Congress Steps Up Pressures on Venezuela With New Bill and Increased Reward for Maduro's Arrest

The BOLIVAR Act would prohibit the U.S. from contracting with anyone with business ties to Maduro, as Florida lawmakers propose to raise his arrest reward (Credit: Getty Images)

The bipartisan Banning Operations and Leases with Illegitimate Venezuelan Authoritarian Regime (BOLIVAR) Act, which was first introduced in February by Rep. Mike Waltz, R-FL, and Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-FL, are expected to soon be up for a vote on the House floor after passing its first hurdle on the House Oversight Committee.

The bill will prohibit the U.S. from contracting with anyone with business ties to Nicolas Maduro's regime in Venezuela or any successor regime not recognized by the U.S.