CONGRESS FOR VOTERS

Timothy Kaine (D-VA)

S.Amdt. 6297

S.Amdt. 6297 · Senate amendment

A Democratic amendment with no cosponsors

Changes S. 4784 — National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027

Offered

Offered, and not voted on yet. Most amendments never get a vote: the Senate takes up the bill and moves on without them.

Its path through Congress

  1. Introduced
  2. Pending Consideration

What this amendment would do

SA 6297, submitted by Mr. Kaine, aims to add a new subtitle called the Venezuela Democratic Transition Act to bill S. 4784. The purpose of this amendment is to establish a U.S. strategy to support a democratic transition in Venezuela and to penalize those responsible for human rights violations.

Key Objectives

  • Democratic Support: The amendment expresses the sense of Congress that the U.S. should recognize Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia as the legitimate President-elect, support the democratic opposition, and help facilitate free and fair elections in 2026.

  • Strategic Requirements: It requires the Secretary of State to create a strategy to:

    • End the Maduro-Rodriguez regime's usurpation of power.
    • Restore the rule of law and democracy.
    • Free political prisoners and prisoners of conscience.
    • Ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid.
    • Coordinate international sanctions and close torture centers.

  • Accountability and Sanctions: The amendment mandates that the President impose sanctions on Venezuelan persons complicit in gross violations of internationally recognized human rights. These sanctions include:

    • Blocking property and interests in property within the U.S. or controlled by U.S. persons.
    • Making such individuals ineligible for visas, admission, or parole into the United States.

  • Restrictions and Oversight: It states that energy agreements with Venezuela should only be made after consulting with the democratic opposition movement and requires monthly reporting to specific congressional committees regarding the transition to democracy.