U.S. Rep. María Elvira Salazar (R-FL) on Jan. 11 proposed legislation that would impose economic sanctions against the Ortega-Murillo regime in response to the dictatorship’s human rights violations, imprisonment of political prisoners, and its crackdown on the Catholic Church in Nicaragua.
“The satanic regime of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo has targeted the last organization that stands against them in Nicaragua — the Catholic Church,” Rep. Salazar said. “The Sandinistas have thrown priests in jail, shut down the Jesuit Central American University, and have even banned praying for Bishop [Rolando] Álvarez.
“I am proud to co-lead a bill that would protect human rights in the country and re-impose sanctions on the satanic Ortega-Murillo regime,” said the congresswoman, who cosponsored the Restoring Sovereignty and Human Rights in Nicaragua Act of 2024, H.R. 6954, with bill sponsor U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ).
Specifically, H.R. 6954 would reauthorize the sanctions imposed in the Nicaragua Investment Conditionality Act of 2018 and Rep. Salazar’s Reinforcing Nicaragua’s Adherence to Conditions for Electoral Reform Act of 2021, according to the text of the bill.
Among several provisions, H.R. 6954 also would enhance sanctions on sectors of the Nicaraguan economy that generate revenue for the Ortega family and prohibit new United States investment in Nicaragua, according to a bill summary provided by Rep. Salazar’s staff.
Additionally, the measure would call for a review of Nicaragua’s participation in the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement, known as CAFTA-DR, and require the Biden administration to implement a coordinated diplomatic strategy to restrict investments and loans that benefit the government of Nicaragua, the summary says.
“Our sanctions bill will impose robust and targeted economic penalties to combat the Ortega-Murillo regime’s continued and escalating persecution of the Catholic Church and religious freedom, as well as its oppression of political prisoners,” said Rep. Smith.