Spanberger Votes with Bipartisan Majority of U.S. House to Ban Russian Energy Imports, Stand Strong in the Face of Putin's War in Ukraine

Press Release

U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger -- a Member of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee -- tonight voted with an overwhelmingly bipartisan majority of the U.S. House of Representatives to ban Russian energy imports to the United States.

The U.S. House tonight passed the Suspending Energy Imports from Russia Act on a vote of 414 to 17. The legislation would ban the importation of Russian oil and energy products into the United States -- cutting off a source of revenue for Putin's war. Additionally, the bill would take steps to review Russia's access to the World Trade Organization and explore how the United States can further crater Russia's participation in the global economy.

"The world is watching in horror as Putin targets the innocents of Ukraine. At his direction, Russia's military is besieging cities filled with civilians, shelling maternity wards and hospitals, and attacking families and children trying to escape this campaign of terror -- a campaign fueled by Russian oil and gas money. The United States must be united in our reaction to this aggression, and our response must include turning off the American spigot to Putin's blood money," said Spanberger. "Tonight, Members on both sides of the aisle stood together to further isolate Russia from the global economy, weaken Putin's hand, and make clear that war crimes will not go unpunished. As this ban moves to the U.S. Senate and then to the President's desk, I look forward to working together to make sure this import ban is accompanied by efforts to increase domestic energy production, prevent price gouging at the pump, and restore financial peace of mind to the American people."

In addition to banning Russian energy imports, the Suspending Energy Imports from Russia Act would reauthorize and strengthen the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, so that the United States can impose further sanctions on Russia.

BACKGROUND

In the wake of Putin's invasion of Ukraine, Spanberger has been focused on levying unprecedented economic consequences on Russia -- while mitigating the blowback on Virginia families and businesses. Earlier this week, Spanberger helped introduce bipartisan legislation to ban Russian energy imports. And last week, she pressed the Biden Administration to help stave off increases at the gas pump in Virginia and across the country by releasing additional barrels from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR).

Spanberger has also focused on holding Putin's inner circle accountable for the war in Ukraine. In the hours following Putin's invasion, Spanberger helped introduce the bipartisan CORRUPT Act to hold Putin's enablers accountable for supporting his military aggression and human rights abuses. Specifically, it requires the administration to consider sanctions against 35 of the most corrupt and abusive Russian officials.

Additionally, she helped introduce bipartisan legislation that would instate a comprehensive travel ban on Russian government officials and members of the Russian oligarchy. The banned representatives of Russian leadership would include all government officials, all oligarchs, any employee of a state-owned Russian company, and any employee of a company that receives state funding from the Russian Federation.

And Spanberger has been firm in her belief that the United States must provide military aid to the Government of Ukraine during this moment of crisis in Europe. Last week, she cosponsored the bipartisan Ukraine Lend-Lease Act, which would authorize the President to lend or lease military equipment of the Government of Ukraine to bolster its defensive capabilities. Additionally, the bill would streamline the processes to provide defense equipment and material support to Ukraine in its fight to protect its independence.

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