Chairwoman Maloney Introduces Legislation to Prohibit the U.S. Government from Conducting Business with Companies Operating in Russia

Mar 21, 2022
Press Release

Washington, D.C. (March 21, 2022)—Following Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s address to Congress last week, Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney, Chairwoman of the Oversight and Reform Committee, introduced the Federal Contracting for Peace and Security Act, to prohibit the United States from conducting business with companies currently operating in Russia.
 

“For four weeks, the world has watched in horror as Russian forces have launched barbaric attacks against the peaceful and independent country of Ukraine.  With the devastating images of thousands of innocent civilians being killed and injured in Ukraine—including American journalists—it is essential that the United States ratchets up the pressure to weaken Russia’s ability to fund this unprovoked war,” said Chairwoman Maloney.  “While many companies have made the right decision to end or significantly scale back their operations in Russia, others have failed to do so.  That is why today I’m introducing this commonsense legislation to support the Biden-Harris Administration’s efforts to isolate Russia and ensure no American taxpayer dollars will go towards supporting Vladimir Putin’s unjustified invasion.”

 

The federal government awarded billions of dollars in Fiscal Year 2021 to companies that have refused to suspend their business operations in Russia or have only partially scaled back operations or investments.  The Federal Contracting for Peace and Security Act would ensure that the purchasing power of the United States government does not undermine the efforts of the Ukrainians fighting so courageously to defend their country or the international partners that support them.  Specifically, the bill would:

 

  • Establish that it is the policy of the U.S. government not to conduct business with companies that undermine our national security interests by continuing to operate in Russia during its ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine;

 

  • Prohibit the federal government from purchasing products or services from companies that continue to conduct business in Russia during its war of aggression, including the termination of existing contracts with such companies; and

 

  • Make reasonable exceptions for products or services purchased for the benefit of Ukraine or to meet basic human needs, as well as for cases in which prohibition or termination of a contract would not be in the national interest of the United States, provided that the President and Congress are notified in advance.

 

Click here for a one-pager.

 

Click here for bill text.

117th Congress