Headed To Obama: Bill To Extend Sanctions Against Venezuela
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- A bill that would extend sanctions against those violating human rights in Venezuela is heading to the president.
On Wednesday, the U.S. House of Representatives approved a three-year extension of the Venezuela Defense of Humans Rights and Civil Society Act of 2014.
The legislation - sponsored by U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Bob Menendez (D-NJ) - was passed by the Senate back in April.
It authorizes sanctions against government officials and others violating human rights, suppressing political opposition and committing violence against peaceful protesters.
It's something Rubio says the current Venezuelan regime - under President Nicolas Maduro - is guilty of doing.
"As the despicable Maduro regime continues to violate the rights of its own people, it is our duty as a country to continue to do everything we can to address the catastrophe that has become Venezuela. By extending these sanctions, we are reinforcing our commitment to those innocent people in our hemisphere who are subject to the abuses of the Maduro regime," said Rubio.
President Barack Obama signed the Venezuela Defense of Human Rights and Civil Society Act into law back in 2014. The law is meant to support the people of Venezuela in their path to live under a peaceful and democratic society as defined by the Inter-American Democratic Charter of the Organization of American States.
The extension would last until December 31, 2019.