Authors of Bill to Deny Russia Normal Trade Relations Welcome President Biden’s Call

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UNITED STATES CONGRESS
 

Authors of Bill to Deny Russia Normal Trade Relations Welcome President Biden’s Call

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett, Chair of the House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee, and U.S. Representative Earl Blumenauer, Chair of the House Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee, welcome President Biden’s support for their effort to end Permanent Normal Trade Relations with Russia.

Two weeks ago, Reps. Doggett and Blumenauer together filed legislation to end Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) with the Russian Federation and expel Russia from the World Trade Organization (WTO). On Wednesday night, a revised version of the Doggett-Blumenauer legislation to ban Russian energy imports, press for Russia to be expelled from the World Trade Organization (WTO), and hold human rights abusers accountable passed the House of Representatives in a resounding 414 – 17 vote.

“Around the world, other countries have already recognized that normal trade relations cannot continue with Russia. There is nothing normal about the bombs they are dropping, the Ukrainians they are killing, the atrocities they are committing,” said Rep. Doggett. “I hope Congress will approve our legislation next week. There can be no business as usual while Putin’s violent invasion continues. Russia must be denied the benefit of the world order and stability it is now attacking. The financial pain we are imposing cannot immediately ease the pain of Ukrainian families, but it is one way for us to hold Putin accountable and act in solidarity with Ukraine.”

“I applaud President Biden’s calls to revoke Russia’s Most-Favored Nation status by ending Permanent Normal Trade Relations with Russia,” said Rep. Blumenauer. “That’s why Rep. Doggett and I introduced legislation to make this move a reality, I am glad that the President has now rallied the European Union and our G7 allies around this move. We must use every tool at our disposal, short of armed conflict, to forcefully condemn Putin’s imperialist motives and isolate Russia from the global economy.”

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