The United States House of Representatives approved this Monday the Bolivar Lawbipartisan legislation designed to further restrict funding sources for the regime Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela.
The rule prohibits the US government from signing contracts with companies or people that do business with the Maduro dictatorship or any successor government that is not recognized by Washington.
Promoted by Florida congressmen Mike Waltz y Debbie Wasserman Schultzthe Bolívar Law seeks to reinforce existing sanctions against Chavismo.
According to Waltz, American policy must support activists fighting to free Venezuela from oppression. “Our policy must be based on solidarity with the brave activists who fight to break the chains of oppression and not provide aid and comfort to their oppressors“said the legislator.
The Bolívar Law or Law of Prohibition of Operations and Leases with the Illegitimate Authoritarian Regime of Venezuela expands the scope of the restrictions previously established by the National Defense Authorization Act of 2020which prevented the Department of Defense from entering into contracts with companies related to entities controlled by Maduro.
These limitations now extend to all federal agencies, ensuring that no US government resources indirectly benefit the Chavista regime.
According to the Republican congresswoman Maria Elvira Salazarthis legislation “cuts off an additional financial lifeline to the Maduro regime’s repressive apparatus,” weakening its ability to sustain itself through international trade agreements.
Although the Bolívar Law strengthens sanctions, it includes specific exemptions to ensure that it does not negatively affect the Venezuelan population. Contracts related to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief are permitted under this rule. These provisions seek to balance the pressure on the regime without harming citizens facing a humanitarian crisis under the Maduro dictatorship.
The approval of this law marks a strategic change in US policy towards Venezuela. Waltz chosen as future national security advisor to the president-elect Donald Trumpstands out for its firm stance against authoritarian regimes.
The new legislation also sends a clear message to international companies considering doing business with the Chavista regime. By limiting his ability to operate with American partners, the law seeks to economically isolate Maduro on the global stage, making it difficult for him to access resources to finance his repressive apparatus.
The congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz He emphasized that the Bolívar Law is a crucial tool to cut financial support to the Venezuelan regime. “I am proud to lead this bipartisan legislation that will sever Maduro’s support network and send a clear message that Americans will not tolerate antidemocratic repression, much less subsidize it,” she said.
On social media, Salazar reinforced this point, celebrating the approval as a victory in the fight for freedom in Venezuela and reiterating the United States’ commitment to the Venezuelan people.
With approval in the Lower House, the Bolívar Law must now be ratified by the Senate and sent to the president for promulgation. The measure has broad bipartisan support, suggesting a relatively quick process. Once implemented, it will strengthen existing sanctions and add new restrictions to block the economic flows that support the Maduro regime.
