New Senate measures aimed at Russia’s war in Ukraine

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska. Photo by Margaret Bauman/for The Cordova Times

The U.S. Senate has passed two new measures to impose additional penalties on Russia over its unprovoked, bloody war on Ukraine, where thousands of civilians, including children, have died.

The first measure, HR 6968, imposes a legislative ban on Russian energy imports and contains language crafted in part by Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, to expedite its implementation. The second measure, HR 7108, would suspend permanent normal trade relations, a key benefit of World Trade Organization membership, for Russia and Belarus.

“Congress remains united in our support for Ukraine, and we will hold the Russian regime accountable for the devastation, atrocities and war crimes it has committed,” Murkowski said.

On March 3, Senators Murkowski and Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia, introduced SB 3757, the Ban Russian Energy Imports Act, to prohibit the importation of Russian crude oil, petroleum, petroleum products, liquefied natural gas, and coal. Their bill, which has 37 bipartisan cosponsors, is widely credited with prompting President Biden to issue an executive order to block Russian energy imports on March 8.

Advertisement