Bustos Votes to Suspend Energy Imports from Russia

Statement

Today, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (IL-17), helped to pass bipartisan legislation to ban the import of Russian oil and energy products into the United States -- further isolating Russia from the global economy. This action in the House bolsters President Biden's announcement that his administration is banning Russian oil, coal and natural gas imports to the United States in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

"Following Vladimir Putin's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, the United States has a responsibility to do everything in its power to support the Ukrainian people and democracy," said Congresswoman Bustos. "Today, I was proud to join my colleagues in passing bipartisan legislation to support President Biden's actions to ban the import of Russian oil and energy products into the United States. American sanctions, in coordination with two-thirds of the world's economy, are having a devastating impact on Russia's economy. As long as Putin wages his war against democracy, Americans will stand up for freedom."

The three major provisions in this bill are as follows:

The bill will ban the import of Russian oil and energy products into the United States. This will cut off a major source of revenue for Putin. Separately, as the United States works to diminish the Russian economy, Congress and the Administration remain laser-focused on bringing down energy costs for American families and our partners.
The bill will take steps to review Russia's access to the World Trade Organization and explore how we can further diminish Russia in the global economy.
The bill will reauthorize and strengthen the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act so that the United States can impose further sanctions on Russia. In 2012, 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 new bill 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.

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