[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 62 (Thursday, April 7, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H4418-H4419]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
{time} 1215
SUSPENDING ENERGY IMPORTS FROM RUSSIA ACT
Mr. NEAL. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and concur in the
Senate amendment to the bill (H.R. 6968) to prohibit the importation of
energy products of the Russian Federation, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the Senate amendment is as follows:
Senate amendment:
Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the
following:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be known as the ``Ending Importation of
Russian Oil Act''.
SEC. 2. PROHIBITION ON IMPORTATION OF ENERGY PRODUCTS OF THE
RUSSIAN FEDERATION.
All products of the Russian Federation classified under
chapter 27 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United
States shall be banned from importation into the United
States, in a manner consistent with any implementation
actions issued under Executive Order 14066 (87 Fed. Reg.
13625; relating to prohibiting certain imports and new
investments with respect to continued Russian Federation
efforts to undermine the sovereignty and territorial
integrity of Ukraine).
SEC. 3. TERMINATION OF PROHIBITION ON IMPORTATION OF ENERGY
PRODUCTS OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION.
(a) In General.--The President is authorized to terminate
the prohibition on importation of energy products of the
Russian Federation under section 2 if the President submits
to Congress a certification under subsection (c). Such
termination shall take effect beginning on the date that is
90 calendar days after the date of submission of such
certification, unless there is enacted into law during such
90-day period a joint resolution of disapproval.
(b) Consultation and Report.--The President shall, not
later than 45 calendar days before submitting a certification
under subsection (a)--
(1) consult with--
(A) the Committee on Ways and Means and the Committee on
Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives; and
(B) the Committee on Finance and the Committee on Foreign
Relations of the Senate; and
(2) submit to all such committees a report that explains
the basis for the determination of the President contained in
such certification.
(c) Certification.--A certification under this subsection
is a certification in writing that--
(1) indicates that the President proposes to terminate
under subsection (a) the prohibition under section 2; and
(2) contains a determination of the President that the
Russian Federation--
(A) has reached an agreement to withdraw Russian forces and
for the cessation of military hostilities that is accepted by
the free and independent government of Ukraine;
(B) poses no immediate military threat of aggression to any
North Atlantic Treaty Organization member; and
(C) recognizes the right of the people of Ukraine to
independently and freely choose their own government.
(d) Joint Resolution of Disapproval.--
(1) Definition.--For purposes of this section, the term
``joint resolution of disapproval'' means only a joint
resolution--
(A) that does not have a preamble;
(B) the title of which is as follows: ``Joint resolution
disapproving the President's certification under section 3(c)
of the Ending Importation of Russian Oil Act.''; and
(C) the matter after the resolving clause of which is as
follows: ``That Congress disapproves the certification of the
President under section 3(c) of the Ending Importation of
Russian Oil Act, submitted to Congress on ___'', the blank
space being filled in with the appropriate date.
(2) Introduction in the house of representatives.--During a
period of 5 legislative days beginning on the date that a
certification under subsection (c) is submitted to Congress,
a joint resolution of disapproval may be introduced in the
House of Representatives by the majority leader or the
minority leader.
(3) Introduction in the senate.--During a period of 5 days
on which the Senate is in session beginning on the date that
a certification under subsection (c) is submitted to
Congress, a joint resolution of disapproval may be introduced
in the Senate by the majority leader (or the majority
leader's designee) or the minority leader (or the minority
leader's designee).
(4) Floor consideration in the house of representatives.--
(A) Reporting and discharge.--If a committee of the House
to which a joint resolution of disapproval has been referred
has not reported such joint resolution within 10 legislative
days after the date of referral, that committee shall be
discharged from further consideration thereof.
(B) Proceeding to consideration.--Beginning on the third
legislative day after each committee to which a joint
resolution of disapproval has been referred reports it to the
House or has been discharged from further consideration
thereof, it shall be in order to move to proceed to consider
the joint resolution in the House. All points of order
against the motion are waived. Such a motion shall not be in
order after the House has disposed of a motion to proceed on
a joint resolution with regard to the same certification. The
previous question shall be considered as ordered on the
motion to its adoption without intervening motion. The motion
shall not be debatable. A motion to reconsider the vote by
which the motion is disposed of shall not be in order.
(C) Consideration.--The joint resolution shall be
considered as read. All points of order against the joint
resolution and against its consideration are waived. The
previous question shall be considered as ordered on the joint
resolution to final passage without intervening motion except
two hours of debate equally divided and controlled by the
sponsor of the joint resolution (or a designee) and an
opponent. A motion to reconsider the vote on passage of the
joint resolution shall not be in order.
(5) Consideration in the senate.--
(A) Committee referral.--A joint resolution of disapproval
introduced in the Senate shall be referred to the Committee
on Finance.
(B) Reporting and discharge.--If the Committee on Finance
has not reported such joint resolution of disapproval within
10 days on which the Senate is in session after the date of
referral of such joint resolution, that committee shall be
discharged from further consideration of such joint
resolution and the joint resolution shall be placed on the
appropriate calendar.
(C) Motion to proceed.--Notwithstanding Rule XXII of the
Standing Rules of the Senate, it is in order at any time
after the Committee on Finance reports the joint resolution
of disapproval to the Senate or has been discharged from its
consideration (even though a previous motion to the same
effect has been disagreed to) to move to proceed to the
consideration of the joint resolution, and all points of
order against the joint resolution (and against consideration
of the joint resolution) shall be waived. The motion to
proceed is not debatable. The motion is not subject to a
motion to postpone. A motion to reconsider the vote by which
the motion is agreed to or disagreed to shall not be in
order. If a motion to proceed to the consideration of the
joint resolution of disapproval is agreed to, the joint
resolution shall remain the unfinished business until
disposed of.
(D) Debate.--Debate on the joint resolution of disapproval,
and on all debatable motions and appeals in connection
therewith, shall be limited to not more than 10 hours, which
shall be divided equally between the majority and minority
leaders or their designees. A motion to further limit debate
is in order and not debatable. An amendment to, or a motion
to postpone, or a motion to proceed to the consideration of
other business, or a motion to recommit the joint resolution
of disapproval is not in order.
(E) Vote on passage.--The vote on passage shall occur
immediately following the conclusion of the debate on the
joint resolution of disapproval and a single quorum call at
the conclusion of the debate, if requested in accordance with
the rules of the Senate.
(F) Rules of the chair on procedure.--Appeals from the
decisions of the Chair relating to the application of the
rules of the Senate, as the case may be, to the procedure
relating to the joint resolution of disapproval shall be
decided without debate.
(G) Consideration of veto messages.--Debate in the Senate
of any veto message with respect to the joint resolution of
disapproval, including all debatable motions and appeals in
connection with such joint resolution, shall be limited to 10
hours, to be equally divided between, and controlled by, the
majority leader and the minority leader or their designees.
(6) Procedures in the senate.--Except as otherwise provided
in this subsection, the following procedures shall apply in
the Senate to a joint resolution of disapproval:
(A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B), a joint
resolution of disapproval that has passed the House of
Representatives shall, when received in the Senate, be
referred to the Committee on Finance for consideration in
accordance with this subsection.
(B) If a joint resolution of disapproval was introduced in
the Senate before receipt of a joint resolution of
disapproval that has passed the House of Representatives, the
joint resolution from the House of Representatives shall,
when received in the Senate, be placed on the calendar. If
this subparagraph applies, the procedures in the Senate with
respect to a joint resolution of disapproval introduced in
the Senate that contains the identical matter as the joint
resolution of disapproval that passed the House of
Representatives shall be the same as if no joint resolution
of disapproval had been received from the House of
Representatives, except that the vote on passage in the
Senate shall be on the joint resolution of disapproval that
passed the House of Representatives.
(7) Rules of the house of representatives and the senate.--
This subsection is enacted by Congress--
(A) as an exercise of the rulemaking power of the Senate
and the House of Representatives, respectively, and as such
is deemed a part of the rules of each House, respectively,
but applicable only with respect to the procedure to be
followed in that House in the case of a joint resolution of
disapproval, and supersedes other rules only to the extent
that it is inconsistent with such rules; and
(B) with full recognition of the constitutional right of
either House to change the rules (so far as relating to the
procedure of that House) at any time, in the same manner, and
to the same extent as in the case of any other rule of that
House.
[[Page H4419]]
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Massachusetts (Mr. Neal) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Brady) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Massachusetts.
General Leave
Mr. NEAL. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and
include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Massachusetts?
There was no objection.
Mr. NEAL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I think that what we are doing here is to certainly
reassert ourselves on what the Senate has done, which the House did
originally. I strongly support the House taking swift action to concur
in the Senate amendment before us so that the legislation to suspend
energy imports from Russia that we passed a month ago now can move to
the President's desk.
We have no time to waste, as Mr. Brady and I have both indicated. We
must immediately move to further punish Vladimir Putin, a ruthless
dictator hell-bent on destroying an independent nation that he purports
to suggest doesn't really exist. That will come as a vast surprise to
the civilized nations of the world.
Congress must do what we can to end this brutality and continue to
support the Ukrainian people.
I thank Kevin Brady for his partnership in advancing this legislation
to ban the import of Russian energy, as well as our intent here to
suspend normal trade relations with Russia and its enabler, Belarus.
These actions will further isolate Putin and his regime, and inflict
greater pressure on the Kremlin, to end this campaign of terror.
I know this legislation will receive broad support from our
colleagues.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BRADY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I join with Chairman Neal in urging the House to take
the final legislative step to ending the flow of American dollars
toward Russian oil that acts as a treasury for Russia's war machine.
Soon, President Biden will have on his desk a bill that demonstrates
we stand with the people of Ukraine.
As Chairman Neal pointed out, the Ukrainian people have been waiting.
The action we take today is long overdue but just as necessary.
Since we first debated this bill, the horrors of Putin's war in
Ukraine have been on display for the world to see. Today, we will make
sure American dollars will no longer fund Russia's war machine by
blocking all Russian energy imports.
The bill also strengthens the sanctions by ensuring that before the
ban can be lifted, Russia must meet three clear criteria: withdraws its
forces from Ukraine; poses no immediate military threat of aggression
to NATO; and recognizes the right of the people of Ukraine to
independently and freely choose their own government.
This is an important, bipartisan victory. There is still more we can
do and should do.
We should turn toward unleashing America's own ability to be energy
independent, replace Russian oil with American sources, and use our
energy strengths to wean the world from Russian energy.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr.
Smith), the Republican leader of the Subcommittee on Trade.
Mr. SMITH of Nebraska. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate this opportunity
that we can work together. I appreciate the comments of the chairman
and our ranking member.
It is only appropriate that we move to use the key trade tools at our
disposal to hold Vladimir Putin accountable for these atrocities that
he has committed against Ukraine because we know it is being felt
around the world, in addition to what the people of Ukraine are
feeling.
I am glad that we can act in this manner. I wish we would have done
it sooner, but I am glad we can act today.
Mr. NEAL. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BRADY. Mr. Speaker, I strongly support this great bipartisan work
from the House. I thank Chairman Neal and the Ways and Means Democrats
for working together with us and the Senate Finance Committee. I urge
strong passage in the House.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. NEAL. Mr. Speaker, I acknowledge Mr. Brady and the Republican
Members of the House who have stood with Democrats in an unyielding
position of support for the Ukrainian people. On this occasion, we send
another message that civilized people of the world are all Ukrainians
at this moment.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Neal) that the House suspend the
rules and concur in the Senate amendment to the bill, H.R. 6968.
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. BRADY. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 3(s) of House Resolution
8, the yeas and nays are ordered.
Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this motion
are postponed.
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