# 119-s-261: Halt All United States Investments in Venezuela’s Energy Sector Act of 2025

119-s-261, Halt All United States Investments in Venezuela’s Energy Sector Act of 2025, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL] (D-IL); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2025-12-21).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-261
- As of: 2025-12-21
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-261
- Congress: 119
- Title: Halt All United States Investments in Venezuela’s Energy Sector Act of 2025
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-01-27
- Sponsor: Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL] (D-IL)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Policy area: International Affairs
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2025-12-21

## Summary

**Ban on U.S. investment in Venezuela's energy sector.** This bill would impose an immediate prohibition on U.S. persons engaging in petroleum-related transactions tied to the Barbados Agreement or to General License No. 41 or General License No. 8M issued by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). - U.S. investors and companies: U.S. citizens, permanent residents, entities organized in the United States, and anyone located in the U.S. would be barred from the specified petroleum transactions. Violators would face civil and criminal penalties under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. - Federal agencies and regulators: The Secretary of the Treasury, working with the Secretary of State, could issue regulations and use IEEPA authorities to implement and enforce the ban. All federal agencies must take appropriate actions within their authority to carry it out. - Executive waiver and end condition: The President could waive the ban for national security reasons but must report the waiver to the relevant congressional committees. The prohibitions would end only after the President certifies the Maduro regime has recognized Edmundo Gonzalez's July 28, 2024 electoral victory and relinquished power to the legitimately elected government or an agreed transitional government.

## Provisions PRIA read

- Ban on U.S. investment in Venezuela energy: cost, medium. If enacted, this bill would ban United States persons from making petroleum-related investments or transactions with Venezuela starting on the date of enactment. It would bar deals allowed by the Barbados Agreement and transactions allowed under OFAC General License No. 41 or No. 8M as of the day b…

## Related bills

- 119-s-5071: Children's Safe Welcome Act of 2026
- 119-s-3597: National Quantum Initiative Reauthorization Act of 2026
- 119-s-4504: Full-Service Community School Expansion Act of 2026
- 119-s-3990: PrEP Access and Coverage Act of 2026
- 119-s-2823: FAMILY Act
- 119-s-2763: Keep Billionaires Out of Social Security Act

## Sources
- [119-s-261 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/261)

## Related
- [119-s-5071: Children's Safe Welcome Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5071)
- [119-s-3597: National Quantum Initiative Reauthorization Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3597)
- [119-s-4504: Full-Service Community School Expansion Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4504)
- [119-s-3990: PrEP Access and Coverage Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3990)
- [119-s-2823: FAMILY Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2823)
- [119-s-2763: Keep Billionaires Out of Social Security Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2763)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-261 (as of 2025-12-21).