[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 192 (Tuesday, December 3, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H9197-H9198]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
{time} 1645
DISAPPROVING THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION'S INCLUSION IN FUTURE GROUP OF
SEVEN SUMMITS UNTIL IT RESPECTS THE TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY OF ITS
NEIGHBORS AND ADHERES TO THE STANDARDS OF DEMOCRATIC SOCIETIES
Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the
resolution (H. Res. 546) disapproving the Russian Federation's
inclusion in future Group of Seven summits until it respects the
territorial integrity of its neighbors and adheres to the standards of
democratic societies.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows:
H. Res. 546
Whereas, in 2014, Russia illegally occupied Ukraine's
Crimea region and parts of eastern Ukraine;
Whereas these actions are in direct violation of
fundamental principles of international law, as well as the
United Nations Charter, the Helsinki Final Act, and the 1994
Budapest Memorandum;
Whereas, in 1998, the Group of Seven invited Russia to join
the group in an effort to encourage continued political and
economic reforms in Russia;
Whereas, in March 2014, the Group of Eight suspended Russia
as a direct result of its actions in Ukraine, and instead
continued as the Group of Seven;
Whereas, on April 3, 2014, President Barack Obama signed
into law the Support for the Sovereignty, Integrity,
Democracy, and Economic Stability of Ukraine Act of 2014,
which states that ``it is the policy of the United States
that the continued participation of the Russian Federation in
the Group of Eight (G-8) nations should be conditioned on the
Government of the Russian Federation respecting the
territorial integrity of its neighbors and accepting and
adhering to the norms and standards of free, democratic
societies as generally practiced by every other member nation
of the G-8 nations.'';
Whereas, since 2014, the President of Russia, Vladimir
Putin, has continued to violate international law in
Ukraine's Crimea region and elsewhere, and has continued to
undermine democracy and human rights both at home and abroad;
and
Whereas, on August 26, 2019, President Donald Trump,
announced his intention to invite the President of Russia to
next year's Group of Seven summit: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) reiterates its unwavering support for the sovereignty
and territorial integrity of Ukraine;
(2) condemns Russia's aggressive actions in Ukraine,
including the illegal occupation of Crimea and ongoing
destabilization of eastern Ukraine;
(3) condemns the Kremlin's assaults on democratic societies
worldwide, including in the United States and other Group of
Seven countries;
(4) reaffirms its full support for the suspension of Russia
from the Group of Eight;
(5) calls on all leaders of the Group of Seven to oppose
the readmission of Russia unless and until it has ended its
occupation of all of Ukraine's sovereign territory, including
Crimea, and halts its attacks on democracies worldwide; and
(6) disapproves of Russia's inclusion in future Group of
Seven summits until it respects the territorial integrity of
its neighbors and adheres to the standards of democratic
societies.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New
Jersey (Mr. Sires) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Sires).
General Leave
Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have
5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and
include extraneous material on H. Res. 546.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from New Jersey?
There was no objection.
Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairman Engel, Ranking Member McCaul,
and members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee for their unanimous
support for H. Res. 546 during its markup, and I urge my colleagues to
support this resolution.
In 2014, Russia was expelled from the Group of Eight as a direct
result of its aggressive actions in Ukraine, including the invasion of
the Crimea region. The remaining seven nations agreed that Russia's
future inclusion would be conditioned on its respect of Ukraine's
sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Later in 2014, this international agreement was codified into U.S.
law when the Support for the Sovereignty, Integrity, Democracy, and
Economic Stability of Ukraine Act was signed into law by President
Barack Obama.
Within this legislation, introduced by my colleague from Kentucky,
Congressman Hal Rogers, is a clause stating that continued Russian
participation in the Group of Eight shall be conditioned on Russia
respecting the territorial integrity of its neighbors and accepting and
adhering to the norms and standards of free, democratic societies as
generally practiced by every other member nation of the G-8.
In the time since this legislation was signed into law, Russia has
not changed course. Instead, it has increased its aggression in Ukraine
and has undermined democracy in numerous nations. In response to
Russia's continued flouting of international democratic standards, I
introduced H. Res. 546 to reiterate longstanding bipartisan
congressional sentiment that Russia's actions should have consequences
on the international stage.
If we allow Russia to participate in future G-7 summits without
meeting the previously set conditions, we are signaling that Russia can
continue to act with impunity and that the United
[[Page H9198]]
States will not stand firm in the face of Russian aggression.
It is my hope that the House of Representatives can, once again, come
together as we did in 2014 to condemn Russia's actions in Ukraine,
reaffirm support for Russia's expulsion from the G-8, and stress that
future participation must hinge on respecting the territorial integrity
of other nations.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 546.
I want to thank Mr. Sires for authoring this very important
resolution, which reiterates that Russia should not be permitted to
rejoin the Group of Eight summits until Putin's flagrant aggression
radically changes.
Since the Russian invasion in 2014, Ukraine has been embroiled in a
battle for territorial sovereignty. For 6 years, Russia has illegally
occupied the Crimean Peninsula and supported separatist fighting in the
Donbas region of Ukraine.
For over a decade, Russia has also illegally occupied the Abkhazia
and South Ossetia regions of Georgia, which constitute 20 percent of
Georgia's territory.
Mr. Speaker, I visited Tbilisi within a week after Putin's invasion
into South Ossetia when the thought was they might even go the rest of
the way into Tbilisi, and I can say I saw firsthand the IDPs--the
internally displaced persons--the refugees, the loss of life, and
people who were wounded; and, again, it was all reminiscent of the bad
old days of the Soviet Union now being replicated by Vladimir Putin.
Putin has violated fundamental principles of international law, and
he has done so with impunity. He has refused to respect the territorial
integrity of its neighbors and denied the standards of democratic
societies.
These invasions and occupations have displaced thousands of ethnic
Ukrainians and Georgians and resulted in severe human rights abuses
against both populations. Moreover, Russia's meddling in the democratic
elections of the United States and our allies throughout Europe have
further demonstrated Putin's complete disrespect for the values and
beliefs shared by other members of the Group of Seven.
This resolution condemns Russia's occupation of Crimea and other
destabilization efforts in eastern Ukraine, reaffirms U.S. support for
Ukraine's territory and sovereignty, and admonishes Putin's assaults on
democratic processes around the world.
Most importantly, this legislation establishes that Russia should
continue to be suspended from the Group of Seven until Putin adheres to
the standards of democratic societies.
Again, Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my good friend and colleague from
New Jersey for authoring this important legislation.
Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to yield such time as he may consume
to the distinguished gentleman from Texas (Mr. McCaul), who is the
ranking member.
Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 546.
Under President Putin's leadership, Russia has invaded and occupied
parts of Ukraine and Georgia, assassinated political opponents at home
and abroad, and enabled the corrupt regimes of Assad in Syria and
Maduro in Venezuela.
Putin has also waged cyber warfare and disinformation campaigns
against the United States and our allies, interfered in our elections,
and spied off of our coasts with their submarine warfare capability.
All of these actions go against the fundamental principles of the
Group of Seven and threaten democracies around the world.
As I have said many times over the years, Mr. Putin is not our
friend. The United States and our allies cannot trust him to be a
reliable partner as long as he continues to lead his country down a
path of corruption, assassinations, and oppression.
As stated in this resolution, Russia should not be readmitted to the
Group of Seven until Putin respects the principles shared by the other
members, relinquishes his choke hold over Crimea, and ceases his global
attacks on democratic institutions. Maintaining the integrity of the
Group of Seven is vital to the group's success, and Russia cannot be
allowed to bully its way back in.
I would like to thank Representative Sires for his hard work on this
resolution, and my good friend, Representative Smith, for championing
this resolution today. Under Putin's leadership, the world has become
more deadly and more dangerous, and his people have fewer freedoms and
greater poverty.
In closing, we need to stand up to dictators like Mr. Putin. I do
think this is not, again, a Republican or a Democrat issue. Standing up
against a hostile enemy, Mr. Putin and the Russian Federation, is an
American issue.
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for
time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume for
the purpose of closing.
Mr. Speaker, this is a good, bipartisan measure. I thank my
colleague, Mr. Shimkus, for supporting it and my good friend from New
Jersey, Congressman Smith.
Time and time again, Russia ignores the standards and norms of
democratic societies and actively operates counter to American
interests. If we do not stand firm against Russian aggression and allow
them to participate in future G-7 summits, we will be rewarding Putin
for his attacks on our country and our allies and that will damage our
partnerships and alliances around the world.
With this measure, Congress makes it clear that we do not support
Russia's inclusion in the G-7 as he continues to attack us, our
partners, and democratic institutions around the world.
Mr. Speaker, I hope all Members would join me in supporting its
passage, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Sires) that the House suspend the rules
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 546.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.
____________________