Sean Casten (D-IL)
Venezuela Oil Proceeds Transparency Act
A Democratic bill with 1 Democratic cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, known as the "Venezuela Oil Proceeds Transparency Act," seeks to oversee a specific energy deal between the United States and Venezuela. The act requires the Comptroller General to conduct an audit of the energy deal announced on January 6, 2026. This audit will cover the activities of various federal agencies and entities involved in the deal's implementation. The Comptroller General must provide interim briefings on findings and potential risks like fraud or abuse. Finally, a formal report containing conclusions and recommendations must be submitted to Congress.
Yes· 3 of 5
- Scored +7
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?
The bill requires the Comptroller General to conduct a formal audit and submit detailed reports and briefings to Congress regarding the energy deal.
- Scored +5
Does this make the government pay for what it commits to?
The bill mandates an audit to identify risks of fraud, abuse, or conflicts of interest regarding the distribution of energy deal proceeds.
- Scored +2
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
The audit ensures the integrity of funds intended for the benefit of the Venezuelan people.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Increased Oversight of Funds: The bill requires an audit of the United States-Venezuela energy deal (Section 3(a)). This could ensure that the sale of Venezuelan oil and the distribution of proceeds, which are intended for the benefit of the American and Venezuelan people (Section 2(2)(C)), are being handled properly.
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Identification of Financial Risks: The Comptroller General is tasked with providing briefings on identified risks of fraud, abuse, or conflicts of interest (Section 3(b)). This could help protect public funds and ensure the integrity of the energy deal.
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Accountability for Federal Agencies: The audit includes the activities of the Department of State, the Department of Energy, the Department of the Treasury, and other involved entities (Section 3(a)). This ensures that the government's actions regarding the rollback of sanctions and the use of new licenses are transparently reviewed.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No specific negative impacts are mentioned in the text of the bill.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill requires the Comptroller General to conduct a formal audit and submit detailed reports and briefings to Congress regarding the energy deal.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this make the government pay for what it commits to? — The bill mandates an audit to identify risks of fraud, abuse, or conflicts of interest regarding the distribution of energy deal proceeds.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The audit ensures the integrity of funds intended for the benefit of the Venezuelan people.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this make trade with other countries easier? — The audit provides oversight for the implementation of an energy deal involving the sale of Venezuelan oil to global markets.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Is this likely to lower the price at the pump? — The bill oversees an energy deal that includes the transport and sale of Venezuelan crude oil to global markets.
- 3/5/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Joaquin CastroDemocrat · Texas