Kaine Applauds Committee Passage of His Bipartisan Legislation to Address Human Rights in Nicaragua and Support Democracy in Latin America

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC) and Chair of the SFRC Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, Transnational Crime, Civilian Security, Democracy, Human Rights, and Global Women’s Issues, applauded committee passage of his bipartisan bill to address the horrific human rights crisis in Nicaragua and his bipartisan resolution in support of the Alliance for Development in Democracy (ADD). The ADD is an important initiative among Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, and Panama to promote democracy and economic growth.

“What happens in Latin American affects us right here at home, whether it’s migration at our southern border or narcotrafficking at our ports. I’ve long argued that we need to work more closely with our neighbors in the Western Hemisphere and strengthen our partnerships to ensure the region’s prosperity and security. That’s why I’m glad the Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted to pass my bipartisan legislation to address human rights in Nicaragua and to reaffirm the importance of the Alliance for Development in Democracy. Supporting human rights, democratic governance, and rule of law in the hemisphere, which this legislation does, will help us work together to address crime, corruption, and the resulting surge in migration. I urge the full Senate to pass this legislation as soon as possible.”

Kaine’s bipartisan Restoring Sovereignty and Human Rights in Nicaragua Act of 2023 with Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) would extend the U.S. government’s authority to impose sanctions on the Nicaraguan regime through December 31, 2028. It would also expand sanctions to include Nicaraguan officials responsible for violations of the human rights of religious believers, direct the U.S. State Department to enforce sectoral sanctions, and direct the State Department to work with allies and partners to stop providing investment to Nicaragua through the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI).

Kaine’s bipartisan resolution with Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) reiterates U.S. support for the Alliance for Development in Democracy (ADD). The resolution calls on the U.S. to prioritize engagement and strengthen ties with ADD countries. As a block, ADD countries represent one of America’s largest trading partners in the region. In 2022, Kaine spent a week meeting with leaders throughout Costa Rica, Panama, and the Dominican Republic to express his support and appreciation for the countries’ formation of the ADD in 2021.

Several other pieces of legislation cosponsored by Kaine were also voted out of committee, including the bipartisan Mahsa Amini Human Rights and Security Accountability Act to impose targeted sanctions on Iran’s Supreme Leader and other high-level Iranian officials for human rights abuses, a bipartisan resolution condemning Hamas’ use of sexual violence and rape as a weapon of war, and a bipartisan resolution calling for the immediate release of Wall Street Journal reporter and U.S. citizen Evan Gershkovich, who was detained by the Russian government.

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