The US House of Representatives has approved the imposition of new sanctions on Venezuela over its handling of the ongoing anti-government protests.
The bill, passed by voice vote on Wednesday, instructs the Obama administration to prepare a list of alleged human rights abusers in the government of President Nicolas Maduro, freeze any assets they hold in American banks and ban US visits.
“The Venezuelan people have sent us a distress signal for help,” said the bill’s author, House Republican Ileana Ros-Lehtinen.
“Today, we answer that call by condemning the actions taken by the Maduro regime and showing our support to the people of Venezuela who are seeking liberty, freedom, human rights and justice,” she added.
A similar measure was approved by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and awaits a full chamber vote. Should it pass, the two versions would need to be reconciled by the administration.
The development has come despite objections from the White House, which says this is not the appropriate time to impose sanctions on Venezuela.
The opposition criticizes the government for the high crime rate and economic hardships in the country, claiming that the policies of the government have led to a shortage of essential goods and a high inflation rate.
The government of Maduro has said the violent protests are part of a US plot to bring about regime change in the oil-rich Latin American nation.
The Venezuelan leader ordered the expulsion of three US consular officials in February, accusing them of meeting with student protest leaders under the guise of offering them visas to destabilize the country.
In response, Washington declared three Venezuelan consular officials personae non gratae and asked them to leave the US.
