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Rep. Jim Banks Leads RSC’s Putin Accountability Act

January 20, 2022

WASHINGTON— Congressman Jim Banks (IN-03), Chairman of the Republican Study Committee, introduced a new bill today which would impose real costs on Vladimir Putin's increasing aggression and call out the Biden administration's Real Russia Collusion. The new bill, co-led by RSC National Security and Foreign Affairs Task Force Chairman Joe Wilson, Rep. Doug Lamborn, Rep. Michael Waltz, Rep. Barry Moore and joined by 38 House Republicans, would impose the toughest sanctions on Russia ever proposed by Congress. Read more via the Washington Post HERE.

The bill would impose sanctions on Putin, his family members, mistress and network of kleptocratic oligarchs. In addition, it would designate Russia as a State Sponsor of Terrorism, place sanctions on Russian sovereign debt in the secondary market, immediately shut down the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, kick Russia out of the international SWIFT Code system, and impose sanctions on Russia's financial sector.

The bill is cosponsored by Reps. Don Bacon, Randy Feenstra, Greg Steube, Jeff Duncan, Diana Harshbarger, John Curtis, Tracey Mann, Guy Reschenthaler, Scott Fitzgerald, Bob Gibbs, Richard Hudson, Lance Gooden, Jake LaTurner, Madison Cawthorn, Michael Burgess, Pat Fallon, Mary Miller Meeks, Randy Weber, Dan Meuser, David McKinley, August Pfluger, Adrian Smith, Cliff Bentz, Fred Keller, Blake Moore, Rick Crawford, Rodney Davis, Darrell Issa, Alex Mooney, Burgess Owens, Lisa McClain, Brian Babin, Kevin Hern, Dusty Johnson, and Brad Wenstrup.

"The real Russian collusion has always been between the Democrats and Vladimir Putin. No president has done more to appease Russia's dictator than Joe Biden. That's why conservatives at the Republican Study Committee introduced this bill to hold both Biden and Putin accountable." said Rep. Jim Banks, Chairman of the Republican Study Committee.

"We need to go after Putin directly and his network of kleptocrats and oligarchs. Weakness is provocative. Without imposing real costs, we won't deter Putin. We have been pushing for these sanctions for years, further delays will lead to war. The time to deter conflict is before it happens," said RSC National Security Task Force Chairman Joe Wilson

"We cannot wait for Putin to make the first move and the time to implement crippling sanctions on Russian entities is now. Weakness feeds Russian provocation. It's unfortunate that the Biden Administration's foreign policy team hasn't learned that lesson. Putin's cronies in Moscow should feel the real costs of their efforts to destabilize the free world." said Rep. Michael Waltz.

"While President Biden continues the failed foreign policy approach of the Obama Administration, which allowed the Russian annexation of the Crimea, House Republicans are dedicated to holding Putin and the Russian government accountable. This legislation makes it absolutely clear that the U.S. will not stand idly by as the Kremlin threatens an invasion of Ukraine. The Putin Accountability Act will impose crippling sanctions and real costs on the Russian government. Since the White House refuses to act, it is imperative that Congress take up this legislation." said Rep. Doug Lamborn.

"Stand for America supports the Putin Accountability Act. As the Biden administration continues to show weakness in the face of Russian aggression, the RSC is standing up to defend the United States and our allies and holding Putin and his cronies accountable. We commend Chairman Banks, Rep. Waltz, Rep. Wilson, Rep. Lamborn, and their RSC colleagues for leading on this legislation." said Tim Chapman, Executive Director, Stand for America

"For too long, Russia has been able to maliciously act on the global stage with impunity. While Democrats have been busy playing political games and shielding Russian pipelines from sanctions, we are thankful that Chairman Jim Banks and the RSC have stepped in to provide what amounts to the strongest list of sanctions ever directed at Russia via their aptly named Putin Accountability Act," said Garrett Bess, Vice President of Heritage Action for America.

"As the Biden administration continues to display a lack of resolve regarding Russia's impending invasion of Ukraine, it is critical to reinforce American leadership in the world. Credible non-kinetic options including targeted sanctions help deter Putin's aggression and reinforce the peace and stability of Europe. We commend leaders who take this threat seriously and demonstrate that the U.S. does not back down in the face of Russian aggression," said the Vandenberg Coalition.

Read the full legislation here. Read the summary here.