Congresswoman Escobar Statement on Russia Sanctions Bill

Today, Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) released the following statement on the Russia sanctions bill: “I strongly support holding Russia accountable for its brutal war against Ukraine, and I believe strong, targeted sanctions are an important tool to pressure Vladimir Putin and his regime and to support Ukraine’s defense against Russian aggression. “That’s why I supported amendments to today’s Russia sanctions bill that would have removed problematic provisions granting President Trump sweeping power to impose tariffs without sufficient congressional oversight. At a time when this President has repeatedly failed to use America’s leverage to push back on Russia and has instead used tariff authority in ways that have harmed American consumers, businesses, and our relationships with longstanding allies, Congress should be strengthening its oversight. Unfortunately, these provisions remained in the final bill, and I could not support it. “Congress should use this moment to force the President to act against Putin, not hand him more authority on tariffs. I would have proudly voted to pass a clean sanctions bill that imposes real costs on Russia and makes clear that the United States will not tolerate its continued aggression against Ukraine. We should not have to surrender Congress's authority over trade and tariffs to do it. “I will continue to support strong sanctions that hold Putin and his regime accountable, and I will continue fighting for Congress to exercise its constitutional responsibility over the economic and foreign policy tools of the United States.” # # #