-9999

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. RISCH. Mr. President, I want to join my colleague, the distinguished ranking member of the Foreign Relations Committee. We are in the same spot on this bill and on the amendment.

Just last week, I stood in this Chamber and asked my colleagues to join me in moving this bill forward, and many of them--from both sides of the aisle--did so. That vote was successful with a margin of 86 to 12. That is a rare vote at this time in the Senate.

That same night that we voted in tremendous support of Ukraine, a number of us welcomed Ukraine's President back to the Capitol, where he gave us a fulsome update on Ukraine's battlefield successes.

He expressed how Ukraine sorely needed this sanctions legislation to magnify the impact of Russia's battlefield losses by imposing crippling economic costs on Russia's economy. This could finally bring Russia to the negotiating table and end this conflict, which we all want to see happen.

But to be clear, while this legislation would help Ukraine counter Russian aggression, it also protects Idahoans--all Americans--but Idahoans, who I focus on here, as all of us focus on our own constituents, and that is always each of our priority.

Peace and stability in Europe are in America's interests. In the interconnected world we live in, prosperity in Europe only helps us here at home.

Like everyone here, I always view what we are doing here through the lens of: How will this affect my constituents at home? How will it help them? And bringing an end to this conflict will allow us to return to issues that Idahoans care about: lowering prices, unleashing domestic energy, protecting public lands, and building a better future for the next generation.

This legislation brings us much closer to that end and an end to this conflict. It will make a decisive impact that goes beyond what can be achieved on the battlefield. It will cut off the flow of cash that powers Putin's war machine.

I have worked with my colleagues on this bill for more than a year, including my friend from New Hampshire; with Senator Blumenthal; and, of course, with Senator Lindsey Graham, who was very focused on this bill; and with the President.

I have worked particularly to include sanctions in this bill against Russia's illicit shadow fleet that it uses to evade these sanctions and prop up its energy sector.

These ships and the oil sales they facilitate directly fuel Russia's war machine and threaten American and European security. They enrich Russia, China, and Iran. This bill will go a long way to stopping that shadow fleet.

I have also worked to include provisions taking aim at Russia's defense supply chains and a number of key energy projects, causing real pain to Putin and those who keep him in power. They will do that.

These tools will give the United States and our allies the leverage we need to force Russia back to the negotiating table and end this conflict.

I would be remiss if I didn't note that this bill was a culmination of many, many hours of work from my staff, Senator Shaheen's staff, Senator Blumenthal's staff, Senator Lindsey Graham's staff, all of them and other staffs worked on this. And we usually don't thank them here on the floor, but they really need thanks on this because this went on so long and was so technical.

Finally, I would be remiss if I didn't note that this bill was a passion project for our friend Lindsey Graham, and it is fitting that we will see it move through the Senate today.

I hope to, once again, see a strong majority of my colleagues join us in this bill--in passing this bill right here and right now.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source