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119-s-4809119th Congress

Venezuela Democratic Transition Act

Sponsored By: Senator Kaine, Tim [D-VA]

Introduced

Summary

This bill would direct the State Department to create a strategy to restore democracy in Venezuela by supporting free and fair presidential elections and by imposing sanctions on officials responsible for major human rights abuses.

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  • Venezuelan opposition and voters: The bill would push for a 2026 presidential election that meets international standards and ensures full opposition participation. It urges continued U.S. recognition of Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia as President-elect.
  • Political prisoners and opposition leaders: It would prioritize freeing political prisoners, closing detention and torture centers, and creating safe pathways for opposition figures to return, including María Corina Machado.
  • Targets of sanctions: The bill would authorize blocking property under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and make Venezuelan persons complicit in gross human rights violations inadmissible for visas, admission, or parole, while allowing national security, humanitarian, and transition waivers.
  • U.S. diplomacy and energy deals: It would require that any energy agreements be made only in consultation with the democratic opposition and demands monthly reporting to six congressional committees on benchmarks, sanctions coordination, and progress toward transition.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.

Sanctions and visa bans for Venezuelans

This bill would require the President to sanction Venezuelan persons the President finds complicit in gross human-rights violations. It would authorize using emergency economic powers to block property and ban transactions in the United States or under U.S. persons' control. Designated people would be made inadmissible and ineligible for U.S. visas, admission, or parole. The bill would allow narrow exceptions for humanitarian aid, food, medicine, importation of goods, authorized intelligence activities, and U.N. Headquarters admissions; and it would permit waivers for a certified democratic transition or for national security, with a required report to Congress. These rules would take effect upon enactment.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Kaine, Tim [D-VA]

VA • D

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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