Nicaragua Human Rights and Anticorruption Act of 2018
Latest action · Dec 20, 2018 Became Public Law No: 115-335.
Progress
Where this bill reached, and when. A stage with no date was not reached; one that failed a vote and later carried shows the date it carried.
- IntroducedApr 5, 2017
- Passed HouseOct 3, 2017
- Passed SenateNov 27, 2018
- To the PresidentDec 13, 2018
- Became lawDec 20, 2018Public Law 115-335
Summary
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.
Cosponsors 25
Members who signed on, in the order they did. Signatures ran from Apr 5, 2017 to Jul 27, 2017; 24 are original cosponsors, there from the day it was introduced.
| Seat | Cosponsor | Signed on | |
|---|---|---|---|
| D-NJ | Albio Sires | Original | Apr 5, 2017 |
| D-FL | Alcee L. Hastings | Original | Apr 5, 2017 |
| D-PA | Brendan F. Boyle | Original | Apr 5, 2017 |
| R-FL | Carlos Curbelo | Original | Apr 5, 2017 |
| R-NJ | Christopher H. Smith | Original | Apr 5, 2017 |
| R-NY | Daniel M. Donovan, Jr. | Original | Apr 5, 2017 |
| D-FL | Debbie Wasserman Schultz | Original | Apr 5, 2017 |
| D-NJ | Donald Norcross | Original | Apr 5, 2017 |
| R-FL | Francis Rooney | Original | Apr 5, 2017 |
| D-FL | Frederica S. Wilson | Original | Apr 5, 2017 |
| R-FL | Gus M. Bilirakis | Original | Apr 5, 2017 |
| D-TX | Henry Cuellar | Original | Apr 5, 2017 |
| R-SC | Jeff Duncan | Original | Apr 5, 2017 |
| R-FL | Mario Diaz-Balart | Original | Apr 5, 2017 |
| R-TX | Michael T. McCaul | Original | Apr 5, 2017 |
| R-TX | Randy K. Weber, Sr. | Original | Apr 5, 2017 |
| D-IL | Robin L. Kelly | Original | Apr 5, 2017 |
| R-FL | Ron DeSantis | Original | Apr 5, 2017 |
| R-OH | Steve Chabot | Original | Apr 5, 2017 |
| R-TX | Ted Poe | Original | Apr 5, 2017 |
| R-FL | Ted S. Yoho | Original | Apr 5, 2017 |
| D-FL | Theodore E. Deutch | Original | Apr 5, 2017 |
| R-FL | Thomas J. Rooney | Original | Apr 5, 2017 |
| D-CA | Tony Cárdenas | Original | Apr 5, 2017 |
| R-SC | Joe Wilson | Jul 27, 2017 |
Committees 3
Where it was sent and what each committee and subcommittee did with it, in order.
| Chamber | Committee | What it did |
|---|---|---|
| House | Foreign Affairs Committee | Referred Apr 5, 2017Markup Jul 27, 2017 |
| Western Hemisphere Subcommittee | Referred May 18, 2017 | |
| House | Financial Services Committee | Referred Apr 5, 2017 |
| Senate | Foreign Relations Committee | Referred Oct 4, 2017Discharged Nov 27, 2018 |
Actions 23
Everything that happened, newest first.
- Dec 20, 2018Signed by President.
- Dec 20, 2018Became Public Law No: 115-335.
- Dec 13, 2018Presented to President.
- Dec 11, 2018Mr. Royce (CA) asked unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's Table and agree to the Senate amendment. (consideration: CR H10077-10078)
- Dec 11, 2018Resolving differences -- House actions: On motion that the House agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to without objection. (text: CR H10077-10078)
In the Congressional Record 8
Days the Record’s own index lists this bill, newest first, with the pages and the members it names. Pages starting H are the House, S the Senate, E Extensions of Remarks.
| Where | In the Record | Members | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | Debate and remarks H10077, H10078Text printed H10077Amendments H10077 | Edward R. Royce R-CA | Dec 11, 2018 |
| Senate | Debate and remarks S7143Text printed S7143Amendments S7139, S7143 | Mitch McConnell R-KY, Robert Menendez D-NJ (amendment) | Nov 27, 2018 |
| House | Debate and remarks H4852 | Ileana Ros-Lehtinen R-FL | Jun 7, 2018 |
| House | Debate and remarks H4785 | Ileana Ros-Lehtinen R-FL | Jun 6, 2018 |
| House | Debate and remarks H4590 | Ileana Ros-Lehtinen R-FL | May 23, 2018 |
Research
What has been written about this bill: committee reports, cost estimates, the sponsor’s authority statement, printed hearings and the Congressional Research Service’s work.
Congressional Budget Office cost estimate
- Aug 17, 2017H.R. 1918, Nicaraguan Investment Conditionality Act (NICA) of 2017As ordered reported by the House Committee on Foreign Affairs on July 27, 2017
Constitutional authority
The sponsor’s statement, as printed in the Congressional Record, vol. 163, no. 59, April 5, 2017, page H2754.
Printed hearings 2
Hearings whose printed record names this bill, newest first: hearings on it, and wider hearings where it came up.
| Number | Hearing | Committee | Held |
|---|---|---|---|
| Serial No. 115-56 | VARIOUS MEASURES155 pages | Foreign Affairs Committee | Jul 27, 2017 |
| Serial No. 115-25 | EXPRESSING SUPPORT TO THE GOVERNMENT OF ARGENTINA FOR ITS INVESTIGATION INTO THE TERRORIST BOMBING OF THE EMBASSY OF ISRAEL IN BUENOS AIRES ON MARCH 17, 1992; EXPRESSING CONCERN AND CONDEMNATION OVER THE POLITICAL, ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, AND HUMANITARIAN CRISIS IN VENEZUELA; REAFFIRMING A STRONG COMMITMENT TO THE UNITED STATES-MEXICO PARTNERSHIP; AND NICARAGUA INVESTMENT CONDITIONALITY ACT OF 201764 pages | Foreign Affairs Committee | Mar 17, 1992–May 24, 2017 |
CRS reports 11
Congressional Research Service work that CRS links to this bill or the law it became, newest first.
Cite it 11
Products on other subjects that cite it, usually among other measures.
| Product | Title | Kind | Published |
|---|---|---|---|
| R45618 | The International Emergency Economic Powers Act: Origins, Evolution, and Use | Report | Sep 1, 2025 |
| R48294 | Nicaragua: In Brief | Report | Dec 4, 2024 |
| IF12247 | Nicaragua | Resource | Apr 26, 2024 |
| R46860 | Nicaragua in Brief: Political Developments and U.S. Policy Archived | Report | Jun 3, 2022 |
| R46258 | Latin America and the Caribbean: U.S. Policy and Issues in the 116th Congress Archived | Report | Jan 8, 2021 |
Amendments 1
Amendments offered to this bill.
| Amendment | Description | Offered by | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| SA 4066 | In the nature of a substitute. | Robert Menendez D-NJ | Amendment SA 4066 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent. |
Related bills 2
Companion bills and other measures the record links to this one.
| Bill | Title | Relationship | Latest action |
|---|---|---|---|
| S 972 | Nicaraguan Investment Conditionality Act (NICA) of 2017 | Related bill | Apr 27, 2017 |
| S 2265 | Nicaraguan Investment Conditionality Act (NICA) of 2017 | Related bill | Dec 21, 2017 |
Titles 7
Every title it has carried, official and short, at each stage.
- Official Title
- An act to oppose loans at international financial institutions for the Government of Nicaragua unless the Government of Nicaragua is taking effective steps to hold free, fair, and transparent elections, and for other purposes
- Short Title
- Nicaragua Human Rights and Anticorruption Act of 2018
- Official Title as Introduced
- To oppose loans at international financial institutions for the Government of Nicaragua unless the Government of Nicaragua is taking effective steps to hold free, fair, and transparent elections, and for other purposes.
- Short Titles as Introduced
- Nicaraguan Investment Conditionality Act (NICA) of 2017
- Short Titles as Passed House
- Nicaraguan Investment Conditionality Act (NICA) of 2017
- Short Titles as Passed Senate
- Nicaragua Human Rights and Anticorruption Act of 2018
- Short Titles as Enacted
- Nicaragua Human Rights and Anticorruption Act of 2018
Subjects
Assigned by the Library of Congress. Policy area: International Affairs.
- Congressional oversight
- Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
- Elections, voting, political campaign regulation
- Foreign aid and international relief
- Foreign loans and debt
- Foreign property
- Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
- Human rights
- International Affairs
- International organizations and cooperation
- Judicial procedure and administration
- Latin America
- Multilateral development programs
- News media and reporting
- Nicaragua
- Protest and dissent
- Rule of law and government transparency
- Sanctions
- Sovereignty, recognition, national governance and status
- Visas and passports
Text 5
Each version as it was printed, newest first.
- —Enrolled Bill
- Nov 27, 2018Engrossed Amendment Senate
- Oct 4, 2017Referred in Senate
- Oct 3, 2017Engrossed in House
- Apr 5, 2017Introduced in House
Everything here is as published by Congress: the summary is the Congressional Research Service's, the action wording is the clerks', and the subjects are the Library of Congress's. How far it got is read from the actions themselves, taking the most recent one of each kind, so a bill that failed a vote and later passed is shown as having passed. Records come from this bill on Congress.gov and govinfo.gov; cost estimates are the Congressional Budget Office's, and the hearings are the printed hearings GovInfo publishes, which can appear months after the hearing.
