Congressman Doggett Urges Strong House Vote to Block Russian Sanctions Relief
***Press Release***
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 16, 2019 | Contact: Kate Stotesbery 202-225-4865 |
Congressman Doggett Urges Strong House Vote to Block Russian Sanctions Relief
Washington, D.C. — Tomorrow, at the deadline for Congress to block the Trump Administration's lifting of sanctions on Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska's companies, the House is expected to vote on a resolution of disapproval. A successful vote tomorrow could rejuvenate a Senate effort supported by all Democrats and 11 Republicans, falling only two votes short for cloture earlier today. Congressman Lloyd Doggett commented:
"The House should send a strong message of oversight to both the White House and the Kremlin by disapproving this Trump Administration favoritism. Now is hardly the time to lift sanctions on the companies of one of Putin's closest buddies, Oleg Deripaska, whom Treasury previously noted ‘does not separate himself from the Russian state.' While mostly shut down to business for Americans, the Treasury Department is rushing to open business for sanctioned Russian companies.
The more light shed on this sordid arrangement, the worse it looks. We need a full intelligence review regarding whether this Trump agreement allows Deripaska to maintain effective influence over these businesses. Previously, Treasury Secretary Mnuchin had appeared open to a reasonable extension of the deadline to permit thorough Congressional review. Unfortunately, he has ignored Chairman Neal's prompt request for such an extension and has largely gone radio silent except for the usual unqualified defense of Trump Administration action."
Last summer, as part of a House Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee review of the Trump Administration's aluminum and steel national security tariff policy, Congressman Doggett questioned the lifting of sanctions on Rusal and granting a tariff exemption for its affiliate Rusal USA a mere three days after the Putin/Trump Helsinki summit, ahead of thousands of American requests. Amidst a New York Times investigation, the Administration subsequently withdrew the exemption. Additional reporting today revealed that Rusal is now headed by a cheerleader for the Russian occupation of Crimea—which was, of course, a part of the reason for the sanctions that the United States imposed.
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