Ukraine Invasion War Crimes Deterrence and Accountability Act

Floor Speech

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Ms. PELOSI. Madam Speaker, as we speak, the battle for liberty and democracy rages on in Ukraine. Congress and the Country are in awe of the heroism and determination of the Ukrainian people--as they defend democracy in their homeland and in the world.

Tragically, the Russian response to their courage and resilience has been nothing short of monstrous. Since Russia's unlawful and unprovoked invasion, we have heard deeply disturbing reports out of Ukraine: demolishing a maternity hospital; bombing civilians fleeing the fighting; and killing innocent children.

As the State Department concluded on March 23rd, based on the information available, these barbaric attacks amount to war crimes.

Just this week, the world saw shocking and horrifying images of mass executions in Bucha--with the bodies of hundreds of slain civilians strewn throughout the city. Sadly, as President Zelenskyy reported to the United Nations Security Council yesterday, we have reason to believe this is happening elsewhere, too.

Sadly, the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that the massacre the world saw wasn't real--but a performance by actors playing dead.

This reality is sickening and heart-wrenching--and we cannot stay silent in the face of these outrageous and unthinkable atrocities.

Today, the House takes another important step to hold Putin and the Russian government accountable for this cruel brutality.

With the Ukraine War Crimes Act, we will ensure that the United States is collecting, analyzing and preserving evidence of Russian war crimes: an essential step so that the perpetrators can be prosecuted.

In doing so, we can help deter future war crimes--making it clear to Russian forces that the free world is closely watching.

This action follows the leadership of President Joe Biden, who has: capably orchestrated the West's strong, unified response; and demonstrated extraordinary moral clarity, among the first to call these heinous attacks what they are: war crimes.

Let us salute Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Gregory Meeks and Ranking Member Michael McCaul, for their relentless leadership in introducing this strong legislation.

And I thank them for their commitment to bipartisanship: demonstrating our Nation's unity and resolve as we respond to Russia's aggression.

This legislation builds on ongoing, escalating efforts by the Congress, the Administration and our Allies to punish Putin for his crimes.

With historic speed and coordination with our allies abroad, America has led the world in isolating Russia and devastating its economy.

We have: cut off Russian banks and decimated its markets; choked off its access to technology; cracked down on the oligarchs funding this war--and much more.

The House has passed bold legislation to revoke normal trade relations from Russia and ban the import of Russian energy: two major steps that will further cripple Putin's war effort and the Russian economy.

At the same time, we have secured $13.6 billion in new humanitarian, security and economic assistance for Ukraine--which is already reaching people on the ground--as well as bolstered our support for NATO.

Our actions have left Russia weaker in every way. And now, we are taking further action to make sure Russia is held to account for its crimes.

This week, on Monday evening--54 years after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.--many of us gathered with the King family at the MLK Memorial.

At the foot of this spectacular monument to peace, the King family placed a sunflower wreath: a symbol of our unity with the people of Ukraine.

In his book Stride Toward Freedom, Dr. King wrote: ``He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it.''

The legislation that the House will pass today will make clear that we stand firmly against the evil being perpetrated against Ukraine--and on the side of democracy, freedom and peace.

In memory of the victims of these horrific Russian war crimes--and in solidarity with those who remain in danger--I urge a strong, bipartisan ``aye'' vote on this legislation.

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