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S. 257Senate118th Congress (2023-2025)In Committee

BOLIVAR Act

Sponsored by Rick ScottSen. Rick Scott (R-FL)
Introduced February 2, 2023

AI-Generated Summary

Updated January 20, 2026 at 2:58 AM UTC

The BOLIVAR Act bars U.S. federal agencies from awarding contracts to any person or entity that conducts significant business with the Maduro‑run Venezuelan government, which the United States does not recognize as legitimate. It includes exceptions for contracts needed for humanitarian aid, disaster relief, non‑combatant evacuations, national security, U.S. government activities in Venezuela, and those covered by OFAC licenses or diplomatic missions. The Secretary of State can waive the rule, and any contract entered under an exception must be reported to Congress. The prohibition applies to contracts signed within three years of the law’s enactment.

Key Provisions

  • Prohibits executive agencies from contracting with any person that knowingly engages in significant business with the unrecognized Maduro regime, unless an exception applies
  • Allows exceptions for contracts needed for humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, non‑combatant evacuations, or national security interests
  • Excludes contracts that support U.S. government activities in Venezuela or that involve international organizations
  • Requires the Secretary of State to notify the appropriate congressional committees of any contract entered under an exception
  • Exempts entities that hold a valid Office of Foreign Assets Control license to operate in Venezuela
  • Exempts contracts related to operating U.S. consular and diplomatic posts in Venezuela
  • Permits the Secretary of State to waive the prohibition if it is in the national interest
  • Applies the rules to contracts entered during the three‑year period beginning on the date the Act is enacted

Legislative Activity

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4 earlier actions
SenateCalendars Latest Action

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 73.

May 16, 2023

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

February 2, 2023

SenateIntro Referral

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

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee

February 2, 2023

SenateCommittee

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

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee

March 29, 2023

SenateCommittee

Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Peters without amendment. With written report No. 118-29.

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee

May 16, 2023

SenateCalendars

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 73.

May 16, 2023

Bill Text

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Reported to SenateIssued May 16, 2023

II

Calendar No. 73

118th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 257

[Report No. 118–29]

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

February 2, 2023

Mr. Scott of Florida (for himself, Ms. Rosen, Mr. Rubio, and Mr. Tillis) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs

May 16, 2023

Reported by Mr. Peters, without amendment

A BILL

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

1.

Short title

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

2.

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.

May 16, 2023

Reported without amendment