Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Monday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the bipartisan Banning Operations and Leases with Illegitimate Venezuelan Authoritarian Regime (BOLIVAR) Act, introduced by U.S. Congressman Mike Waltz (FL-06) and Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25). 

The BOLIVAR Act compliments existing sanctions by prohibiting the U.S. government from contracting with any person that has business operations with the illegitimate government of Nicolas Maduro, as well as any successor government of Venezuela not recognized as legitimate by the United States.

“Venezuela is in crisis due to the illegitimate, authoritarian rule and the Marxist policies of Nicolas Maduro and his Caracas cartel,” said Waltz. “Maduro and his cronies have mocked and ignored the electoral will of the Venezuelan people, inciting violent action against the democratic opposition.  Our policy must be based on solidarity with the brave activists that strive to break the shackles of oppression and not provide aid and comfort to their oppressors. We must maintain existing sanctions against the regime and seek to expand sanctions to minimize Maduro’s resources to abuse the freedoms and prosperity of the Venezuelan people.  This legislation sends a clear and powerful message to Maduro, as well as other dictators around the world, that there will be no appeasement, there will be no tolerance, there will be no reward for their rogue, illegal actions. I am thankful for the bipartisan support of this important bill, and I am glad to see it pass the House of Representatives. I urge the Senate to quickly pass this important bill and send it to the President’s desk for his signature.”

"Over the last decade, I've fought for tough sanctions against the Maduro regime, robust humanitarian aid, and international pressure to protect human rights and the rule of law in Venezuela. But unless the U.S. divests from shady corporate interests that enable Maduro's corruption and election theft, we can't truly say we are committed to the Venezuelan people," said Rep. Wasserman Schultz. "I'm proud to help lead this bipartisan legislation that will cut off Maduro's support network and send the clear message that Americans will not tolerate anti-democratic repression—and we certainly won't subsidize it."

Background: 

Section 890 of the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act prohibited the Pentagon from entering into contracts with companies that also have contracts with any Venezuelan government entity under Maduro’s control. The BOLIVAR Act would simply impose the same contracting restrictions to the rest of the Federal government. In FY23, DoD executed over 36 million contracts, which accounted for 60% of all government contracts. Considering the overlap with contractors that work with DoD and other agencies, BOLIVAR would cover those remaining contractors not working with DoD. 

There are waivers for contracts related to providing humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, among other exemptions. Similar legislation passed the U.S. Senate unanimously in the 117th Congress before it adjourned. 

The full text of the bill can be found here.