Seelke, CR; Nelson, RM; Brown, P; Margesson, R
Venezuela remains in a deep crisis under the authoritarian rule of Nicolas Maduro of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela. Maduro, narrowly elected in 2013 after the death of Hugo Chavez (president, 1999-2013), began a second term on January 10, 2019, that is widely considered illegitimate. Since January 2019, Juan Guaido, president of Venezuela's democratically elected, opposition-controlled National Assembly, has sought to form a transition government to serve until internationally observed elections can be held. The United States and 57 other countries recognize Guaido as interim president, but he has been unable to harness that diplomatic support to wrest Maduro from power. Venezuela's economy has collapsed. The country is plagued by hyperinflation, severe shortages of food and medicine, and a dire humanitarian crisis that has further deteriorated in 2020 as a result of gasoline shortages, an outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), and strengthened U.S. sanctions. Maduro has blamed U.S. sanctions for the economic crisis, but many observers cite economic mismanagement and corruption as the main factors. U.N. agencies estimate that 5.1 million Venezuelans have fled the country as of August 2020, primarily to neighboring countries. U.S. Policy Since recognizing the Guaido government in January 2019, the United States has coordinated its efforts with Interim President Guaido. U.S. strategy has emphasized diplomatic efforts to bolster support for Guaido; targeted sanctions and visa revocations to increase pressure on Maduro officials; broader sanctions on the state oil company, other state-controlled companies and institutions, and the government; and humanitarian aid ($534 million to countries sheltering Venezuelans and $76 million for Venezuela from FY2017 through May 2020). In October 2019, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) signed an agreement with the Guaido government enabling the provision of development assistance and increased democracy assistance. In 2020, the Administration has sanctioned companies that have transported Venezuelan oil and seized Venezuela-bound ships carrying Iranian petroleum products in violation of sanctions. U.S. officials have vowed to keep "maximum pressure" on Maduro and his foreign backers until he agrees to allow a transition government to convene free and fair legislative and presidential elections. Congressional Action Congress has supported the Administration's efforts to support a restoration of democracy in Venezuela without U.S. military intervention in the country and to provide humanitarian support to Venezuelans, although some Members have expressed concerns about the humanitarian impact of sanctions. In December 2019, Congress enacted P.L. 116-94, which appropriates $30 million in FY2020 assistance for democracy programs in Venezuela and incorporates the Senate-reported version of the VERDAD Act (S. 1025), a comprehensive bill to address the crisis in Venezuela. The VERDAD Act incorporated House-passed measures authorizing FY2020 humanitarian aid to Venezuela (H.R. 854), restricting the export of defense articles to Venezuela (H.R. 920), and requiring a U.S. strategy to counter Russian influence in Venezuela (H.R. 1477). In December 2019, Congress also enacted P.L. 116-92, which prohibits federal contracting with persons who do business with the Maduro government. In July 2019, the House passed H.R. 549, designating Venezuela as a beneficiary country for temporary protected status; however, a Senate effort to pass H.R. 549 by unanimous consent failed. For FY2021, the Administration requested $200 million in democracy aid aimed to support a democratic transition in Venezuela and $5 million in global health assistance; the House-passed version of the measure (H.R. 7608, H. Rept. 116-444) would provide $30 in democracy aid for Venezuela and support the provision of additional aid if a democratic transition occurs. The House-passed version of the FY2021 National Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 6395, H. Rept. 116-442) would require a report on he crises in Venezuela and its impacts on U.S. and regional security. © 2021 Nova Science Publishers, Inc.