Costa Statement After House Passes Bill to Halt Russia’s Energy Exports to United States, Further Weakening Russian Economy

WASHINGTON - Rep. Jim Costa (CA-16) released the following statement after House passage of the Suspending Energy Imports From Russia Act, which bans all U.S. energy imports from Russia. The bill reinforces congressional support for an executive order signed this week by President Joe Biden, which prohibits the United States from importing Russian oil, natural gas, and coal.

"This bipartisan bill takes decisive action to punish Russian President Vladimir Putin for the death and destruction he is causing in Ukraine," said Costa. "If Putin continues these atrocities, he will see more and more critical elements of Russia's economy sanctioned and isolated from the rest of the world. We are committed to working with our allies to keep our energy markets as stable as possible during this unprecedented time. Russia must pay the price for its actions."

Specifically, the legislation:

• Bans U.S. imports of crude oil, petroleum, natural gas, petroleum products, and coal from Russia.

• Takes steps to review Russia's access to the World Trade Organization and explore how the United States can further diminish Russia in the global economy.

• The bill will reauthorize and strengthen the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act so that the United States can impose further sanctions on Russia. In 2012, Congress took bipartisan action with the Magnitsky Act to impose sanctions on human rights abuses in Russia, while also normalizing trade relations. This standard was expanded in 2016 to apply globally: broadening the human rights abuses that can be punished with sanctions and bolstering coordination with our partners. This new bill extends Global Magnitsky so that the United States can continue to punish Russia for its heinous attacks on Ukrainian civilians and its violation of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The full text of the bill can be found here.