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S1221119th CongressWALLET

BOLIVAR Act

Sponsored By: Senator Scott, Rick [R-FL]

Introduced

Summary

Bans federal contracts with firms that knowingly do significant business with Venezuelan authorities the United States does not recognize as legitimate. It would bar agency heads from entering procurement contracts with those persons for a three-year period while allowing narrow humanitarian, diplomatic, and national-security exceptions and a Secretary of State waiver.

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  • Federal agencies: Agency heads would be barred from awarding procurement contracts to entities the agency and the Secretary of State find are doing significant business with Venezuela's unrecognized authorities. This changes which vendors are eligible for federal purchases.
  • Companies and investors: Firms that acquire, operate, lease, or otherwise conduct commerce with those Venezuelan authorities risk losing access to U.S. federal contracts for three years unless they hold a valid Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) license or meet an exception.
  • Humanitarian and diplomatic partners: Contracts for humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, noncombatant evacuations, U.S. government activities in Venezuela, and maintenance of U.S. consular or diplomatic posts are exempted.
  • Oversight: The Secretary of State must notify the specified House and Senate committees whenever a contract is approved under an exception.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

Ban on federal contracts with Venezuela-linked firms

If enacted, the bill would bar executive agencies from entering procurement contracts with any person the agency head, with the Secretary of State's concurrence, finds knowingly does significant business with a Venezuelan authority the United States does not recognize. The ban would apply only to contracts signed in the three years after enactment. The bill would create many exceptions: contracts needed for humanitarian assistance to the Venezuelan people, disaster relief and urgent life‑saving measures, noncombatant evacuations, national security needs, contracts supporting U.S. government activities in Venezuela (including maintenance of U.S. facilities), contracts with international organizations, and contracts for U.S. consular and diplomatic posts. The prohibition would not apply to people holding a valid OFAC license. The Secretary of State could waive the ban for national‑interest reasons and must notify the Senate and House homeland and foreign affairs committees when an exception is used. The bill also defines key terms like "business operations," "person," "executive agency," and "Government of Venezuela" to make clear who is covered.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Scott, Rick [R-FL]

FL • R

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX]

    TX • R

    Sponsored 4/1/2025

  • Sen. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN]

    TN • R

    Sponsored 4/1/2025

  • Sen. Moody, Ashley [R-FL]

    FL • R

    Sponsored 9/16/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
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