The Venezuela Advancing Liberty, Opportunity, and Rights Act of 2025 (VALOR Act of 2025) is a proposed law aiming to promote democratic change and human rights in Venezuela. It includes measures like financial sanctions against the Maduro regime, support for Venezuelan democratic and human rights groups, and plans to assist the people of Venezuela, while also addressing the role of Venezuela in international organizations and financial institutions.

The policy of the United States focuses on promoting a peaceful shift to democracy in Venezuela by supporting its people, using diplomatic efforts including sanctions on Maduro's regime, and encouraging global cooperation to achieve this goal. The policy also involves maintaining sanctions until progress towards democracy is shown, and potentially easing them in response to positive changes.

In this section, the term "appropriate congressional committees" refers to specific committees in the U.S. Congress: the Senate's Committee on Foreign Relations and Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, and the House of Representatives' Committee on Foreign Affairs and Committee on Financial Services.

The section outlines the criteria the U.S. President must use to determine if a democratically elected government is in power in Venezuela. These criteria include requirements such as holding free and fair elections, respecting human rights, releasing political prisoners, and not including Nicolas Maduro or individuals sanctioned or wanted by the U.S. government.

The section establishes that the U.S. will oppose any representatives from Nicolas Maduro's government or any nondemocratic government from representing Venezuela in international financial institutions. Once a democratically elected government is in power, the U.S. will support its representation and will only back financial assistance that supports democracy in Venezuela.

The section states that the U.S. President must direct the United States' representative at the Organization of American States to oppose Venezuela's participation if its government is not democratic, until the President confirms to Congress that a democratic government is in power there.

The section allows the President to support democracy-building efforts in Venezuela by providing help to individuals and independent organizations. It includes creating a fund through the Organization of American States for human rights and election observers and encourages other countries to support this initiative while ensuring no assistance goes to Venezuela's nondemocratic government.

The President is authorized to help Venezuelans by working with independent organizations on humanitarian projects like meeting basic needs, supporting democracy, education, non-commercial development, and environmental protection. To safeguard this support, the President must ensure it does not help the Maduro regime and is used only as intended for the Venezuelan people.

In this section, several important terms are defined. An "entity" refers to various types of groups such as partnerships and corporations. The "Government of Venezuela" covers the Venezuelan state and its agencies, and individuals tied to them, especially those connected to the regime of Nicolas Maduro. A "person" can be an individual or an entity, while a "United States person" includes U.S. citizens, residents, and entities under U.S. law.

The section outlines U.S. policy on restricting trade and credit with Venezuela due to its nondemocratic government. It allows the President to impose sanctions on countries aiding Venezuela, except for humanitarian aid, until a democratically elected government is in place.

The bill section prohibits U.S. individuals and entities from engaging in transactions involving debt instruments related to the Maduro regime in Venezuela, including specific types of debt issued by Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A. and the Maduro regime, as well as certain financial activities, such as purchasing or pledging securities and accounts receivable. It also grants the U.S. Treasury the authority to implement regulations to enforce these prohibitions and mandates that all U.S. government agencies take measures within their power to uphold these rules.

The section outlines sanctions that prohibit U.S. individuals and entities from engaging in transactions involving digital currencies associated with the Venezuelan government under Nicolas Maduro. It gives authority to the Secretary of the Treasury to enforce these rules, potentially delegating responsibilities to other U.S. agencies.

The section authorizes the President to block and prohibit transactions involving property and interests in property of the Government of Venezuela and certain individuals or entities linked to them. This includes measures to prevent evasion of these prohibitions and allows the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State, to make rules and delegate authority to enforce these actions.

The bill section states that once a democratically elected government is established in Venezuela, the U.S. President must work to end sanctions. The President must notify Congress immediately and provide updates every 180 days for three years. If Congress disagrees, they can pass a "joint resolution of disapproval" to stop this action, with specific procedures in place for how it is handled in both the Senate and House of Representatives.

The President has the authority to use powers from the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to enforce this title, and anyone who breaks the rules may face penalties similar to those in the Act. Additionally, the President can waive penalties for foreign individuals if it is crucial for national security, with prior notice and explanation to Congress.

The section requires the Secretary of the Treasury, in coordination with the Secretary of State, to submit a report every 180 days to Congress for ten years, detailing specific licenses that allow transactions with sanctioned entities, including estimates of funds accessed by the Maduro regime due to these licenses. The report must include the names of entities with licenses, descriptions of authorized activities, and justifications for granting licenses, while ensuring business confidential information is protected as trade secrets.

The section mandates the Secretary of State to deliver a report to Congress within 180 days, listing foreign individuals or entities engaging in significant transactions with the Venezuelan government or associated with those undermining democracy, committing human rights abuses, restricting freedom of expression, or involved in corruption in Venezuela. It also includes those operating in key sectors like mining and shipping, or offering significant support to those entities.

The section outlines a plan for the U.S. President to provide various forms of assistance to Venezuela under a democratically elected government, including food, medicine, and economic support. The plan requires coordination among U.S. agencies, reports to Congress, efforts to gain international support, and can only proceed with authorized funding.

The section requires the President to report to Congress about U.S. trade and investment relations with Venezuela once a democratically elected government is in power. The report should detail any barriers to trade and the U.S. policy goals regarding trade with Venezuela. Additionally, the President must consult with specific Congressional committees and seek advice from trade advisory committees on these policies.

This section states that the Act does not stop any lawfully approved investigation or intelligence work carried out by U.S. government law enforcement or intelligence agencies.

The section explains that the law does not require or allow sanctions to be imposed on importing goods. It also clarifies that a "good" includes any type of product or equipment, but not technical data.