Suspending Normal Trade Relations with Russia and Belarus Act Passes House

March 17, 2022

Washington, D.C. – This afternoon, the House of Representatives just passed H.R. 7108, “The Suspending Normal Trade Relations with Russia and Belarus Act,” on a 424-8 vote. This legislation would end normal trade relations with Russia and Belarus, as Rep. Doggett first proposed on February 25, just one day after Russia invaded Ukraine. The bill now awaits Senate action.

In his House Floor speech, Rep. Doggett said, “Though important to finally approve this bill as another way to isolate Russia, we should recognize there is no substitute for getting Ukrainians all of the weaponry they requested, including jet fighters, to stop the mass murder we have witnessed daily.” He continued, “To those who ask that we adopt further sanctions or more weapons if Russia does something more, I ask: What more barbaric butchery must we see before doing everything we possibly can, short of sending troops into Ukraine? The time to do everything is now, the time to provide for Ukrainian refugees to enter our country is now.”

Three weeks ago, the day after Russia’s invasion began, Reps. Doggett and Blumenauer together filed the first economic sanctions legislation to end Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) with the Russian Federation and to expel Russia from the World Trade Organization (WTO). Last week, a revised version of Doggett-Blumenauer legislation to ban Russian energy imports, expel Russia from the World Trade Organization (WTO), and hold human rights abusers accountable through the Global Magnitsky Act was approved by the House of Representatives in a resounding 414 – 17 vote. Today’s legislation includes the original PNTR and WTO expulsion provisions, adds reauthorization of the Global Magnitsky Act, but removes the ban on Russian energy imports.

###

Follow Congressman Doggett

Facebook: https://www.Facebook.com/RepLloydDoggett | Twitter: @RepLloydDoggett | Instagram:@RepLloydDoggett