On the recordSeptember 9, 2024
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 8361, as amended, and I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, 2\1/2\ years ago, we saw an unprovoked and brutal invasion of Ukraine by Russia, an act that has destabilized Europe and challenged the principles of sovereignty and self-determination. This blatant aggression is a direct attack on the international order that has kept the peace for decades. Though Russia's illegal behavior is uniquely indefensible, countries such as China that have aggressively done business with the Russian military-industrial defense base are certainly not blameless. The United States Government, including the House Committee on Foreign Affairs in a bipartisan manner, has engaged in extensive diplomacy to discourage countries from providing financial and material support for the Russian invasion. The Biden-Harris administration has also used economic statecraft, including expansive export controls, to prevent key dual-use electronics items from reaching Moscow. Full blocking sanctions are a particularly formidable economic weapon, and the Biden-Harris administration has begun to use this part of the arsenal. Bipartisan support for this legislation affirms that position, and financial sanctions must be on the table. Finally, by imposing sanctions on the PRC and other entities that are fueling Russia's military machine, we send a clear message: We will not stand idly by while Ukraine's sovereignty is trampled.…





