North Miami-Dade News

Today, Western Hemisphere Subcommittee Chairwoman María Elvira Salazar and Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz introduced the Revoke Exemptions for Venezuelan Oil to Curb Autocratic Repression (REVOCAR) Act in the House of Representatives. This bill is a companion to legislation introduced in the Senate by U.S. Senator Dick Durbin.

Following the presidential election in Venezuela on July 28, 2024, Nicolás Maduro's regime has been accused of repressing supporters of opposition leader María Corina Machado and Edmundo González, who was declared the winner of the election. The Biden-Harris Administration renewed Chevron’s license to operate in Venezuela shortly after this disputed election, which some argue undermines efforts to pressure Maduro to concede.

The REVOCAR Act aims to revoke these licenses, preventing American and European companies from financing what critics describe as Maduro’s oppressive regime. "It’s long past time to cut off the flow of money that the Maduro Dictatorship uses to oppress their people," said Chairwoman Salazar. She emphasized that if Maduro remains in power, there will be no oil revenue for his regime.

Chairwoman Salazar criticized oil companies such as Chevron, Repsol, Eni, and Maurel et Prom for continuing business with PDVSA, Venezuela’s state-owned oil company. The act seeks to end financial support for Maduro by prohibiting engagement with PDVSA through eliminating General Licenses issued by the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). These restrictions would last three years or until a peaceful transfer of power occurs.

Representative Wasserman Schultz stated: "Maduro’s brutal regime refuses to honor the undeniable election results... Rescinding these special licenses... must be part of our international effort to reject Maduro's election theft." She argued against allowing fossil fuel companies’ interests at democracy's expense.

Senator Durbin commented on the situation: "Despite the sweeping and clear opposition victory...the Maduro regime refused to release results... We must put an end to the outright theft of Venezuelan voters’ overwhelming choice for a better future." He expressed satisfaction with Salazar and Wasserman Schultz introducing this House bill aimed at ending U.S. petroleum cooperation with Venezuela until legitimate election results are respected.