Washington, D.C. – Congressman Darin LaHood (IL-18), a member of the House Ways and Means Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, released the following statement on his vote for legislation to ban Russian energy imports:
"Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine cannot go unchecked without severe consequences for Vladimir Putin and his enablers. While this bill is far from perfect, banning Russian energy imports is a start, and will help isolate Putin, ensure we are not funding Putin's war, and hit the heart of the Russian economy. The Biden Administration's decision to kill the bipartisan deal negotiated by House and Senate trade leaders, which would have ended favorable trade status for Russia and Belarus, raises serious concerns about the Administration's approach to cutting off Putin and his allies as they wage war in Ukraine. More must be done in the weeks ahead to punish Putin, including revoking Russia's favorable trade treatment.
"In addition, the United States must take immediate action to unleash our domestic energy independence. On day one in office, President Biden moved to reduce American energy production and prioritize left-wing Green New Deal initiatives, increasing our reliance on foreign adversaries for energy. These policies alone have pushed gas prices to record highs. Instead of working to prioritize American energy production, the Administration is currently negotiating with dictators in Iran and Venezuela. Now is the time to take decisive action to unleash America's energy sector, including oil, gas, renewables, and Illinois biofuels, to protect our national security and protect Americans at the pump."
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