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DEMOCRACIA Act

USA117th CongressHR-5557| House 
| Updated: 11/1/2022
Byron Donalds

Byron Donalds

Republican Representative

Florida

Cosponsors (8)
Alexander X. Mooney (Republican)Carlos A. Gimenez (Republican)Maria Elvira Salazar (Republican)Mario Diaz-Balart (Republican)Anthony Gonzalez (Republican)Jenniffer González-Colón (Republican)Brian Babin (Republican)Nicole Malliotakis (Republican)

Foreign Affairs Committee, Rules Committee, Judiciary Committee, Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Denying Earnings to the Military Oligarchy in Cuba and Restricting Activities of the Cuban Intelligence Apparatus Act or the DEMOCRACIA Act This bill provides for asset- and visa-blocking sanctions for conduct relating to Cuba. It also establishes an interagency task force to facilitate access to uncensored internet in Cuba. The President must sanction foreign persons that provide financial support to Cuban government sectors involved in human rights abuses or terrorism (e.g., the defense sector). This includes foreign persons that (1) are military contractors or mercenaries operating on behalf of the Cuban government, or (2) violate laws restricting trade with Cuba. Specified transactions, including remittances to immediate family members (subject to some limitations) and payments related to U.S. military and diplomatic sites, are not subject to these sanctions. The President must also sanction (1) foreign persons complicit or engaged in human rights abuses or corruption, (2) foreign persons supporting such conduct, and (3) specified Cuban government officials and their affiliates. The bill provides humanitarian exceptions to these sanctions, for example, donating food or agricultural commodities to organizations or individuals unaffiliated with the Cuban government. The President may not license sanctionable conduct, and U.S. persons seeking to engage in a permitted transaction must submit a written request to the Office of Foreign Asset Control of the Department of the Treasury. The President may waive the sanctions in the interest of U.S. national security. To terminate the sanctions, the President must certify that the Cuban government has legalized all political activities and taken other steps to promote political rights and freedoms. Congress must then enact a joint resolution approving the termination.
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Timeline
Oct 12, 2021
Introduced in House
Oct 12, 2021
Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Oct 18, 2021

Latest Companion Bill Action

S 117-2990
Introduced in Senate
Nov 1, 2022
Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.
  • October 12, 2021
    Introduced in House


  • October 12, 2021
    Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.


  • October 18, 2021

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    S 117-2990
    Introduced in Senate


  • November 1, 2022
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.

International Affairs

Related Bills

  • S 117-2990: DEMOCRACIA Act

DEMOCRACIA Act

USA117th CongressHR-5557| House 
| Updated: 11/1/2022
Denying Earnings to the Military Oligarchy in Cuba and Restricting Activities of the Cuban Intelligence Apparatus Act or the DEMOCRACIA Act This bill provides for asset- and visa-blocking sanctions for conduct relating to Cuba. It also establishes an interagency task force to facilitate access to uncensored internet in Cuba. The President must sanction foreign persons that provide financial support to Cuban government sectors involved in human rights abuses or terrorism (e.g., the defense sector). This includes foreign persons that (1) are military contractors or mercenaries operating on behalf of the Cuban government, or (2) violate laws restricting trade with Cuba. Specified transactions, including remittances to immediate family members (subject to some limitations) and payments related to U.S. military and diplomatic sites, are not subject to these sanctions. The President must also sanction (1) foreign persons complicit or engaged in human rights abuses or corruption, (2) foreign persons supporting such conduct, and (3) specified Cuban government officials and their affiliates. The bill provides humanitarian exceptions to these sanctions, for example, donating food or agricultural commodities to organizations or individuals unaffiliated with the Cuban government. The President may not license sanctionable conduct, and U.S. persons seeking to engage in a permitted transaction must submit a written request to the Office of Foreign Asset Control of the Department of the Treasury. The President may waive the sanctions in the interest of U.S. national security. To terminate the sanctions, the President must certify that the Cuban government has legalized all political activities and taken other steps to promote political rights and freedoms. Congress must then enact a joint resolution approving the termination.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

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Timeline
Oct 12, 2021
Introduced in House
Oct 12, 2021
Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Oct 18, 2021

Latest Companion Bill Action

S 117-2990
Introduced in Senate
Nov 1, 2022
Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.
  • October 12, 2021
    Introduced in House


  • October 12, 2021
    Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.


  • October 18, 2021

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    S 117-2990
    Introduced in Senate


  • November 1, 2022
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.
Byron Donalds

Byron Donalds

Republican Representative

Florida

Cosponsors (8)
Alexander X. Mooney (Republican)Carlos A. Gimenez (Republican)Maria Elvira Salazar (Republican)Mario Diaz-Balart (Republican)Anthony Gonzalez (Republican)Jenniffer González-Colón (Republican)Brian Babin (Republican)Nicole Malliotakis (Republican)

Foreign Affairs Committee, Rules Committee, Judiciary Committee, Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee

International Affairs

Related Bills

  • S 117-2990: DEMOCRACIA Act
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted