Sponsors (10)
The bill limits U.S. funding for hostilities with Venezuela to prevent open-ended military engagement and preserve congressional control, but it reduces executive flexibility for rapid responses and creates legal and political uncertainty that could slow actions in crises.
U.S. taxpayers and the general public face a lower risk of open-ended military engagement with Venezuela because the bill prohibits funding hostilities absent a new congressional authorization.
Members of Congress retain clear control over decisions to use force against Venezuela by requiring a post-enactment statutory authorization or a War Powers Resolution-consistent authorization.
U.S. forces and personnel keep authority to act in self-defense, allowing protection from armed attacks or imminent attacks.
U.S. military personnel and national security operations may be slowed because the bill limits rapid military response to emergent threats involving Venezuela unless Congress enacts a new authorization.
Requiring specific congressional authorization for actions could increase political friction and delays during crises, raising the risk that timely responses are impaired.
A narrow statutory definition of 'counternarcotics' combined with a broad definition of 'hostilities' may create legal uncertainty for commanders about what actions are permitted.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Prohibits use of DoD or other federal funds for hostilities against Venezuela unless Congress specifically authorizes or a War Powers-based authorization applies, with limited exceptions.
Introduced December 4, 2025 by Jeff Merkley · Last progress December 4, 2025
Prohibits the use of Department of Defense or other federal funds to conduct hostilities with respect to Venezuela unless Congress later passes a specific law authorizing such hostilities or a War Powers Resolution authorization applies. The measure preserves several narrow exceptions, including defending the United States or its citizens from (imminent) armed attack, defending U.S. forces or personnel, conducting lawful counternarcotics operations that do not amount to hostilities, and providing humanitarian assistance to the Venezuelan people. The bill defines “hostilities” broadly to include any use of lethal or potentially lethal force by U.S. forces — including remotely deployed force and actions that are intermittent or continuous — and states it does not replace or override requirements in the War Powers Resolution.