House advances anti-Russia bills package supported by Turner, Stefanik

U.S. Reps. Mike Turner (R-OH) and Elise Stefanik (R-NY) earlier this week supported passage by the U.S. House of Representatives of a package of bills targeting hostile behavior from Russia.

“As a former president of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, I have witnessed rapidly increasing Russian aggression,” said Rep. Turner, who now serves as chairman of the defense and security committee of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly. “I stand in strong support of continued and increased pressure on the Kremlin to hold Vladimir Putin accountable for his reprehensible actions.”

Russian President “Vladimir Putin and his corrupt allies seek to weaken democracies globally by consolidating political control through unethical means, and they must be brought to account for their actions,” added Rep. Stefanik on Tuesday following the House votes.

Specifically, the House on March 12 approved three bills and a House Resolution (H.Res.).

The Vladimir Putin Transparency Act, H.R. 1404, would direct the Office of the Director of National Intelligence to submit a report to Congress about Putin that addressed topics such as his estimated net worth and known sources of income; his intermediaries, including shell companies; and the identities of the most significant Russian senior officials and oligarchs who facilitate Putin’s corrupt acts, according to the congressional record summary of the bill. 

“This legislation is an important step to ensuring the security of our elections and upholding democracy around the world,” said Rep. Stefanik, the lead original cosponsor of H.R. 1404, on the House floor prior to the chamber’s vote on the package of related bills. The bill passed the House by voice vote. 

In addition, the Crimea Annexation Non-Recognition Act, H.R. 596, a measure that would prohibit the United States government from recognizing the Russian Federation’s claim of sovereignty over Crimea, according to the congressional record, was approved 427-1. 

The KREMLIN Act, H.R. 1617, which would require intelligence assessments of the intentions of the Russian Federation’s political leadership, according to the text of the proposal, also received House passage by voice vote. 

And the bipartisan H.Res. 156 seeks accountability and justice for the assassination of Russian statesman Boris Nemtsov, an outspoken opponent of the Kremlin regime who was murdered in February 2015, according to the text of the resolution. The resolution was approved by a vote of 416-1.

The significance of these bills can’t be overstated, the lawmakers said.

For instance, Rep. Turner noted that recently, “we have seen the Russian annexation of Crimea; the Kremlin’s murder and attempted murders of Russian citizens for speaking out against Putin; and Russia’s continued interference in democratic elections, including here in the United States.” 

And Rep. Stefanik, speaking specifically about H.R. 1404, said the legislation “instructs U.S. intelligence to collect and submit a report to Congress on Putin and his allies’ financial assets and secretive networks. This bill has been vetted by bipartisan national security experts.”

The U.S. Senate on March 13 received H.R. 596 and referred it for consideration to the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee. The chamber also on Wednesday received H.R. 1404, which has been referred to the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence for review.

Additionally, the Senate received H.R. 1617 and has placed the bill on its legislative calendar for action.

As of March 12, H.Res.156 remained in the House, according to the congressional record.