Chairs Maloney, Lynch Issue Statements After Member Briefing on the Conflict in Ukraine
Washington, D.C. (March 8, 2022)—Today, Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney, Chairwoman of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, and Rep. Stephen F. Lynch, Chairman of the Subcommittee on National Security, released the following statements after the Committee held a briefing with former U.S. and Ukrainian government officials about Vladimir Putin's unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine.
During the briefing, Members and panelists discussed the security and humanitarian consequences of Russia's military actions in Ukraine, as well as potential next steps that the Biden Administration and Congress can take, including banning Russian energy imports, to continue to support the Ukrainian people and impose severe economic costs on Russia for violating the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. Russia's attack on Ukraine is endangering the lives of innocent civilians and threatening the rules-based international order that has helped to promote global peace and security since the end of World War II.
"Today's briefing by former senior diplomats and members of the Ukrainian-American community brings into stark relief how unjustified and dangerous Russian President Vladimir Putin's decision to invade a peaceful Ukraine truly is," Chairwoman Maloney said. "The briefing highlighted the strong steps President Biden and his Administration have taken to unite the world in condemning Putin's invasion and imposing swift and severe consequences on Russia. I strongly support bipartisan legislation banning imports of Russian energy, and I am heartened that the Biden-Harris Administration is now taking this bold, but necessary action. The Committee on Oversight and Reform stands with Ukraine, and we will work to ensure that critical aid and support is delivered to the Ukrainian people."
"As a democracy, we cannot tolerate Putin's authoritarian worldview that one nation can simply erode the borders of another by force—and we must respond to such aggression decisively—with swift and severe consequences," Chairman Lynch said. "I applaud President Biden for taking action today to ban the import of Russian energy and I look forward to working with the Administration and my Congressional colleagues in continuing our robust support for the people of Ukraine and holding Putin accountable."
The Oversight Committee continues to monitor the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
On February 24, 2022, the Chairs condemned Vladimir Putin's unlawful invasion.
On February 16, 2022, the Subcommittee on National Security held a hearing to examine Russia's destabilizing activity in Eastern Europe. During the hearing, experts commended President Biden and his Administration for unifying the North Atlantic Treaty Alliance and stressed that unity and bipartisanship at home is necessary to challenge the Kremlin's authoritarian worldview.
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