This week, the House passed the bipartisan Banning Operations and Leases with the Illegitimate Venezuelan Authoritarian Regime (BOLIVAR) Act. The bill was introduced by both Florida Reps. Mike Waltz (R) and Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D).
The bill complements sanctions that are already in place against Venezuela. As a result of the bill, the U.S. government will now be prohibited from contacting anyone that has business operations with the government of Nicolas Maduro, deeming it illegitimate after Maduro declared himself the victor in the last elections despite results showing he had decisively lost. The U.S. government will similarly be prohibited from contacting anyone in successor governments that are not legitimately recognized by the U.S.
In reference to the country, Rep. Waltz said in a statement that Venezuela finds itself in a "crisis" because of "authoritarian rule and the Marxist policies of Nicolas Maduro and his Caracas cartel." "Maduro and his cronies have mocked and ignored the electoral will of the Venezuelan people, inciting violent action against the democratic opposition," Rep. Waltz added.
The Florida Republican explained that the goal is to expand sanctions against the Maduro regime for abusing the "freedoms and prosperity of the Venezuelan people." "This legislation sends a clear and powerful message to Maduro, as well as other dictators around the world, that there will be no appeasement, there will be no tolerance, there will be no reward for their rogue, illegal actions," Rep. Waltz expressed.
Rep. Wasserman Schultz echoed his remarks, reminding that in her time in Congress, she has fought for stricter sanctions against the Maduro regime, including "robust humanitarian aid, and international pressure to protect human rights and the rule of law in Venezuela." "But unless the U.S. divests from shady corporate interests that enable Maduro's corruption and election theft, we can't truly say we are committed to the Venezuelan people," she added.
Rep. Waltz has now called on the Senate to the legislation, calling it an "important bill" that should be sent to the President's desk to be signed.
