A bipartisan group of U.S. Congressmen and Congresswomen have come together to introduce Reinforcing Nicaragua’s Adherence to Conditions for Electoral Reform Act of 2021, or the RENACER Act, to denounce the brutal Socialist regime in Nicaragua that has been lead by strongman Daniel Ortega since 2007.
The measure was introduced by Reps. Albio Sires (D) and Maria Elvira Salazar (R) in an effort to implement more sanctions against the regime and “requires classified reports on corruption in the Ortega family and Russian involvement in Nicaragua and unclassified reports on human rights abuses and the Ortega regime’s persecution of independent media in Nicaragua.”
“The brutal Ortega regime is harassing, persecuting, and repressing the Nicaraguan people to prevent a free and fair presidential election this November,” stated Rep. Salazar. “I am so proud to join my colleague, Chairman Albio Sires, in introducing the RENACER Act to increase pressure on the Ortega regime and hold them accountable for their heinous actions. We must always stand with brave men and women fighting for freedom, democracy, and Human Rights in Nicaragua!”
Ortega is an old chip off of the old Communist Cuba block and has continued to oppress the people of Nicaragua since first taking office in 1985. This is Ortega’s second stink as president and has held the reigns of Nicaragua since 2007.
Nicaragua’s national elections are later this year and American legislators banded together to try to affect change at the ballot box in that country in hopes to end the ongoing human rights atrocities being carried out by the Ortega regime.
Rep. Salazar’s bill was embraced by fellow Florida Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D), Stephanie Murphy (D), Ted Deutch (D), Darren Soto (D), and Mario Diaz-Balart (R), who all cosponsored the RENACER Act, whose all stood in solidarity with the people of Nicaragua.
“In the three years since massive protests against the brutal Ortega regime began, the people of Nicaragua have been continually met with unspeakable acts of state-sanctioned violence. As the November election approaches, it is clear Ortega and his allies will not allow a fair race. We stand with Nicaraguans and the international community in calling for free and fair, multi-party, internationally observed elections in Nicaragua and a return to true democracy.”- Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz
“What happens in Nicaragua matters to the United States, especially to the 160,000 Floridians who were born in Nicaragua or are of Nicaraguan heritage. I’m proud to co-lead this bipartisan bill because it is critical for the United States, acting in close coordination with our partners in Latin America and other regions, to craft and execute a strategy to promote free and fair elections in Nicaragua and to hold accountable those Nicaraguan officials who seek to frustrate the democratic aspirations of the Nicaraguan people.”- Rep. Stephanie Murphy
“I commend my dear friend Rep. Albio Sires, a hero in opposing tyranny throughout our hemisphere, for introducing this important legislation. This bipartisan bill builds on the solidarity that the United States has extended to Nicaraguan people through the NICA Act by authorizing additional tough sanctions against the Ortega regime. We continue to stand with the Nicaraguan people in their struggle for freedom, human rights, and genuine democracy.”-Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart
“No government will suppress the voices of their citizens without repercussions from the United States. The people of Nicaragua deserve to vote without fear of persecution, and we will do everything in our power to ensure that they are able to freely express themselves.”- Rep. Darren Soto
“The democratic situation in Nicaragua is deteriorating, with the Ortega regime increasingly using repressive tactics and violating human rights and basic liberties. This legislation sends an important bipartisan and bicameral message that our policy seeks to empower the Nicaraguan people, support their right to a free and fair election, and address Ortega's corruption and oppression.”- Rep. Ted Deutch
Senator Marco Rubio (R) was the first along with Senators Bob Menendez, Tim Kaine, Dick Durbin, Chris Murphy, and Ben Cardin, to introduce this RENACER Act in the Senate
The Department of State under President Donald recently released a report on Ortega’s Nicaragua, finding that the dictator continues to torture and kill individuals who oppose his government.
U.S. State Department:
Significant human rights issues included: unlawful or arbitrary killings, including extrajudicial killings, committed by the government or its agents; forced disappearances by parapolice forces; torture and cases of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment by prison guards and parapolice; harsh and life-threatening prison conditions; arbitrary detentions by police and parapolice; political prisoners and detainees; politically motivated reprisal against individuals located outside the country; a serious lack of independence of the judiciary; and arbitrary and unlawful interference with privacy. There were serious restrictions on free expression and the press, including threats of violence, censorship, and criminal libel; and substantial interference with the rights of peaceful assembly and freedom of association, as well as severe restrictions on religious freedom, including attacks on the Roman Catholic Church and church officials…”
