OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Suspending Normal Trade Relations with Russia and Belarus Act

Floor Speech

Date: March 17, 2022
Location: Washington, DC

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Mr. SMITH of Nebraska. Madam Speaker, I rise today to support the long overdue legislation to hold Russia accountable for its invasion of Ukraine. It is unfortunate it took so long to get to this point, but I am glad we have finally reached a consensus.

This bill, as you know, revokes permanent normal trade relations for Russia and normal trade relations for Belarus, putting them in the same trade category as North Korea and Cuba, and appropriately so.

The U.S. must take the lead in showing the real economic consequences of violent acts against NATO members and partners, and this bill is a key element of that.

We were all moved by President Zelenskyy's address earlier this week, and I am glad we are finally answering his call for additional assistance. We can and should do more, especially when it comes to banning energy imports from Russia.

As Republican leader of the Trade Subcommittee, I am glad this bill is finally seeing a vote on the House floor. I support this bill and certainly urge my colleagues to do the same so we can use the trade tools at our disposal to hold Vladimir Putin accountable.

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