{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-markey-welcomes-sanctions-on-democratic-republic-of-congo-officials-reiterates-urgency-of-peaceful-democratic-transition-of-power", "Senator Markey Welcomes Sanctions on Democratic Republic of Congo Officials, Reiterates Urgency of Peaceful Democratic Transition of Power", "2016-12-12", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "MA", "Edward Markey", "M000133", "www.markey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Senator Markey Welcomes Sanctions on Democratic Republic of Congo Officials, Reiterates Urgency of Peaceful Democratic Transition of Power \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tMonday, December 12, 2016\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWashington (December 12, 2016) \u2013 Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), top Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee\u2019s Africa and Global Health Policy Subcommittee, released the following statement today after the Obama administration announced additional targeted sanctions in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a move that Senator Markey has championed since February.\u00a0\r\n\u00a0\r\n\u201cI commend the administration\u2019s sanctions against Democratic Republic of the Congo officials Evariste Boshab, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior and Security, and Kalev Mutondo, General Administrator of the National Intelligence Agency, for undermining the DRC\u2019s democracy and committing human rights violations.\u00a0 President Kabila should unequivocally announce he will not run for reelection and negotiate in good faith through\u00a0a fully inclusive dialogue that sets a date certain for elections in 2017 and establishes a caretaker government to oversee the elections and transition to a new president. The DRC\u2019s government must cease all intimidation and violence, end restrictions on the media and internet, and allow peaceful political activity.\u00a0\r\n\u00a0\r\n\u201cIf President Kabila and other DRC officials flout the constitution and continue to oppose free and fair elections, there will be consequences, including further sanctions. Senate Resolution 485, adopted by unanimous consent in September, demonstrates the strong bipartisan consensus supporting the people of the DRC as they struggle to build a just and lasting democracy.\u201d\r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-markey-welcomes-sanctions-on-democratic-republic-of-congo-officials-reiterates-urgency-of-peaceful-democratic-transition-of-power"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.7368257977068424, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}