Political Quotes

“Reserving the right to object, 2 years ago, I authored bipartisan legislation sanctioning any company that participated in building Nord Stream 2. That legislation passed Congress overwhelmingly, and Democrats and Republicans overwhelmingly supported it. That was passed on the NDAA, the National Defense Authorization Act. A year ago, I authored a second set of bipartisan sanctions on Nord Stream 2. That second set of bipartisan sanctions again passed overwhelmingly with the support of Democrats and Republicans in this Chamber. That second set of bipartisan sanctions likewise passed on the National Defense Authorization Act. Today, the Democrats are objecting to passing sanctions on Nord Stream 2. What has changed? Two things have changed. No. 1, today Joe Biden is President and not Donald Trump. And the Democrats were more than willing to stand up to Russia when Donald Trump was President, but when Joe Biden is President, suddenly it is untenable for Democrats to stand up to Russia. But, secondly, it is even worse because what has also changed is that Joe Biden has utterly and completely capitulated to Vladimir Putin. He has waived the mandatory sanctions that this body passed. He has given a multibillion-dollar generational gift to Putin. This strengthens Russia.…”