Neguse Leads Effort In Congress To Ban Energy Imports From Russia

Statement

Last night, Congress passed legislation to suspend oil and energy imports from Russia. Congressman Neguse was one of the first members to call for this action over the past weekend.

"Russia's reckless, unprovoked war is a grave violation of international law, and has led to the fastest growing refugee crisis in Europe since World War II, and brutal unnecessary violence and hardship. President Biden and Congress are united in holding Russia accountable and isolating them further from the global economy," said Congressman Joe Neguse. "This week we are advancing critical legislation to ban the import of Russian oil and energy products to the United States, take steps to review Russia's access to the World Trade Organization and strengthen U.S. authority to impose further sanctions on Russia. We are also working to provide $13.6 billion in humanitarian, economic and security assistance for the people of Ukraine. When democracy is threatened, we must stand strong with our allies and aid those fleeing violence."

The Suspending Energy Imports from Russia Act will:

Ban the import of Russian oil and energy products into the United States, cutting off a major source of revenue for Putin;
Take steps to review Russia's access to the World Trade Organization and explore how the U.S. can further diminish Russia in the global economy; and
Reauthorize and strengthen the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act so that the United States can impose further sanctions on Russia. In 2012, the Congress took bipartisan action with the Magnitsky Act to impose sanctions on human rights abusers in Russia, while also normalizing trade relations. This standard was expanded in 2016 to apply globally: broadening the human rights abuses that can be punished with sanctions and bolstering coordination with our partners. This week's legislation extends Global Magnitsky so that the United States can continue to punish Russia for its heinous attacks on Ukrainian civilians and its violation of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Source