Venezuela's National Assembly passed a law on Tuesday that enacts harsh penalties for those who support or help finance blockades and acts of piracy, including up to 20 years in prison. The legislation was approved after the United States seized oil tankers linked to Venezuela, acts that the government of President Nicolas Maduro has denounced as lawless acts of piracy.

According to lawmakers, the law aims to protect the national economy and avoid the erosion of living standards for the population. Giuseppe Alessandrello, a lawmaker, presented the law before the National Assembly, stating that "this law seeks to protect the national economy and avoid the erosion of living standards for the population." The National Assembly, controlled by Maduro's governing party, voted in favor of the legislation.

The law targets individuals and entities that provide financial or logistical support to blockades and acts of piracy, which the Venezuelan government considers a threat to its national security and economy. The penalties for violating the law include up to 20 years in prison, fines, and asset seizures. The law also establishes a special committee to investigate and prosecute cases of piracy and blockades.

The Venezuelan government has been critical of the US actions, which it sees as an attempt to strangle its economy and undermine its sovereignty. Maduro has repeatedly denounced the US blockade as a form of economic warfare. The US, on the other hand, has argued that its actions are necessary to prevent the Venezuelan government from using oil revenue to fund its military and authoritarian regime.

The law has been met with mixed reactions from international observers. Some have welcomed the move as a necessary step to protect the Venezuelan economy, while others have expressed concerns about the potential for human rights abuses and the targeting of opposition groups. The US has not commented on the law, but has continued to maintain its economic sanctions against the Venezuelan government.

The law is set to take effect immediately, and the Venezuelan government has vowed to enforce it strictly. The special committee established by the law will begin investigating cases of piracy and blockades, and those found guilty will face severe penalties. The law is seen as a key component of the Venezuelan government's efforts to protect its economy and sovereignty in the face of US pressure.