[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 129 (Thursday, July 22, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S5028]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                 RUSSIA

  Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, now on a completely different matter, 
last year, on a broad and a bipartisan basis, Congress passed sanctions 
that were designed to block Russia from completing its Nord Stream 2 
pipeline project. The Biden administration recently waived those 
sanctions to allow the pipeline to move forward. Now it appears the 
administration has cut a deal with Germany that will allow the pipeline 
to become operational.
  The initial press reporting about this deal does not inspire 
confidence that this administration is taking the Russian threat as 
seriously as it should, nor does it indicate that we are standing with 
our Ukrainian partners, who are struggling to defend themselves against 
Moscow's aggression. The administration appears to have ignored the 
broader implications of the Nord Stream 2 project and Russia's approach 
to Europe writ large
  Green energy initiatives or promises of diplomatic meetings will not 
address the real risks Moscow poses--not even close. Just a couple of 
years ago, Washington Democrats were absolutely melting down over their 
belief that the prior administration was being too soft on Russia and 
leaving Ukraine in the lurch. Where is the outrage today?
  For several years there, my colleagues across the aisle sounded like 
big-time Russia hawks, so I hope they will now join Republicans in 
pressing the administration to explain this curious decision, to 
explain how President Biden intends to impose meaningful costs on 
Moscow for all its misdeeds at the same time they have America greasing 
the skids--greasing the skids--for this Putin pipeline.

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