Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge all of my colleagues who voted ``yes'' on continuous and strengthened sanctions on the Russian Federation. That was the correct vote, and I commend the leadership of Ohio's Senator Sherrod Brown, the leading Democrat in the other body on the Banking Committee who fought for this package. The bill also holds Iran, North Korea, as well as Russia accountable. Specifically, Russia for interference in our Democratic Republic, but also for its ongoing human rights violations, its illegal invasion and occupation of Crimea, and continued military violence in eastern Ukraine with over 10,000 dead due to Russian aggression. This bill will impose sanctions on people involved in human rights abuses, those who launch cyber attacks and those who supplied weapons to the Assad government in Syria. President Trump and his staff regularly question the intelligence that shows Russia interfered in our election. Given the President's priorities lately, it is imperative that Congress send a clear message and make it more difficult to undercut sanctions without congressional approval. This package tells the world: Congress won't stand by idly. But what a sad day we have reached when there is doubt whether sanctions against Putin's Russia, liberty's proven adversary, will be even signed by this President of the United States. ____________________”