# 119-s-4809: Venezuela Democratic Transition Act

119-s-4809, Venezuela Democratic Transition Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA] (D-VA); status introduced (as of 2026-08-17).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4809
- As of: 2026-08-17
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-4809
- Congress: 119
- Title: Venezuela Democratic Transition Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2026-06-17
- Sponsor: Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA] (D-VA)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Policy area: International Affairs
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-08-17

## 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.** - 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.

## Provisions PRIA read

- Sanctions and visa bans for Venezuelans: cost, low. 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…

## Related bills

- 119-s-2120: Older Americans Act Reauthorization Act of 2025
- 119-s-2819: Head Start for America's Children Act
- 119-s-5283: Momnibus Act
- 119-s-4504: Full-Service Community School Expansion Act of 2026
- 119-s-2763: Keep Billionaires Out of Social Security Act
- 119-s-3869: Healthy Families Act

## Sources
- [119-s-4809 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/4809)

## Related
- [119-s-2120: Older Americans Act Reauthorization Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2120)
- [119-s-2819: Head Start for America's Children Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2819)
- [119-s-5283: Momnibus Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5283)
- [119-s-4504: Full-Service Community School Expansion Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4504)
- [119-s-2763: Keep Billionaires Out of Social Security Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2763)
- [119-s-3869: Healthy Families Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3869)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4809 (as of 2026-08-17).