Suspending Normal Trade Relations with Russia and Belarus Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. HOYER. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Neal), the chairman of the Ways and Means Committee for yielding.

I thank the gentleman from Texas for joining in this effort to ensure that America speaks with a strong and certain voice.

Madam Speaker, yesterday, we heard from President Zelenskyy, an historic address that moved us all. He spoke in an hour of peril for democracy in his country and at a turning point for democracy around the world.

We were, and remain, awed by the courage mirrored by that individual who leads Ukraine, and of the people he leads who, in light of an overwhelming force, said no, we will not yield. We will stand, and we will fight, and we will speak out for our country.

Contrary to the premise of the war criminal who leads Russia saying that they would welcome the Russian troops with open arms. That was a lie, a lie to the Russian people, a lie to the Russian conscripts, and a lie to the world.

Vladimir Putin's criminal and unprovoked invasion of the sovereign nation of Ukraine has only grown more brutal, Madam Speaker, through the days and weeks. We have seen his forces target civilian areas, bomb hospitals, and disappear Ukrainian elected officials in areas they occupy.

This House is being asked today whether to repeal Russia's permanent, normal trade relations status. The question ought to be: Is Russia behaving like a normal, law-abiding nation? And of course, the resounding answer of the world has been no.

Indeed, there is nothing normal about its behavior or about Putin's choices. He has violated every norm that has been in place since the end of the Second World War. He is testing the resolve of the democratic free world. And thankfully, we are meeting that test with unity, with resolve, and with strength.

The revocation of Russia's normal trade status with the United States, as well as that of its ally, Belarus, is just the latest tool, Madam Speaker, being employed to isolate Russia economically and prevent the replenishment of its military assets being depleted in the invasion of Ukraine.

Putin clearly should have envisioned the pain that his invasion would be bringing down on his own country. That is a shame, because it is clear that a large segment of the Russian people do not want this war and, in fact, thousands of them are in jail because they have publicly made that clear.

They don't want to see their children being sent off to kill, maim, and terrorize the people of a friendly neighbor that caused them no threat; whose citizens maintain close people-to-people relations with the Russian people; and they do not want to lose access to the global marketplaces in which many Russian entrepreneurs and innovators have been participating and finding opportunities.

But no, the murderer of Moscow determined that he wanted to see the Russian empire restored, not because he was threatened, not because Russia was threatened, but because it would serve his ego and concept of empire.

As Russia continues to grow more and more isolated, as the vise tightens around its media, as the last few flickers of freedom for its people are extinguished, its people need only look to the Kremlin for answers.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes.'' Vote ``yes'' for the heroic people of Ukraine. Vote ``yes'' for a leader that has shown us courage and commitment to freedom and to democracy. Vote ``yes'' to tell Vladimir Putin that norms still matter, and we will not stand by as he seeks to break them.

No, normal relations are not warranted.

Vote ``yes.'' Vote for democracy. Vote for freedom. Vote for a courageous people. Vote for a free Ukraine.

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