Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper joined his Senate colleagues to vote in favor of removing Permanent Normal Trade Relations status from Russia and Belarus. The bill puts the two countries in the same category as North Korea and Cuba, and extends presidential authority to impose further sanctions on Russian human rights offenders.
“Putin is committing horrific war crimes against innocent Ukrainians,” said Hickenlooper. “Revoking normal trade relations with Russia will further isolate Putin’s economy from the world, sending the message that we will not tolerate his unconscionable behavior.”
The Senate also passed the Ban Russian Energy Imports Act, whichHickenloooper introduced with his colleagues last month. The bipartisan bill bans the importation of Russian crude oil, petroleum, petroleum products, liquified natural gas (LNG) and coal. Shortly after Hickenlooper and his colleagues introduced the Ban Russia Imports Act, President Biden signed an executive order banning Russian energy imports. Today’s vote reaffirms that executive order and gives it the force of law.
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