[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 163 (2017), Part 1]
[Senate]
[Pages 671-672]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                                 RUSSIA

  Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, I rise today to speak on a matter of 
great importance to the foreign policy of this country: our 
relationship with Russia and the efficacy of international sanctions to 
achieve our international security goals.
  The reports of the past 24 hours are extremely troubling. But one 
thing we now all agree on is that Russia is behind the hacking of our 
election, as even the President-elect has now just said. This makes it 
even more important that we not only keep the existing sanctions in 
place but that we institute a new, tough sanctions regime in response 
so Russia can't get away with what they did and other countries will 
know as well that they will suffer penalty if they try to interfere 
with our elections.
  Unfortunately, this morning's Cabinet hearing on Mr. Tillerson's 
nomination is a very troubling sign of things to come. In one breath, 
Mr. Tillerson said that the invasion of Crimea is a violation of 
international law, and in the next, amazingly enough, he declined to 
commit to maintaining the existing sanctions regime against Russia. He 
said he wants to get classified briefings first and then consult with 
the President-elect. But I remind the country, as my friend the Senator 
from Florida, Mr. Rubio, from across the aisle, did, that these 
sanctions are a result of past crimes.
  We don't need a classified briefing to know what Russia has done in 
the past. To duck the question and to refuse to commit to continuing 
these sanctions is tantamount to sweeping Russia's flouting of 
international laws under the rug. It sort of says: Go ahead, interfere 
in our elections again; nothing will happen to you. It says the same to 
China and Iran or to any other country that might try to hack.
  Secretary Nominee Tillerson has also not committed to new sanctions. 
Just yesterday, a bipartisan group of Senators, including the Senators 
from South Carolina, Maryland, Florida, California, Nebraska, 
introduced a tough, new sanctions-on-Russia bill for their interference 
in our elections. I support this effort. I believe the Senate should 
act soon upon it. I am very concerned that thus far the President-
elect, Mr. Tillerson, and Senator Sessions have not endorsed these 
tough new sanctions.
  The Senator from Florida--not from my party--also pressed Mr. 
Tillerson on a series of war crimes committed by the Assad regime and 
the Russian military in Syria. These crimes have been reported in the 
press and detailed extensively by people on the ground and discussed at 
length by my friend, the Republican Senator from Arizona, Mr. McCain. 
Mr. Tillerson will not even acknowledge these violations of human 
rights and war crimes.
  Finally, I am very concerned that despite the fact that we have 
registered lobbying disclosures from ExxonMobil itself, documenting 
their involvement in lobbying against Iran sanctions, Mr. Tillerson 
said this morning that Exxon did not lobby on sanctions, to his 
knowledge.

[[Page 672]]

  This comes on top of recent reports that Exxon avoided Iran's 
sanctions by dealing with Iran and other state sponsors of terrorism 
through a European subsidiary. This, too, is very concerning. It raises 
real questions as to whether the President-elect and his Cabinet are 
prepared to stand up to Putin, stand up to Iran, and represent the 
interests of the American people and defend our democratic allies 
around the world.
  My friends on the other side of the aisle have nearly universally 
criticized this President, Mr. Obama, for his policy on Syria and for 
not being tough enough on Vladimir Putin. Republicans have always 
called themselves the party of Reagan. I don't need to remind any of 
them of his famous speech in West Berlin. Now, it seems, this 
fundamental tenet of Republican foreign policy, and indeed our national 
policy for the last few decades, is eroding before our very eyes. Now, 
it seems, the President-elect and his Cabinet may never address the 
international security policy challenges posed by Russia and state 
sponsors of terrorism like Iran and Syria. If Mr. Tillerson cannot even 
say that he will support the existing sanctions, what kind of Secretary 
of State will he be? I am worried.
  Madam President, I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

                          ____________________