§9754 Restriction on Export of Covered Articles and Services to Certain Security Forces of Venezuela

Summary

Stops exports from the United States of certain weapons and crime-control items to any part of the Venezuelan security forces that answer to the Maduro regime. The Secretary of State, working with the Secretary of Commerce and others, must check within 180 days after December 20, 2019 whether any of those items were sent since July 2017 without the proper license and must send the finding in writing to the four congressional committees named below. Also within 180 days the Secretary must send a report to those committees listing major transfers by foreign persons since July 2017, naming foreign parties that keep defense ties with those Venezuelan forces, and describing any known uses of the items by those forces or allied groups in attacks, intimidation, or killings of political activists, protesters, dissidents, and other civil society leaders, including Juan Guaidó. The rule ends on the earlier of the date that is 3 years after December 20, 2019 or the date the President certifies that Venezuela has returned to a democratic government that meets Article 3 of the Inter-American Democratic Charter (adopted by the Organization of American States in Lima on September 11, 2001). Key defined terms (one line each): appropriate congressional committees — the Senate Foreign Relations Committee; the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee; the House Foreign Affairs Committee; and the House Financial Services Committee. covered article or service — defense articles or services and certain crime-control items on the Commerce Control List (the export ban includes crime-control items when they are likely to be used to violate Venezuelans’ human rights). foreign person — anyone who is not a United States person. person — an individual or an organization. security forces of Venezuela — the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (including the Bolivarian National Guard), the Bolivarian National Intelligence Service, the Bolivarian National Police, and the Bureau for Scientific, Criminal and Forensic Investigations of the Ministry of Interior, Justice, and Peace. United States person — a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, or an entity organized under U.S. law (including a foreign branch).