A resolution requesting information on Venezuela's human rights practices pursuant to section 502B(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961.
Requests a State Department report on alleged human rights abuses in Venezuela and the role of U.S. actions and assistance.
In the Senate Foreign Relations Committee since Sept. 30, 2026, 8 days after it was introduced. Most bills never leave committee.
- INTRODUCEDINTROSEP 30, 2026
- COMMITTEECOMM.IN COMMITTEE
- AGREED TOAGREED—
What the bill would do, and why it matters
Human-rights oversight can involve reviewing alleged abuses and the role of U.S. assistance. This resolution would ask the State Department to report on Venezuela’s human rights practices, U.S. actions and assistance, and specific concerns involving prisons, political prisoners, and elections.
- NON-BINDING A simple resolution carries no force of law. It expresses the chamber's opinion or sets internal rules — it does not bind agencies, the President, or anyone outside Congress.
- DATA NOTE No Congressional Research Service summary was available.
- Request a human rights statement
The Senate would request that the Secretary of State send a statement to the Senate Foreign Relations and House Foreign Affairs Committees within 30 days after the resolution is adopted. The statement would be prepared with the State Department’s Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor and Office of the Legal Adviser.
- Review alleged abuses and responsible officials
The statement would cover available information about alleged human rights abuses by Venezuela’s government since January 10, 2025, including abuses involving political prisoners, opposition figures, civil society groups, and independent journalists. It would also address allegations involving four current or former Venezuelan officials identified in the resolution.
- Assess U.S. actions and assistance
The statement would describe U.S. efforts to promote human rights and penalize or discourage repression, and assess whether U.S. security assistance may have supported repression or arbitrary detentions and whether it has helped promote democracy and protect human rights.
- Examine prisons, amnesty, and elections
The statement would assess conditions and alleged abuses in named Venezuelan prisons, the effects of the country’s amnesty law on political prisoners, and the consequences of the government’s failure to hold a presidential election within the period described in the resolution.
The resolution focuses on alleged abuses including arbitrary detention, mistreatment in prisons, and restrictions on political activity and expression. It also asks whether U.S. security assistance may have supported repression and whether that assistance has helped promote democracy and protect human rights.
Written from the bill text.
The path it took, step by step
- IntroducedSEP 30, 2026SENATESEP 30, 2026By Sen. Schiff with 1 original cosponsorReferred to Foreign Relations
- SAME DAYNOWCommitteeSEP 30, 2026FOREIGN RELATIONS NOWSEP 30, 2026In committee for 8 daysNo hearing yet
- 8 DAYS SO FARAgreed to in the Senate—SENATE FLOOR—Not scheduled
- SEP 302026SEP 30, 2026REFERREDReferred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
- SEP 302026SEP 30, 2026INTRODUCEDSENATESubmitted in Senate
Where your members stand on it
Support from one state
Plus the sponsor, a Democrat. Every cosponsor is from one party.
Plus the sponsor, a Democrat. Every cosponsor is from one party.
Sen. Schiff’s record: sponsored 100 bills this Congress. 3 passed the Senate; 0 became law.
- Tim KaineD-VAORIGINAL
What readers think
Discussion
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