Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) has reintroduced the Banning Operations and Leases with the Illegitimate Venezuelan Authoritarian Regime (BOLIVAR) Act, with Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) as co-sponsors. The legislation would ban the federal government from "doing business with anyone that supports the oppressive Maduro regime."
The Florida senator introduced the bill in February 2023 and signed similar legislation into law as Florida's Governor.
Sen. Scott affirmed his belief, once again, that Maduro is an evil dictator who steals elections to maintain power.
“Nicolás Maduro is an illegitimate, murderous dictator who oppresses the people of Venezuela, deprives them of freedoms, and steals elections from the rightful president, Edmundo González, and leader María Corina Machado," said Sen. Scott. "Maduro stands against everything the United States stands for, and he cannot remain in power."
Furthermore, Scott mentioned that President Donald Trump (R) and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are "moving quickly to reverse the appeasement and dangerous policies of the Biden administration" regarding America's relationship with Maduro.
Scott then stated that his BOLIVAR Act would "cut off Maduro" from the United States' resources and bring freedom to the Venezuelan nation.
"We must keep up the pressure on the regime to FINALLY get Maduro out of power and bring freedom to the Venezuelan people by passing my BOLIVAR Act. This will build on our actions by preventing any federal agencies from doing business with anyone who chooses to do business with the murderous Maduro regime. It’s time to finally get this bill passed and signed into law to cut Maduro off from every last resource, get him and his thugs out of power, and bring a new day of freedom to Venezuela," concluded Scott.
Moreover, Sen. Cruz stated that Nicolás Maduro threatens U.S. national security and Venezuelan human rights, and this bill addresses these concerns.
“Maduro is a tyrant and despot, and his regime poses acute risks to American national security and to the freedoms of the people of Venezuela," said Sen. Cruz. "The regime is enabled and enriched through international contracts with global companies, and it is squarely in the interests of the United States to limit those contracts and hold those companies accountable. I urge my colleagues to take swift action to advance this bill.”
The BOLIVAR Act will accomplish the following, per Sen. Scott:
- Prohibit federal agencies from awarding U.S. government contracts with companies that are engaged in business with the Maduro regime.
- The prohibition would only apply to contracts entered into on or after the bill’s enactment.
- Provide for necessary exceptions, including for rendering humanitarian aid and disaster relief.
- Allow the Secretary of State to waive the restriction when in the national interest of the U.S.
