VALOR Act of 2025
VALOR Act of 2025
Plain Language Summary
# VALOR Act of 2025 - Plain Language Summary **What the Bill Does** The VALOR Act would impose economic sanctions against Venezuela's current government and any future nondemocratic government that takes its place. It would freeze Venezuelan government assets in the U.S. and restrict American aid and military support to other countries that help Venezuela's government. The bill also allows the U.S. to support Venezuelan pro-democracy groups and independent organizations working toward democratic change in the country. **Who It Affects and Key Provisions** The bill primarily affects Venezuela's government and officials, as well as any countries that provide assistance to Venezuela.
It would allow the President to deny foreign aid, military assistance, and debt relief to nations supporting Venezuela. Importantly, the bill also includes provisions to help ordinary Venezuelan people—authorizing aid like food, medicine, and emergency energy assistance if a democratic government takes power. It requires the administration to develop plans for humanitarian support and democracy-building efforts in Venezuela. **Current Status** The bill was introduced in the Senate (S. 37) during the 119th Congress and is currently in committee, meaning it has not yet been debated or voted on by the full Senate. It remains in the early stages of the legislative process.
CRS Official Summary
Venezuela Advancing Liberty, Opportunity, and Rights Act of 2025 or the VALOR Act of 2025This bill requires or authorizes various actions, including sanctions, targeting the current government of Venezuela and any nondemocratic successor government. The bill also authorizes certain types of assistance for the people of Venezuela and to support democracy-building efforts.Under the bill, the Presidentmust impose property-blocking sanctions on the Venezuelan government and persons supporting the Venezuelan government;may deny U.S. nonhumanitarian foreign assistance, arms-related assistance, and debt forgiveness to any country that provides assistance to the Venezuelan government;may provide support to individuals and independent nongovernmental organizations to support democracy-building efforts in Venezuela;must develop a plan to provide assistance to Venezuela under a democratically elected government, which may include food, medicine, and emergency energy assistance to meet the basic needs of Venezuelans;must take steps to terminate sanctions under this bill once the President determines that a democratically elected government is in power (criteria for such a determination include a Venezuelan government that is the result of free and fair elections, is making progress in establishing an independent judiciary and respecting human rights, and has released all political prisoners).The Department of the Treasury must oppose the seating of Venezuelan representatives at certain international financial institutions such as the International Monetary Fund.Additionally, the bill prohibits U.S. persons (individuals or entities) from engaging in transactions involving Venezuela's debt or any digital currency issued by Venezuela.
Latest Action
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.