Sponsors (3)
The bill tightens and expedites sanctions and enforcement to cut revenue to Maduro and bolster human-rights accountability, but does so at the cost of higher fuel prices, business and employment disruptions, greater compliance burdens, and increased diplomatic and geopolitical risks.
U.S. taxpayers and the broader public: the bill bars funding to PDVSA and Maduro’s energy operations, reducing revenue available to an undemocratic regime and strengthening U.S. leverage.
All Americans and Venezuelan civil-society actors: the bill strengthens U.S. sanctions signaling and highlights arrests/abuses of peaceful participants, supporting human-rights accountability and justification for targeted measures.
Financial institutions, small businesses, and policymakers: the bill gives Treasury and State rapid enforcement authority and a clear termination condition tied to democratic transition or a fixed date, increasing the policy’s enforceability and predictability for planning.
U.S. consumers, middle-class families, and small businesses: revoking Venezuelan oil exemptions and banning energy ties could reduce crude supply and push up U.S. fuel prices and regional fuel availability.
U.S. firms, financial institutions, and employees tied to Venezuelan energy: the broad ban may cause immediate contract losses, revenue declines, operational disruptions, and job impacts.
U.S. financial institutions and international energy businesses: tighter enforcement and civil/criminal penalties will raise legal and compliance costs and increase operational risk for companies doing cross-border energy business.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Bars U.S. persons and entities from investing in, trading with, operating in, or providing goods, services, or financing to Venezuela's energy sector (PDVSA and affiliates) until specified political conditions or 12/31/2027.
Prohibits U.S. persons and entities they own or control from investing in, trading with, operating in, or providing goods, services, or financing to Venezuela’s energy sector (targeting PDVSA and its affiliates and the Maduro regime or any nondemocratic successor). Gives the Treasury Secretary authority to issue implementing regulations, use IEEPA authorities, and imposes civil and criminal penalties for violations. The ban starts at enactment and ends when the Maduro regime recognizes an identified election victor and relinquishes power, or on December 31, 2027, whichever comes first. The President may grant limited case-by-case waivers after notifying Congress. Requires all U.S. agencies to apply their authorities to implement the prohibition, defines "United States person" broadly to include U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, U.S.-organized entities (including foreign branches), and persons in the United States, and bars transactions designed to evade the prohibition.
Introduced January 9, 2025 by Debbie Wasserman Schultz · Last progress January 9, 2025