S. 3595: No War with Venezuela Act of 2026

This bill, titled the No War with Venezuela Act of 2026, aims to place restrictions on the deployment of U.S. military or intelligence personnel in Venezuela without the explicit authorization of Congress. The primary provisions of the bill can be summarized as follows:

Prohibition on Military and Intelligence Deployment

The bill specifies that no federal funds may be utilized for the deployment of U.S. military or intelligence personnel in Venezuela for various specified purposes, including:

• Conducting military operations against the Venezuelan regime or its people.
• Assisting U.S. law enforcement operations, including the arrest of individuals indicted by the U.S. Government.
• Any military occupation of Venezuela, such as administering governance in the country.
• Providing security or services to private extractive industries, which would include oil companies.
• Engaging in any other activities unless specifically authorized by Congress.

Exceptions to the Prohibition

Despite the broad prohibition on deployment, the bill outlines certain exceptions where the restrictions would not apply. These exceptions include:

• Defending against an attack by Venezuela on U.S. personnel or facilities located outside the United States.
• Activities aimed solely at collecting, analyzing, or sharing intelligence and counterintelligence information relevant to the U.S. Government.
• Ensuring the security of any U.S. diplomatic presence in Venezuela.
• Collecting, analyzing, or sharing intelligence to facilitate the safe return of U.S. nationals wrongfully detained in Venezuela.
• Counteracting the production and distribution of illicit narcotics identified by U.S. intelligence as originating from Venezuela.
• Countering the activities of governments such as China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea in Venezuela and surrounding areas.

Legislative Process

The bill was introduced in the U.S. Senate on January 7, 2026, by Mr. Bennet and has been referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations for further consideration.

Relevant Companies

• CVX (Chevron Corporation) - As a major oil company, Chevron's operations in Venezuela could be impacted by restrictions on U.S. military involvement, particularly regarding the protection of their interests and operations in the country.
• XOM (Exxon Mobil Corporation) - Similar to Chevron, Exxon operates in regions near Venezuela and could be impacted by restrictions on security and military support for their activities.