadership of Congresswoman Maria Salazar, and to the chairman of the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee, Albio Sires, for his advocacy of the plight of Nicaragua's political prisoners. I greatly appreciate his friendship and his leadership.
This bipartisan bill will require targeted sanctions against corrupt regime officials who have dismantled Nicaragua's democracy and undermined these elections. It will also ensure the United States is coordinating targeted sanctions with our Canadian and European Union allies.
This legislation also expands oversight to ensure international financing institutions are not enriching the corrupt regime while making sure there are humanitarian exceptions. It requires a classified report on Russia's nefarious activities in Nicaragua, whose intelligence and security cooperation has dramatically expanded.
The United States must condemn the electoral charade taking place on Sunday and urge our international partners to join us. America must continue to be the beacon of freedom and stand against authoritarian socialist leaders. We must hold the Ortega regime accountable for its atrocious and destabilizing behavior.
We only need to look at Venezuela to see the consequences of ignoring rising socialist authoritarianism. More can and should be done, and a positive first step is passing this legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I am proud to join my colleagues in this effort. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. DEUTCH. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. GREEN of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Salazar).
Ms. SALAZAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 1064, the RENACER Act. I am proud to have introduced this bill with Congressman Albio Sires, Senator Bob Menendez, and Senator Marco Rubio.
For years, dictator Daniel Ortega has been quietly dismantling democracy in Nicaragua. First, he ripped the constitution apart to get reelected, then he seized control of every branch of government, of the military, and of the police.
Ortega wants to rule the country from an iron throne, and the Nicaraguan people are suffering as a result. Ortega has banned political parties, and he has killed hundreds of Nicaraguans and jailed hundreds more.
Now we are on the eve of one of his most brazen moves in nearly 35 years of terrorizing this country, a sham election where all seven presidential candidates were arrested in broad daylight; one of them being my ex-husband, Arturo Cruz. This is his most flagrant example of a stolen election as we have ever seen, and the world needs to know that.
His brutal regime must be held accountable for its crimes against humanity and for its systematic attack on democracy. That is why Congress must pass the RENACER Act now. RENACER increases sanctions on Ortega and on Ortega's chief co-conspirator and vice-president, his wife, Rosario Murillo; and on the Nicaraguan security forces that brutalized their people.
It brings the international communities together to take down Ortega's safe havens around the world, and it exposes the Russian meddling in that country. The RENACER Act sends a clear message to Ortega and Murillo that your time is up.
I am also pleased that the provisions from my Nicaragua Free Trade Review Act were included in this critical legislation. This will trigger a review of Nicaragua's participation in the Central American Free Trade Agreement, CAFTA. The CAFTA-DR trade agreement gives Nicaragua open access to United States markets. To trade with the United States is a privilege, it is not a right.
I am here to tell Ortega and Murillo, you murderous dictators, you treacherous thugs, you will no longer have a free pass to enrich yourselves. Tyrants around the world are watching. Passing the RENACER Act shows the consequences of jailing your political opponents, of oppressing your people, and of stealing elections.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to stand with those who have been beaten and detained. I urge my colleagues to stand with the Nicaraguan people. I urge my colleagues to take a stand against tyranny.
The United States has long been the torch-bearer for democracy around the world. We must continue to carry that torch.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the RENACER Act.
Mr. DEUTCH. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. GREEN of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I would once again like to thank my good friends, Mr. Deutch, Mr. Sires, and Ms. Salazar for leading this measure. I am proud to join my colleagues in this effort, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. DEUTCH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, RENACER is an excellent piece of legislation. I thank my colleagues who, in a bipartisan way, worked together under Representative Sires' tireless leadership, and for his work with Senator Menendez in getting this bill across the finish line.
The United States must stand for democracy. We must stand for democracy in Nicaragua. This legislation shows that we will not abdicate our responsibility to do so.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support for the RENACER Act, S. 1064, which seeks to hold the regime of Daniel Ortega in Nicaragua accountable for its ongoing violations of human rights and subversion of the rule of law and democracy in that country.
I am a proud cosponsor of the companion bill in the House, introduced by my good friend and colleague from New Jersey, Albio Sires, and I must say that today's vote could not be more timely.
For this Sunday, November 7, the Ortega regime will hold sham elections where those who would have legitimately challenged strongman Daniel Ortega are either in exile or in prison.
Among those who have been arrested are Cristina Chamorro Barrios, Juan Sebastian Chamorro, Arturo Cruz Jr., Medardo Mairena, Felix Maradiaga, Miguel Mora and Noel Vidaurre.
This past July I convened a hearing as co-chair of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission entitled ``The Ortega Government and the Human Cost of Repression in Nicaragua.''
Among those who testified at the hearing were the wives of two of the arrested would-be candidates: Felix Maradiaga's wife Berta Valles, and Juan Sebastian Chamorro's wife Victoria Cardenas.
These brave women gave voice to their husbands' courage, and spoke on their behalf because they could not.
They recounted to us the repression unleashed by Daniel Ortega and his wife Rosario Murillo, who is running for Vice President.
Berta Valles recounted to us that ``For years, Felix has been a target of attacks by the Ortega regime because he speaks truth to power. He has been beaten, confined to house arrest, and threatened. For months, he endured 24/7 surveillance by the police. They have tried again and again to silence him, but he never stands down.''
Likewise, Victoria Cardenas also told us that because her husband, Juan Sebastian Chamorro, dared to speak out against Ortega's oppression, ``the regime has also persecuted and harassed me and my family. They have brought a civil case against me, my sister, and my mother, which would take away all my mother's assets. They have brought a criminal case against me, and there is an open warrant for my arrest. It is clear that Ortega is using every part of Nicaragua's institutions, including its judicial system, to not only persecute those who challenge the government, but also their family members.''
Ladies and Gentlemen, we must counter this regime of repression.
It should be clear to all that this Sunday's election, with opposition leaders in prison or in exile, is a sham.
I urge all of you to support the RENACER Act, which among other things would apply targeted sanctions to advance democracy, coordinate with our diplomatic partners to implement a sanctions strategy and commit the United States further in support of an independent news media in Nicaragua.
All who oppose the Ortega regime in Nicaragua--be they from the Democratic Left or the Political Right--stand united against tyranny.
Likewise, we too are unified, Republicans and Democrats, in opposing Ortega's tyranny. I urge my colleagues to support the bipartisan RENACER Act, and stand with the people of Nicaragua.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Deutch) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, S. 1064.
=========================== NOTE ===========================
November 3, 2021, on page H6151, the following appeared: Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Florida
(Mr. DEUTCH) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, S. 1064.
The online version has been corrected to read: Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time. Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support for the RENACER Act, S. 1064, which seeks to hold the regime of Daniel Ortega in Nicaragua accountable for its ongoing violations of human rights and subversion of the rule of law and democracy in that country. . . . Likewise, we too are unified, Republicans And Democrats, in opposing Ortega's tyranny. I urge my colleagues to support the bipartisan RENACER Act, and stand with the people of Nicaragua. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Florida
(Mr. DEUTCH) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, S. 1064.
========================= END NOTE =========================
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. DAVIDSON. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 3(s) of House Resolution 8, the yeas and nays are ordered.
Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this motion are postponed.
____________________
SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 193
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