HR6980-119

What This Bill Does

The NOVA Act of 2026 is a Venezuela non-occupation funding restriction. It prohibits federal funds from being obligated or spent to directly or indirectly support any assertion of U.S. possession, supervision, jurisdiction, control, or sovereignty over Venezuelan territory or resources, including deployment of U.S. Armed Forces in Venezuela. The bill preserves narrow property exceptions: the President may acquire suitable Venezuelan property for U.S. diplomatic or consular establishments with the relevant owner's approval and title exchange, and may designate existing U.S. properties in Venezuela for diplomatic or consular use. It also preserves U.S. title to property conveyed before January 1, 2026. The restriction does not alter or affect authorities or funding for emergency humanitarian aid.

Who Benefits and How

Congressional opponents of U.S. occupation or internal administration of Venezuela benefit because the bill creates a direct funding bar. Venezuelan sovereignty interests benefit because federal funds could not support U.S. control over Venezuelan territory or resources. State Department diplomatic operations benefit from exceptions preserving consular and embassy property authorities. Humanitarian organizations benefit because emergency humanitarian aid funding is not cut off.

Who Bears the Burden and How

Defense Department planners, White House national security staff, and agencies involved in Venezuela policy must ensure federal funds are not used for occupation, supervision, jurisdiction, control, sovereignty claims, or deployment for internal administration. State Department property officers must stay within the diplomatic and consular property exceptions. Federal budget officials must monitor compliance, and military planners may face operational limits if a Venezuela deployment would support prohibited control.

Key Provisions

• Prohibits federal funds for U.S. possession, supervision, jurisdiction, control, or sovereignty over Venezuela.
• Blocks funding for U.S. Armed Forces deployment in Venezuela when tied to occupation or internal administration.
• Preserves diplomatic and consular property acquisition or designation authorities.
• Protects U.S. title to Venezuelan property conveyed before January 1, 2026.
• Preserves emergency humanitarian aid authorities and funding.