Today, Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar (R-FL) joined Congressman Albio Sires (D-NJ), Chairman of the House Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, in introducing the Reinforcing Nicaragua’s Adherence to Conditions for Electoral Reform Act of 2021, or the RENACER Act, to hold the brutal Ortega regime accountable for their Human Rights abuses and promote democratic elections in November.
“The brutal Ortega regime is harassing, persecuting, and repressing the Nicaraguan people to prevent a free and fair presidential election this November,” said Congresswoman Salazar. “I am so proud to join my colleague, Chairman Albio Sires, in introducing the RENACER Act to increase pressure on the Ortega regime and hold them accountable for their heinous actions. We must always stand with brave men and women fighting for freedom, democracy, and Human Rights in Nicaragua!”
"The United States Government must use every foreign policy tool available to ensure free, fair, and competitive elections in Nicaragua. We should implement a results-oriented diplomatic strategy, in coordination with our allies, that aligns sanctions with specific outcomes in order to counter the Ortega regime’s efforts to use repression, persecution, and fear to prevent the Nicaraguan people from expressing their will at the ballot box. I am proud to join colleagues on both sides of the aisle in introducing this legislation, which builds on the NICA Act that I wrote with my good friend Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and which was passed into law in 2018. As with the NICA Act, this bill conveys to the Nicaraguan people that we will never stop fighting for them until their voices are heard.” said Congressman Sires.
Reps. Mark E. Green, M.D. (R-TN), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee, along with 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) joined as original cosponsors. 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)
The RENACER Act builds on the text of H.R. 1918, the Nicaragua Human Rights and Anticorruption Act of 2018 by requiring targeted sanctions to advance elections scheduled for November 2021; coordinating sanctions with Canada and the European Union; reinforcing humanitarian and human rights exceptions in loans from international financial institutions; and expanding oversight mechanisms for lending from international financial institutions.
Prior to serving Congress, Salazar spent 35 years as a Spanish-language journalist, including, serving as the Central America Bureau Chief for Univision Network during the Central American civil wars.
Congresswoman Salazar currently represents Florida's beautiful 27th Congressional district which includes most of the City of Miami, its suburbs, and the beaches. She serves on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Original source can be found here.
