BOLIVAR Act

Banning Operations and Leases with the Illegitimate Venezuelan Authoritarian Regime Act or the BOLIVAR Act

This bill temporarily prohibits an executive agency from entering into a contract for the procurement of goods or services with any person that it determines, with the concurrence of the Department of State, knowingly engages in significant business operations with the Maduro regime in Venezuela.

The bill lists exceptions, including where vital to U.S. national security or as necessary for purposes of providing humanitarian assistance, disaster relief and other urgent lifesaving measures, or to carry out noncombatant evacuations.

The prohibition shall not apply to contracts that support U.S. government activities in Venezuela or to contracts with international organizations.

The State Department may waive the requirements of this bill upon determining that to do so is in the national interest.

The BOLIVAR Act, also known as Bill 118 s 257, is a piece of legislation introduced in the US Congress that aims to address the political and humanitarian crisis in Venezuela. The bill is named after Simon Bolivar, a key figure in Latin American independence movements.

The main provisions of the BOLIVAR Act include imposing sanctions on individuals and entities that are involved in corruption, human rights abuses, or undermining democracy in Venezuela. The bill also calls for increased support for Venezuelan civil society organizations and humanitarian assistance for the Venezuelan people.

Additionally, the BOLIVAR Act seeks to promote free and fair elections in Venezuela by supporting efforts to strengthen democratic institutions and ensure transparency in the electoral process. The bill also calls for the United States to work with international partners to address the crisis in Venezuela and support a peaceful transition to democracy. Overall, the BOLIVAR Act is aimed at holding accountable those responsible for the crisis in Venezuela, while also providing support for the Venezuelan people and promoting democratic values in the region.