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Public Law115th CongressInternational Affairs
H.R. 1918Became Law

Nicaragua Human Rights and Anticorruption Act of 2018

This bill became law

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What it doesSummary public law (Dec 20, 2018)

Nicaragua Human Rights and Anticorruption Act of 2018

This bill imposes restrictions and sanctions on institutions and individuals responsible for the Nicaraguan government's violence and infringement of the civil rights of protesters.

The Department of the Treasury shall take action to restrict international financial institutions, including those affiliated with the World Bank Group and the Inter-American Development Bank, from extending financial or technical assistance to Nicaragua's government and to develop policies for future lending that will advance human rights in the country.

The President shall impose sanctions on foreign persons responsible for acts of corruption, significant human rights violations, violence against protesters in Nicaragua, or provided material support to such actions. Sanctions include blocking the assets of sanctioned individuals and barring them from entry into the United States.

The Department of State shall report to Congress about various topics, including Nicaragua's efforts strengthening the rule of law and democratic governance, combatting corruption, and protecting human rights. The President may temporarily waive the sanctions if the State Department certifies that Nicaragua has taken effective steps on these issues. The President may also waive the sanctions if it is in the national interests of the United States to do so.

The bill also directs the State Department devise a strategy for engaging Nicaragua's civil society to strengthen human rights protections and anti-corruption efforts.

What just happenedDec 20, 2018

Became Public Law No: 115-335.

Who’s behind it

Rep. Ros-Lehtinen, Ileana [R-FL-27](R-FL)Sponsor
25 cosponsors10 D15 R
Read on Congress.gov
25cosponsors3committees32actions1amendments2related bills19subjects
  1. Dec 20, 2018President

    Became Public Law No: 115-335.

  2. Dec 20, 2018BecameLaw36000

    Became Public Law No: 115-335.

  3. Dec 20, 2018President

    Signed by President.

  4. Dec 20, 2018BecameLaw36000

    Signed by President.

  5. Dec 13, 2018Floor

    Presented to President.

  6. Dec 13, 2018President28000

    Presented to President.

  7. Dec 11, 2018ResolvingDifferencesH41931

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  8. Dec 11, 2018ResolvingDifferencesH41610

    On motion that the House agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to without objection. (text: CR H10077-10078)

  9. Dec 11, 2018NotUsed19500

    Resolving differences -- House actions: On motion that the House agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to without objection.(text: CR H10077-10078)

  10. Dec 11, 2018FloorH8D000

    Mr. Royce (CA) asked unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's Table and agree to the Senate amendment. (consideration: CR H10077-10078)

  11. Nov 28, 2018Floor

    Message on Senate action sent to the House.

  12. Nov 27, 2018Floor

    Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.

  13. Nov 27, 2018Floor17000

    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.

  14. Nov 27, 2018Floor

    Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S7143-7144)

  15. Nov 27, 2018Discharge

    Senate Committee on Foreign Relations discharged by Unanimous Consent.

    Foreign Relations Committee
  16. Nov 27, 2018Committee14500

    Senate Committee on Foreign Relations discharged by Unanimous Consent.

    Foreign Relations Committee
  17. Oct 4, 2017IntroReferral

    Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

    Foreign Relations Committee
  18. Oct 3, 2017FloorH38310

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  19. Oct 3, 2017FloorH37300

    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H7700-7702)

  20. Oct 3, 2017Floor8000

    Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H7700-7702)

  21. Oct 3, 2017FloorH8D000

    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1918.

  22. Oct 3, 2017FloorH30000

    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H7700-7704)

  23. Oct 3, 2017FloorH30300

    Mr. Royce (CA) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

  24. Jul 27, 2017Committee

    Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by Voice Vote.

    Foreign Affairs Committee
  25. Jul 27, 2017Committee

    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

    Foreign Affairs Committee
  26. May 24, 2017Committee

    Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.

    Foreign Affairs Committee
  27. May 24, 2017Committee

    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

    Foreign Affairs Committee
  28. May 18, 2017Committee

    Referred to the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere.

    Western Hemisphere Subcommittee
  29. Apr 5, 2017IntroReferralH11100

    Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Financial Services, 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.

    Financial Services Committee
  30. Apr 5, 2017IntroReferralH11100

    Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Financial Services, 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.

    Foreign Affairs Committee
  31. Apr 5, 2017IntroReferralIntro-H

    Introduced in House

  32. Apr 5, 2017IntroReferral1000

    Introduced in House

Public LawDec 20, 201849

Nicaragua Human Rights and Anticorruption Act of 2018

This bill imposes restrictions and sanctions on institutions and individuals responsible for the Nicaraguan government's violence and infringement of the civil rights of protesters.

The Department of the Treasury shall take action to restrict international financial institutions, including those affiliated with the World Bank Group and the Inter-American Development Bank, from extending financial or technical assistance to Nicaragua's government and to develop policies for future lending that will advance human rights in the country.

The President shall impose sanctions on foreign persons responsible for acts of corruption, significant human rights violations, violence against protesters in Nicaragua, or provided material support to such actions. Sanctions include blocking the assets of sanctioned individuals and barring them from entry into the United States.

The Department of State shall report to Congress about various topics, including Nicaragua's efforts strengthening the rule of law and democratic governance, combatting corruption, and protecting human rights. The President may temporarily waive the sanctions if the State Department certifies that Nicaragua has taken effective steps on these issues. The President may also waive the sanctions if it is in the national interests of the United States to do so.

The bill also directs the State Department devise a strategy for engaging Nicaragua's civil society to strengthen human rights protections and anti-corruption efforts.

Passed House amendedOct 3, 201736

Nicaraguan Investment Conditionality Act (NICA) of 2017

(Sec. 4) This bill directs the President to instruct the U.S. Executive Director at each international financial institution to use U.S. influence to oppose any loan for the government of Nicaragua's benefit, other than for basic human needs or to promote democracy, unless the Department of State certifies that Nicaragua is taking effective steps to:

  • hold free elections overseen by credible domestic and international electoral observers;
  • promote democracy and an independent judicial system and electoral council;
  • strengthen the rule of law;
  • respect the right to freedom of association and expression;
  • combat corruption, including investigating and prosecuting corrupt government officials; and
  • protect the right of political opposition parties, journalists, trade unionists, human rights defenders, and other civil society activists to operate without interference.

The Department of the Treasury shall submit to Congress a report assessing: (1) the effectiveness of the international financial institutions in enforcing applicable program safeguards in Nicaragua, and (2) the effects of specified constitutional and election concerns in Nicaragua on long-term prospects for positive development outcomes there. The President may waive such requirements in the U.S. national interest.

(Sec. 5) The bill requires: (1) the President to direct the U.S. Permanent Representative to the Organization of American States to use U.S. influence to advocate for an Electoral Observation Mission to be sent to Nicaragua in 2017, and (2) the State Department to report on the involvement of senior Nicaraguan government officials in acts of public corruption or human rights violations.

Introduced in HouseApr 5, 2017

Nicaraguan Investment Conditionality Act (NICA) of 2017

This bill directs the President to instruct the U.S. Executive Director at each international financial institution to use U.S. influence to oppose any loan for the government of Nicaragua's benefit, other than for basic human needs or to promote democracy, unless the Department of State certifies that Nicaragua is taking effective steps to:

  • hold free elections overseen by credible domestic and international electoral observers;
  • promote democracy and an independent judicial system and electoral council;
  • strengthen the rule of law;
  • respect the right to freedom of association and expression;
  • combat corruption, including investigating and prosecuting corrupt government officials; and
  • protect the right of political opposition parties, journalists, trade unionists, human rights defenders, and other civil society activists to operate without interference.

The Department of the Treasury shall submit to Congress a report assessing: (1) the effectiveness of the international financial institutions in enforcing applicable program safeguards in Nicaragua, and (2) the effects of specified constitutional and election concerns in Nicaragua on long-term prospects for positive development outcomes there. The President may waive such requirements in the U.S. national interest.

The bill requires: (1) the President to direct the U.S. Permanent Representative to the Organization of American States to use U.S. influence to advocate for an Electoral Observation Mission to be sent to Nicaragua in 2017, and (2) the State Department to report on the involvement of senior Nicaraguan government officials in acts of public corruption or human rights violations.