Waltz, Wasserman Schultz BOLIVAR Act Passes House Oversight Committee

Rep. MIchael Waltz

The bipartisan Banning Operations and Leases with Illegitimate Venezuelan Authoritarian Regime (BOLIVAR) Act, introduced by Representatives Mike Waltz (R-FL) and Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), recently passed out of the House Oversight Committee, and will soon be up for a vote on the House floor.

Rep. Waltz and Rep. Wasserman Schultz introduced the bill in February, prohibiting the United States from contracting with anyone with business ties to Nicolas Maduro's regime in Venezuela or any successor regime not recognized by the United States.

As the Republican Congressman describes, the Department of Defense (DOD) has prohibited contracting entities with ties to Venezuela since 2020. The BOLIVAR Act would extend these restrictions to the rest of the federal government, although contractors seeking to provide humanitarian or disaster relief can receive waivers.

The bill's passage comes within months of Maduro fraudulently claiming to have won the recent presidential election at the end of July, which has received vicious bipartisan condemnation from Florida's Congressional delegation.

"Venezuela is in crisis due to the authoritarian rule and Marxist policies of Nicolas Maduro. The regime has tampered with the recent Presidential election, falsely declaring victory. As we speak, thousands of Venezuelans have been arrested for speaking out against this injustice, and the legitimate President-elect of Venezuela has been exiled to Spain. The United States must demonstrate solidarity with the brave democratic opposition in Venezuela as they try to chart a new way forward, and we should deny the Maduro regime any resources it can use to continue its oppression of the Venezuelan people and cause such disruption in the entire hemisphere," said Rep. Waltz in his press release.

Similarly, Rep. Wasserman Schultz said, "Doing business with a criminal and murderous Maduro regime will only prolong the pain inflicted on the Venezuelan people. American taxpayer money should never further the reign of this narco-terrorist, directly or indirectly. Banning U.S. government agency contracts with anyone who does business with Maduro will stifle his support network and send another clear message that America will not tolerate this oppressive government or a leader who subverts his people and steals an election."

Grayson Bakich

Florida born and raised, Grayson Bakich is a recent recipient of a Master’s Degree in Political Science at the University of Central Florida. His thesis examined recent trends in political polarization and how this leads into justification of violence.