United States · Law · S
S. 2142 (113th)
Venezuela Defense of Human Rights and Civil Society Act of 2014
Introduced
13 March 2014
Last action
18 December 2014 · President
Status
Became Public Law No: 113-278.
Sponsors
Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ], Sen. Rubio, Marco [R-FL], Sen. Nelson, Bill [D-FL], Sen. Kirk, Mark Steven [R-IL], Sen. McCain, John [R-AZ]
Subjects
Defence, Rule of law
Source updated
7 April 2025
Summary
Venezuela Defense of Human Rights and Civil Society Act of 2014 - Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the United States aspires to a mutually beneficial relationship with Venezuela based on respect for human rights and the rule of law, and a productive relationship on issues of public security; (2) the United States supports the efforts of the people of Venezuela to realize their economic potential and advance representative democracy; (3) the government of Venezuela's mismanagement of its economy has produced conditions of economic hardship; (4) the government's failure to guarantee public security has led Venezuela to become one of the most violent countries in the world; (5) the government continues to remove checks and balances on the executive, politicize the judiciary, undermine the independence of the legislature, persecute its political opponents, curtail freedom of the press, and limit the free expression of its citizens; (6) the people of Venezuela have turned out in demonstrations throughout the country to protest the government's inability to ensure the political and economic well-being of its citizens; and (7) the use of violence by the National Guard and security personnel is intolerable and the use of unprovoked violence by protesters is also a matter of serious concern. States that it is U.S. policy to: (1) support the development of democratic political processes and independent civil society in Venezuela, (2) ensure the peaceful resolution of the current situation in Venezuela, and (3) hold accountable government and security officials in Venezuela responsible for the use of force in relation to the antigovernment protests that began on February 4, 2014. Directs the President to impose asset blocking and U.S. exclusion sanctions against any person, including a current or former government of Venezuela official or a person acting on behalf of such government, who has: (1) perpetrated or is responsible for otherwise directing significant acts of violence or serious human rights abuses against persons associated with the antigovernment protests in Venezuela that began on February 4, 2014; (2) directed or ordered the arrest or prosecution of a person primarily because of the person's legitimate exercise of freedom of expression or assembly; or (3) materially assisted or provided significant financial, material, or technological support for the commission of such acts. 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 in the U.S. national security interests, and with congressional notification. Directs: (1) the Secretary of State to take specified actions to support civil society in Venezuela, and (2) the President to submit a strategy to Congress to carry out such activities.
This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.
Timeline
13 March 2014
Introduced
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
Source: IntroReferral
13 March 2014
Introduced
Introduced in Senate
Source: IntroReferral
20 May 2014
Reported
Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably.
Source: Committee
22 May 2014
Calendars
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 401.
Source: Calendars
22 May 2014
Reported
Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Menendez with amendments. With written report No. 113-175.
Source: Committee
22 May 2014
Reported
Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Menendez with amendments. With written report No. 113-175.
Source: Committee
8 December 2014
Floor
Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S6396-6398)
Source: Floor
8 December 2014
Passed
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.(text: CR S6396-6398)
Source: Floor
9 December 2014
Floor
Held at the desk.
Source: Floor
9 December 2014
Floor
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Source: Floor
9 December 2014
Floor
Received in the House.
Source: Floor
10 December 2014
Passed
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Source: Floor
10 December 2014
Passed
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H9020-9021)
Source: Floor
10 December 2014
Passed
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H9020-9021)
Source: Floor
10 December 2014
Floor
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 2142.
Source: Floor
10 December 2014
Floor
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H9020-9023)
Source: Floor
10 December 2014
Floor
Ms. Ros-Lehtinen moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
Source: Floor
12 December 2014
Floor
Presented to President.
Source: Floor
12 December 2014
President
Presented to President.
Source: President
18 December 2014
Became law
Became Public Law No: 113-278.
Source: President
18 December 2014
Became law
Signed by President.
Source: BecameLaw
18 December 2014
President
Signed by President.
Source: President
Votes
No vote records are attached yet.
Versions
- Enrolled Bill · — · Download file
- Public Law · 19 December 2014 · Download file
- Engrossed in Senate · 8 December 2014 · Download file
- Reported to Senate · 22 May 2014 · Download file
- Introduced in Senate · 13 March 2014 · Download file
Documents
15 official files
Enrolled Bill (text)
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Leesvertaling
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Enrolled Bill (text)
Enrolled Bill · EN
Enrolled Bill (PDF)
Enrolled Bill · EN
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Public Law (text)
Public Law · EN · 19 December 2014
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Public Law (PDF)
Public Law · EN · 19 December 2014
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Public Law
summary · EN · 18 December 2014
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Passed House without amendment
summary · EN · 10 December 2014
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Engrossed in Senate (text)
Engrossed in Senate · EN · 8 December 2014
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Engrossed in Senate (PDF)
Engrossed in Senate · EN · 8 December 2014
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Passed Senate amended
summary · EN · 8 December 2014
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Reported to Senate (text)
Reported to Senate · EN · 22 May 2014
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Reported to Senate (PDF)
Reported to Senate · EN · 22 May 2014
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Reported to Senate with amendment(s)
summary · EN · 22 May 2014
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Introduced in Senate (text)
Introduced in Senate · EN · 13 March 2014
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Introduced in Senate (PDF)
Introduced in Senate · EN · 13 March 2014
ViewDownloadOpen at official source
Leesvertaling
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Documentvertaling op verzoek met downloadbare PDF (logo + link naar de officiële bron). Het bronbestand blijft leidend.
Introduced in Senate
summary · EN · 13 March 2014
Leesvertaling
Vertaal dit document naar jouw taal. PoliticalRepo bewaart geen aparte kopie per EU-taal.
Documentvertaling op verzoek met downloadbare PDF (logo + link naar de officiële bron). Het bronbestand blijft leidend.
Sponsors
- Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ] · D · Sponsor
- Sen. Rubio, Marco [R-FL] · R · Sponsor
- Sen. Nelson, Bill [D-FL] · D · Sponsor
- Sen. Kirk, Mark Steven [R-IL] · R · Sponsor
- Sen. McCain, John [R-AZ] · R · Cosponsor
- · ssfr00 · Standing
Related records
- amends ← In the nature of a substitute.
Related across the Repo ecosystem
Direct relationships are identifier-backed. Topic context means shared TopicMembership — not a citation and not causation.
Direct relationships
- Legal framework · Venezuela Defense of Human Rights and Civil Society Act of 2014 · S. 2142 (113th) · US
- Identifier matchPROJECTS_FROM
Same us record 113-s-2142 projected from PoliticalRepo US row.
Venezuela Defense of Human Rights and Civil Society Act of 2014
Sources
PoliticalRepo is an index and interpretation layer, not the authoritative legal source.
- Official source: https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/senate-bill/2142
- Open data entity: https://api.congress.gov/v3/bill/113/s/2142
- us · 113-s-2142 · source updated 7 April 2025