S. 688Senate117th Congress (2021-2023)Passed Senate

BOLIVAR Act

AI-Generated Summary

Updated February 8, 2026 at 12:05 AM UTC

The BOLIVAR Act bars U.S. federal agencies from awarding contracts to any person—individuals, companies, or other entities—that knowingly conduct significant business with the Maduro‑led Venezuelan government, which the United States does not recognize as legitimate. Exceptions are allowed for contracts that provide humanitarian aid, disaster relief, non‑combatant evacuations, serve U.S. national security interests, support U.S. government activities in Venezuela, involve OFAC‑licensed operators, or are needed for U.S. diplomatic missions. The Secretary of State may also waive the rule, and the prohibition applies for three years from the law’s enactment.

Key Provisions

Prohibits executive‑agency contracts with any person that knowingly has significant business operations with the non‑legitimate Venezuelan government, subject to State Department concurrence.
Allows contracts for humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, urgent life‑saving measures, or non‑combatant evacuations, and those deemed in U.S. national security interests.
Exempts contracts that support U.S. government activities in Venezuela or are with international organizations, and requires the Secretary of State to notify relevant congressional committees of such contracts.
Provides an exemption for entities holding a valid Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) license to operate in Venezuela.
Excludes contracts related to operating and maintaining U.S. consular and diplomatic posts in Venezuela.
Permits the Secretary of State to waive the prohibition if it is in the national interest of the United States.
Specifies that the rule applies to contracts entered into during the three‑year period beginning on the date the Act is enacted.

Legislative Activity

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9 earlier actions

HouseFloor Latest Action

Held at the desk.

December 20, 2022 • 12:10 PM

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

March 10, 2021

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee

March 10, 2021

SenateCommittee

Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee

March 17, 2021

SenateCommittee

Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Peters without amendment. With written report No. 117-28.

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee

July 12, 2021

SenateCalendars

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 96.

July 12, 2021

SenateFloor

Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S7265)

December 15, 2022

SenateFloor

Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote. (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S7265)

December 15, 2022

SenateFloor

Message on Senate action sent to the House.

December 16, 2022

HouseFloor

Received in the House.

December 20, 2022 • 12:03 PM

HouseFloor

Held at the desk.

December 20, 2022 • 12:10 PM

Floor Debate

1 member

What members said about S. 688 on the floor

1 Independent

Sen. Angus S. King Jr.I-ME · Dec 15, 2022

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 96, S. 688. I ask unanimous consent that the Scott substitute amendment at the desk be…

Bill Text

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Engrossed in SenateIssued December 15, 2022

117th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 688

AN ACT

To prohibit contracting with persons that have business operations with the Maduro regime, and for other purposes.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Banning Operations and Leases with the Illegitimate Venezuelan Authoritarian Regime Act or the BOLIVAR Act.

Prohibition on contracting with persons that have business operations with the Maduro regime

(a)

Prohibition

Except as provided in subsections (b), (c), and (d), the head of an executive agency may not enter into a contract for the procurement of goods or services with any person that the head of an executive agency determines, with the concurrence of the Secretary of State, knowingly engages in significant business operations with an authority of the Government of Venezuela that is not recognized as the legitimate Government of Venezuela by the United States.

(b)

Exceptions

(1)

In general

The prohibition under subsection (a) does not apply to a contract that the Secretary of State determines—

(A)

is necessary—

(i)

for purposes of providing humanitarian assistance to the people of Venezuela;

(ii)

for purposes of providing disaster relief and other urgent life-saving measures; or

(iii)

to carry out noncombatant evacuations; or

(B)

is in the national security interests of the United States.

(2)

Support for United States Government activities

The prohibition in subsection (a) shall not apply to contracts that support United States Government activities in Venezuela, including those necessary for the maintenance of United States Government facilities in Venezuela, or to contracts with international organizations.

(3)

Notification requirement

The Secretary of State shall notify the appropriate congressional committees of any contract entered into on the basis of an exception provided for under paragraph (1).

(c)

Office of foreign assets control licenses

The prohibition in subsection (a) does not apply to a person that has a valid license to operate in Venezuela issued by the Office of Foreign Assets Control.

(d)

American diplomatic mission in Venezuela

The prohibition in subsection (a) does not apply to contracts related to the operation and maintenance of the United States Government’s consular offices and diplomatic posts in Venezuela.

(e)

Waiver

The Secretary of State may waive the requirements of subsection (a) if the Secretary of State determines that to do so is in the national interest of the United States.

(f)

Definitions

In this section:

(1)

Appropriate congressional committees

The term appropriate congressional committees means the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Homeland Security and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives.

(2)

Business operations

The term business operations means engaging in commerce in any form, including acquiring, developing, maintaining, owning, selling, possessing, leasing, or operating equipment, facilities, personnel, products, services, personal property, real property, or any other apparatus of business or commerce.

(3)

Executive agency

The term executive agency has the meaning given the term in section 133 of title 41, United States Code.

(4)

Government of Venezuela

(A)

The term Government of Venezuela includes the government of any political subdivision of Venezuela, and any agency or instrumentality of the Government of Venezuela.

(B)

For purposes of subparagraph (A), the term agency or instrumentality of the Government of Venezuela means an agency or instrumentality of a foreign state as defined in section 1603(b) of title 28, United States Code, with each reference in such section to a foreign state deemed to be a reference to Venezuela.

(5)

Person

The term person means—

(A)

a natural person, corporation, company, business association, partnership, society, trust, or any other nongovernmental entity, organization, or group;

(B)

any governmental entity or instrumentality of a government; and

(C)

any successor, subunit, parent entity, or subsidiary of, or any entity under common ownership or control with, any entity described in subparagraph (A) or (B).

(g)

Term of applicability

This section shall apply with respect to any contract entered into during the three-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act.

Passed the Senate December 15, 2022.

Secretary