# 119-s-488: DEMOCRACIA Act

119-s-488, DEMOCRACIA Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Scott, Rick [R-FL] (R-FL); status introduced (as of 2025-12-21).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-488
- 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-488
- Congress: 119
- Title: DEMOCRACIA Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-02-06
- Sponsor: Sen. Scott, Rick [R-FL] (R-FL)
- Cosponsors: 2
- Policy area: International Affairs
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2025-12-21

## Summary

**A focused sanctions regime aimed at Cuba’s military, security, and intelligence sectors.** This bill would cut off financial support and other resources to officials and entities tied to repression or corruption, block their property, and deny U.S. visas to many who support abuses. - Families and humanitarian flows: The bill preserves exports of food, medicine, and medical devices and allows remittances to immediate family members with specific exclusions for high‑level Communist Party figures and their relatives. It also protects democracy assistance, embassy operations, Guantanamo Bay payments, and limited internet restoration that meets conditions. - U.S. persons and compliance: U.S. persons wanting to engage in transactions subject to the sanctions would have to submit written requests to the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control and the bill prohibits issuance of general licenses. Violations are subject to civil and criminal penalties under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. - Scope, designations, and exceptions: The bill lists broad categories for designation including party, military, intelligence, and security officials and their affiliates. The President may add sectors that support abuses after certification effective in 15 days and may grant waivers for national security or short 180‑day waivers.

## Cosponsors (2)

- Sen. Tuberville, Tommy [R-AL] (R-AL), 2025-02-06T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Moody, Ashley [R-FL] (R-FL), 2025-10-27T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Uncensored internet for Cuban people: benefit, medium. If enacted, the President would use all available means to give the people of Cuba reliable, uncensored internet. The service must not be censored, blocked, or otherwise restricted by the Cuban government. It must not use technology, services, or communications backed by the Chinese Communist Party…
- New sanctions and visa limits on Cuba: mixed, low. If enacted, the bill would create a broad sanctions system targeting Cuba's defense, security, and intelligence sectors. It would let the President block property and transactions under IEEPA and TWEA. Foreign persons who knowingly provide financial, material, or technological support to covered se…

## Related bills

- 119-s-2120: Older Americans Act Reauthorization Act of 2025
- 119-s-1748: Kids Online Safety Act
- 119-s-1541: SHIPS for America Act of 2025
- 119-s-275: Veterans’ Assuring Critical Care Expansions to Support Servicemembers (ACCESS) Act of 2025
- 119-s-124: Restore VA Accountability Act of 2025
- 119-s-3752: SAVE America Act

## Sources
- [119-s-488 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/488)

## Related
- [119-s-2120: Older Americans Act Reauthorization Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2120)
- [119-s-1748: Kids Online Safety Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1748)
- [119-s-1541: SHIPS for America Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1541)
- [119-s-275: Veterans’ Assuring Critical Care Expansions to Support Servicemembers (ACCESS)…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-275)
- [119-s-124: Restore VA Accountability Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-124)
- [119-s-3752: SAVE America Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3752)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-488 (as of 2025-12-21).