Sponsors (7)
The bill prioritizes blocking U.S. financial support and diplomatic advocacy for Venezuelan oil projects and increases transparency—reducing taxpayer risk and U.S. backing for the Maduro regime—while imposing opportunity costs for U.S. firms, limiting diplomatic flexibility, and adding reporting burdens and policy uncertainty.
Taxpayers and U.S. foreign-policy actors: the bill bars U.S. financing and official advocacy for Venezuelan oil projects, reducing U.S. support for the Maduro government and lowering geopolitical backing for those investments.
U.S. taxpayers: the bill reduces potential direct financial exposure (loan guarantees, insurance, royalty relief) tied to Venezuelan petroleum projects, lowering the risk that public funds would be lost or at risk.
Taxpayers and Congress: the bill requires annual reports on U.S. expenditures or activities involving Venezuela’s oil sector, giving Congress and the public clearer, recurring transparency to oversee and adjust policy or funding quickly.
U.S. companies and contractors (including small exporters): they lose access to federal-financed opportunities in Venezuela’s oil sector, reducing potential export and contracting revenue.
Federal employees and diplomats: the bill restricts engagement and advocacy on Venezuelan energy projects, limiting diplomatic flexibility and tools available for negotiation or multilateral coordination.
Taxpayers and policymaking: the bill creates future policy uncertainty because Congress could later enact new authorizations that undo restrictions, leaving open the possibility taxpayers might still fund Venezuelan projects down the line.
Based on analysis of 4 sections of legislative text.
Prohibits federal funds and U.S.-accessible accounts from supporting development, maintenance, or expansion of Venezuela's oil infrastructure or petroleum sector, with one exception if Congress later authorizes it.
Official title: Prohibit the United States Government from funding Venezuela's oil and petroleum infrastructure, and for other purposes.
Introduced January 13, 2026 by Jeff Merkley · Last progress January 13, 2026
Prohibits any federal funds or funds accessible to the U.S. government from financing, subsidizing, insuring, guaranteeing, contracting for, or otherwise supporting the development, maintenance, or expansion of oil infrastructure or the petroleum sector in Venezuela, with a single exception if Congress later authorizes such spending. Requires the Secretary of State to report annually to specified congressional committees on any related expenditures or activities and to certify compliance, beginning within 180 days of enactment.