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S37119th CongressWALLET

VALOR Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Senator Risch, James E. [R-ID]

Introduced

Summary

Targeted sanctions and conditional assistance tied to democratic benchmarks push Venezuela toward free and fair elections while preserving tools to punish and deter the Maduro regime.

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  • Venezuelan families: Authorizes humanitarian help — food, medicine, emergency energy, and reconstruction support — delivered through U.S. agencies and independent nongovernmental organizations. It requires a formal assistance plan within 90 days and annual reporting, with safeguards to prevent funds reaching the Maduro regime.
  • U.S. persons and businesses: Prohibits transactions in Venezuelan government debt and any Venezuelan digital currency and creates detailed licensing and foreign-person reporting requirements with a reporting cadence that can run up to 10 years.
  • International institutions and partners: Directs the Treasury to oppose seating Maduro regime representatives at the IMF and other institutions and to block nondemocratic Venezuelan participation in the Organization of American States until democratic criteria are met. It authorizes at least $5 million in voluntary U.S. contributions to an OAS emergency fund for observers and election support.
  • Oversight and conditionality: Sets statutory criteria for recognizing a democratically elected Venezuelan government, ties unilateral termination of these sanctions to a presidential determination, requires progress reports every 180 days for 3 years, and creates a limited Congressional disapproval process allowing one disapproval resolution per 180-day period.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

6 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 1 costs, 2 mixed.

U.S. plan for Venezuela aid

If enacted, the President would deliver a detailed plan within 90 days for U.S. humanitarian, development, and economic aid to the Venezuelan people and NGOs. Aid could include food, medicine, emergency energy help, Export-Import Bank financing, Trade and Development Agency support, and Peace Corps programs. Aid distribution would start only after the President certifies a democratically elected Venezuelan government, and a State Department coordinator would be named. Any spending would need separate congressional authorization and appropriations, and agencies must give 15 days' notice before reprogramming.

Path to end sanctions and trade review

If enacted, when the President certifies a democratically elected Venezuelan government, the President would move to terminate the Act's sanctions and immediately notify Congress. The President would then report every 180 days for 3 years on Venezuela's progress, and Congress could pass one joint resolution of disapproval per 180-day period to overturn the termination. After that presidential determination, the President would also report to key trade committees on barriers to U.S. trade and consider whether to seek nondiscriminatory trade treatment.

Tighter sanctions, blocking, and reports

If enacted, the bill would bar U.S. persons and U.S. transactions from dealing in many Maduro-regime and PDVSA debt and equity instruments and in regime-issued digital currency beginning on enactment. It would give the President explicit emergency authority (IEEPA) to enforce these rules, allow penalties under IEEPA, and permit limited presidential waivers with 10 days' notice to Congress. Treasury would also have to report every 180 days for up to 10 years on OFAC licenses that allow transactions with sanctioned persons, including an initial estimate of regime access to funds since January 20, 2021.

Import exception protects U.S. trade

If enacted, the bill would say the Act's sanctions authorities do not include authority to impose sanctions on the importation of goods. The law would define "goods" to include physical articles, materials, supplies, and manufactured products, and would exclude technical data. This would protect importers and supply chains from being sanctioned under this statute.

Oppose Maduro at international institutions

If enacted, U.S. representatives would be required to oppose seating a nondemocratic Venezuelan government at the Organization of American States and at international financial institutions until a President certifies a democratic government. The bill would also direct the U.S. to provide not less than $5 million in voluntary contributions to an OAS emergency fund for human rights observers and election support in Venezuela.

Reports and pressure on Maduro partners

If enacted, the Secretary of State would report within 180 days naming foreign persons and companies that did significant business with the Maduro regime in mining, finance, energy, shipping, ports, and special zones. The bill would also direct the President to urge other countries to limit trade and credit ties with Venezuela to support the Act's goals. The President could block nonhumanitarian U.S. aid, arms sales, and debt relief to foreign governments that assist the Maduro regime until a democratic government is certified.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Risch, James E. [R-ID]

ID • R

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO]

    CO • D

    Sponsored 1/8/2025

  • Sen. Barrasso, John [R-WY]

    WY • R

    Sponsored 1/8/2025

  • Sen. Scott, Rick [R-FL]

    FL • R

    Sponsored 1/8/2025

  • Sen. Sullivan, Dan [R-AK]

    AK • R

    Sponsored 1/8/2025

  • Sen. Cassidy, Bill [R-LA]

    LA • R

    Sponsored 1/8/2025

  • Sen. Ricketts, Pete [R-NE]

    NE • R

    Sponsored 1/8/2025

  • Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]

    TX • R

    Sponsored 2/4/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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