Today, Representative María Elvira Salazar's (R-FL) and Representative Albio Sires' (D-NJ) RENACER (Reinforcing Nicaragua’s Adherence to Conditions for Electoral Reform) Act passed the U.S. House of Representatives. The piece of legislation increases the United States' response to the murderous Ortega regime ahead of the sham November 7th presidential elections. The final version of the bill also included essential policies proposed in Rep. Salazar's Nicaragua Free Trade Review Act.
“For months, the Nicaraguan people have pleaded for us to help stop Daniel Ortega’s reign of terror. The passage of the RENACER Act will hit Ortega where it hurts just days before he solidifies his dictatorship through his sham presidential elections,” said Rep. Salazar. “It’s past time we review Ortega’s ability to profit from free trade with the United States. Thank you to my colleagues for taking bold action against this evil regime and for standing with the Nicaraguan people during their fight for democracy. The United States is making its message clear – access to American markets is a privilege, and we should not do business with dictators.”
The provisions from Rep. Salazar's Nicaragua Free Trade Review Act trigger a review of Nicaragua's participation in the Dominican Republican-Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR), which currently gives Nicaragua open access to U.S. markets.
The RENACER Act also specifically increases sanctions directly on the Ortega regime, his henchmen, and his security forces responsible for killing and kidnapping dissidents. Additionally, it exposes Russian meddling in Nicaragua, requiring reports on Russian government activities and military sales to the regime, and adds Nicaragua to the list of Central American countries subject to corruption-related visa restrictions.
The legislation was originally introduced in the Senate by Senators Menendez (D-NJ), Rubio (R-FL), Kaine (D-VA), Durbin (D-IL), Cardin (D-MD), and Murphy (D-CT). On the House side, original cosponsors of the bill include Representatives Mark E. Green, M.D. (R-TN), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Stephanie Murphy (D-FL), Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL), Darren Soto (D-FL), Juan Vargas (D-CA), and Ted Deutch (D-FL).
Prior to the final passage of the bill, Congresswoman Salazar delivered remarks on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives urging her colleagues to support this critical legislation. You can watch video of her full remarks here and find a transcript of her remarks as delivered below.
Original source can be found here.
