[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 62 (Thursday, April 7, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Page S2058]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    PERMANENT NORMAL TRADE RELATIONS

  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, now, on the final day of the work period, 
the Senate is going to pass a much sought after piece of legislation: 
revoking Russia of permanent normal trade relations with the United 
States.
  The legislation will go a long way to landing a painful, severe blow 
on Putin's economy. It will hinder his ability to keep funding his war 
machine, and adds Russia, as well as Belarus, to a list of nations, 
including North Korea, that are ineligible for free trade with the 
United States.
  I want to thank my colleague from Idaho Senator Crapo for working so 
closely with me on into the night last night to make sure that this got 
done.
  We will also vote separately on legislation regarding an oil ban, and 
I thank my colleagues who worked together to reach a compromise on this 
measure. We are moving forward today.
  Putin must absolutely be held accountable for the detestable and 
despicable war crimes he is committing against Ukraine.
  The images we have seen coming out of that country, most recently out 
of the town of Bucha, are pure, pure evil--hundreds of civilians 
murdered in cold blood; dozens of bodies of men, women, children, the 
elderly, the defenseless; people with hands tied behind their backs and 
left dead in the streets. Some of the bodies showed signs of torture.
  According to a new report by Der Spiegel, German intelligence now 
believes that some of these murders were discussed by Russian troops 
over radio intercepts. And why were these people killed? Simply because 
they were Ukrainians. So many were children, civilians, young people, 
women. No nation whose military is committing war crimes deserves free-
trade status with the United States.
  Let me say that again. No nation whose military is committing war 
crimes deserves free-trade status with the United States.
  No vile thug like Putin deserves to stand as an equal with the 
leaders of the free world. He is a menace and a pariah who has ensured 
that his place in history will be one of everlasting shame.
  So today's votes approving PNTR revocation are significant. It is 
very important that the Senate pass this bill, and I want to thank 
Senator Crapo as well as Senators Manchin and Cardin and Wyden and 
Murkowski and Menendez and all others who worked in good faith with us 
together on these measures. We wouldn't have reached this outcome 
without their diligence and good faith.

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