Title 22 — Foreign Relations and IntercourseRelease 119-73

§9731 Support for international election observation and democratic civil society

Title 22 › Chapter CHAPTER 104— - VENEZUELA ASSISTANCE › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER IV— - RESTORING DEMOCRACY AND ADDRESSING THE POLITICAL CRISIS IN VENEZUELA › § 9731

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Require the Secretary of State, working with USAID, to team up with the Organization of American States so future elections in Venezuela have credible international observers and are run openly, honestly, and fairly. The Secretary must also work with nonprofits to strengthen democratic institutions (including the National Assembly), protect human rights and help document abuses, support independent media to reach people beyond government limits, and fight corruption in institutions tied to the Maduro regime. The U.S. Representative to the OAS should push for sending an observation mission. No later than 180 days after December 20, 2019, the Secretary, with USAID, must brief the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senate Appropriations Committee, House Foreign Affairs Committee, and House Appropriations Committee on the plan. Congress authorized $17,500,000 for fiscal year 2020 to do this work. Those funds must follow the notification rules that apply to the Economic Support Fund (section 2346(c)) and the Development Assistance Fund (section 2413(a)).

Full Legal Text

Title 22, §9731

Foreign Relations and Intercourse — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Secretary of State, in coordination with the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development—

(1)shall work with the Organization of American States to ensure credible international observation of future elections in Venezuela that contributes to free, fair, and transparent democratic electoral processes; and

(2)shall work with nongovernmental organizations—

(A)to strengthen democratic governance and institutions, including the democratically elected National Assembly of Venezuela;

(B)to defend internationally recognized human rights for the people of Venezuela, including support for efforts to document crimes against humanity and violations of human rights;

(C)to support the efforts of independent media outlets to broadcast, distribute, and share information beyond the limited channels made available by the Maduro regime; and

(D)to combat corruption and improve the transparency and accountability of institutions that are part of the Maduro regime.

(b)The Secretary of State, acting through the United States Permanent Representative to the Organization of American States, should advocate and build diplomatic support for sending an election observation mission to Venezuela to ensure that democratic electoral processes are organized and carried out in a free, fair, and transparent manner.

(c)Not later than 180 days after December 20, 2019, the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, shall provide a briefing on the strategy to carry out the activities described in subsection (a) to—

(1)the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate;

(2)the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate;

(3)the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives; and

(4)the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives.

(d)(1)There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of State for fiscal year 2020, $17,500,000 to carry out the activities set forth in subsection (a).

(2)Amounts appropriated pursuant to paragraph (1) are subject to the notification requirements applicable to expenditures from the Economic Support Fund under section 2346(c) of this title and from the Development Assistance Fund under section 2413(a) of this title, to the extent that such funds are expended.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

22 U.S.C. § 9731

Title 22 — Foreign Relations and Intercourse

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73