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Floor Speech
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Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, first let me thank the Senator from Alabama for her poignant and strong and much needed words.
Let me thank my colleague from New Hampshire, along with Senator Blumenthal, for leading the fight in this very important issue.
Now, I just got back from a beautiful service honoring Lindsey Graham. The service honoring Lindsey Graham today was a tribute not only to our friend Lindsey but to his belief that America can act as a positive force on the global stage, especially in Ukraine.
I didn't agree with Lindsey on many things, but Lindsey understood something Trump has yet to learn: It takes resolve to earn respect.
Instead of standing strongly behind Ukraine and squarely against Vladimir Putin, Trump has tried and failed to pander to Russia. At a time when Ukraine is turning the tide in the war against Putin, we must show the Ukrainians that our Congress and our country are fully behind them and show Putin that his war is a losing battle because the people of the United States and this Senate stand behind the Ukrainians.
With this bill, we are going to show the Russians we mean business. We are going to impose steep, mandatory sanctions to clamp down on the Russian war machine, drain the Kremlin's war chest, and truly cripple the Russian war effort.
That is how you make a bully like Putin listen, by putting real pressure on him to end this devastating war. Words will not do; actions matter. This is strong action, strong medicine.
And Trump should not pass up--better not pass up--this opportunity. If Trump tries to abuse these tools and continue kowtowing to Putin, he will only make himself and our country look weaker.
Make no mistake, there is an overwhelming majority in this country that wants to see Russia defeated and Ukraine victorious in this fight against Putin's authoritarian invasion.
President Zelenskyy has reiterated that Ukraine is changing the tide in this war and gaining momentum every day. We are seeing it happen with our own eyes.
Lindsey Graham spent his final days trying to help Ukraine achieve victory. We ought to do the same in the days, weeks, and months ahead.
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