PANA Act of 2026

Bill Number

H.R. 9039

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 2

Policy Area

International Affairs

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2026-05-26: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Last Updated

2026-06-08T17:42:02Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose of the Legislation

This bill creates a dedicated fund to support efforts toward democratic governance, human rights protections, independent media, and anti-corruption measures in Venezuela. It directs certain forfeited assets linked to past Venezuelan leadership into this fund for those uses.

Key Provisions

• Fund Establishment: Creates the Venezuela Restoration Fund in the U.S. Treasury, funded by specific forfeited assets.
• Fund Uses: Allows spending on strengthening democratic institutions, documenting human rights abuses, aiding independent media broadcasts, and improving transparency in Venezuelan government and state-owned businesses. Funds may support both government and non-government groups and must align with existing U.S. foreign policy.
• Funding Source: Requires that assets forfeited to the U.S. after the bill's enactment by anyone acting for or on behalf of the regimes of Hugo Chávez or Nicolás Maduro be placed directly into the fund.
• Reporting Requirements: Mandates annual reports from the Secretary of the Treasury (in consultation with the Secretary of State) to congressional committees detailing deposits, sources, obligations, and spending.
• Oversight Committees: Defines the relevant committees as the House Foreign Affairs and Appropriations Committees, plus the Senate Foreign Relations and Appropriations Committees.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

The bill introduces a new, dedicated fund for Venezuela-related activities using forfeited assets, bypassing the need for annual congressional appropriations. It shifts these specific forfeitures away from general Treasury deposits and ties them exclusively to the listed purposes in Venezuela.

Potential Impacts

• Government Agencies: Involves the Departments of Treasury and State in fund management, allocation, and reporting, potentially increasing administrative workload.
• Citizens: Could indirectly benefit people in Venezuela through supported programs for rights documentation, media access, and governance improvements.
• International Relations: May influence U.S. policy toward Venezuela by providing a financial tool tied to asset seizures from regime-linked individuals, affecting diplomatic and sanctions-related efforts.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• U.S. executive branch agencies (Treasury and State Departments).
• Congressional oversight committees.
• Venezuelan governmental and non-governmental organizations receiving support.
• Individuals or entities whose assets are subject to forfeiture under the bill's criteria.
• Independent media outlets and human rights groups operating in or focused on Venezuela.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

The legislation relies on existing U.S. asset forfeiture authority but creates a permanent, non-appropriated funding stream, which could raise questions about congressional control over spending. Politically, it signals continued U.S. opposition to the Chávez and Maduro governments while supporting opposition-aligned activities. No direct constitutional issues are addressed in the bill itself.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Salazar, Maria Elvira [R-FL-27]

Cosponsors (4)

Rep. Wasserman Schultz, Debbie [D-FL-25], Rep. Gimenez, Carlos A. [R-FL-28], Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4], Rep. Huizenga, Bill [R-MI-4]

Recent Actions

• 2026-05-26: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
• 2026-05-26: Introduced in House
• 2026-05-26: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Preserving Accountability for National Assets Act of 2026 — issued 2026-05-26 — PDF (4 pages)