[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 6 (Thursday, January 11, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H68-H69]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       NO RUSSIAN AGRICULTURE ACT

  Mr. McHENRY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 4768) to require the Secretary of the Treasury to instruct 
the United States Executive Directors at the international financial 
institutions to advocate for investment in projects that decrease 
reliance on Russia for agricultural commodities, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 4768

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``No Russian Agriculture 
     Act''.

     SEC. 2. UNITED STATES ADVOCACY FOR INVESTMENT IN PROJECTS 
                   THAT DECREASE RELIANCE ON RUSSIA FOR 
                   AGRICULTURAL COMMODITIES.

       (a) In General.--Title XIV of the International Financial 
     Institutions Act (22 U.S.C. 262n-262n-3) is amended by adding 
     at the end the following:

     ``SEC. 1405. ADVOCACY FOR INVESTMENT IN PROJECTS THAT 
                   DECREASE RELIANCE ON RUSSIA FOR AGRICULTURAL 
                   COMMODITIES.

       ``(a) In General.--The Secretary of the Treasury shall 
     instruct the United States Executive Director at each 
     international financial institution (as defined in section 
     1701(c)(2)) to use the voice, vote, and influence of the 
     United States, to the maximum extent practicable, to 
     encourage the respective institution to--
       ``(1) support projects that decrease the reliance of 
     countries on Russia for agricultural commodities, 
     particularly fertilizer and grain;
       ``(2) ensure the resilience of global grain supplies; and
       ``(3) stimulate private investment in the projects.
       ``(b) Waiver Authority.--The Secretary of the Treasury may 
     waive subsection (a) with respect to a project upon notifying 
     Congress that

[[Page H69]]

     the waiver is in the national interest of the United 
     States.''.
       (b) Repeal.--Section 1405 of such Act, as added by this 
     section, is repealed effective on the earlier of--
       (1) the date that is 5 years after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act; or
       (2) the date that is 30 days after the date the President 
     reports to the Congress that the termination of such section 
     1405 is important to the national interest of the United 
     States, with an explanation of the reasons therefor.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
North Carolina (Mr. McHenry) and the gentlewoman from California (Ms. 
Waters) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from North Carolina.


                             General Leave

  Mr. McHENRY. 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.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from North Carolina?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. McHENRY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4768, the No Russian 
Agriculture Act, introduced by the ranking member of the Financial 
Services Committee, the former chair, Maxine Waters.
  Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the global agricultural 
markets have been severely disrupted.
  Post invasion, Russia withdrew from an agreement allowing Ukrainian 
grain shipments to pass through the Black Sea to international markets, 
thus eliminating a major competitor to Russian exports in the process.
  As a result, Russian agricultural exports have remained robust. 
Additionally, Moscow-imposed export taxes and quotas have only further 
secured its own domestic food supply at the expense of the 
international community.
  Nearly 2 years later, Moscow continues to diligently weaponize its 
agricultural trade to ensure dependence on Russian exports. Russia's 
actions have not only impacted farmers in Ukraine and Europe but across 
America, as well. As with many things, the United States should never 
have to rely on foreign adversaries for our food supply.
  Diversifying agricultural supplies is imperative for our economic 
growth and our national security. International financial institutions 
like the World Bank and the IMF can play a critical role in providing 
financial and technical assistance to develop the agricultural sectors 
of poorer countries.
  Ranking Member Waters' bill is a critical step in the right 
direction. It will deter Russia's calculated acts by limiting the 
reliance of other countries on Russian agricultural commodities.
  The voice, the vote, and the influence of the United States is a 
powerful mechanism at the international financial institutions that we 
are a part of, and it will allow the world to continue to fight Russia 
in its path of destruction and injustice.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member of the committee, Ms. Waters, 
for her leadership on this legislation. I urge my colleagues to support 
it, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of my bill, H.R. 4768, the No Russian 
Agriculture Act. I thank Chairman McHenry for his support of my bill 
and his efforts to get it to the House floor. I certainly appreciate 
the ability to start the new year on this bipartisan note.
  Over nearly 2 years, Russia's unprovoked and criminal war against 
Ukraine--led by Russian President Vladimir Putin, his military, and his 
mercenaries--has inflicted tremendous harm to Ukraine's people and 
infrastructure.
  Among its many horrific acts, Russia has endeavored to strangle 
Ukraine's economy by restricting the country's exports, including those 
of its agricultural sector, which is critical to maintaining the 
world's food supply.
  Prior to the war, Ukraine was the world's fourth largest corn 
exporting country and the fifth largest wheat exporting country. 
Annually, 400 million people were fed with Ukrainian food products with 
more than 50 nations receiving those goods. It is why Ukraine has been 
called the breadbasket of Europe.
  Russia previously agreed to the Black Sea grain initiative, pledging 
to allow for Ukrainian commercial food and fertilizer exports from 
three Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea.
  In July of last year, however, Russia withdrew from that initiative, 
causing global food prices to spike and hunger and pain around the 
world. Since then, Russia has attacked ports and grain stores in 
Ukraine, limiting the entrance of its agricultural products into the 
global market.
  Today, Russia is not only trying to unjustly seize Ukrainian land, 
but it is also trying to sell its own grain and stolen Ukrainian grain 
into the world's market to support its war efforts.
  This bill will help to push back on Russia while also increasing 
grain supply resiliency in the face of the shocks that Russia is 
causing in the world's agricultural markets. Specifically, H.R. 4768 
would require the Treasury to press the World Bank, the International 
Monetary Fund, and other multilateral development banks to fund 
projects that decrease the reliance that countries around the world 
have on Russian agricultural commodities, particularly fertilizer and 
grain.

  Doing so will help to undercut the financing of Russia's war and will 
help to improve global resiliency to the food supply disruptions that 
are caused by Russian President Putin.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4768, and I reserve 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. McHENRY. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  The brutality that Russia has unleashed upon the Ukrainian people is 
having profound effects in Ukraine and around the world. This includes 
significant cuts to global food supply and steep prices for countless 
foods and fertilizers.
  This bill provides a novel way for the United States to further 
counter Russia; to stand with our fellow democracy, Ukraine; to reduce 
the world's reliance on Russian food; and to undercut Putin's use of 
food as a weapon. However, I would emphasize that this bill is not a 
substitute for providing additional funding for Ukraine so that it can 
stand up to Putin and his invasion. Congress must come together to 
stand behind Ukraine and to display U.S. strength in the face of 
injustice.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this critical bill, and 
I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. McHENRY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Mr. Speaker, I would just reiterate that Ranking Member Waters' bill 
is a critical step in the right direction. We are trying to deter 
Russia's calculated acts by limiting the reliance of other countries on 
Russia's agricultural commodities.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the bill, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. McHenry) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4768, as amended.
  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. McHENRY. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a 
quorum is not present and make a point of order that a quorum is not 
present.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further 
proceedings on this question will be postponed.
  The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.

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