Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding the boycott of certain companies that continue to operate in Russia and provide financial benefits to the Putin regime.

Whereas, on February 24, 2022, the Government of Russia, led by Vladimir Putin, invaded the sovereign country of Ukraine under the direction of the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin; Whereas, on March 6, 2022, Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that the United States has seen credible reports of Russia engaging in deliberate attacks on civilians, which would constitute a war crime Whereas, as of April 6, 2022, according to the United Nations, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has caused at least 3,776 civilian casualties and forced more than 4,278,000 refugees to flee Ukraine, with estimates likely severely undercounting the actual toll; Whereas, on March 16, 2022, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy urged All American companies must leave Russia … leave their market immediately, because it is flooded with [Ukrainian] blood Whereas in the same speech, President Zelenskyy called on Congress to lead by pressuring companies who finance the Russian military machine business in Russia make sure that the Russians do not receive a single penny that they use to destroy people in Ukraine Whereas Jeffrey Sonnenfeld of the Yale School of Management has compiled a list of some 600 companies which have withdrawn permanently or temporarily from Russia as of April 6, 2022; Whereas according to the same Yale database, some 33 companies form a hall of shame Whereas by refusing to reduce, cease, or withdraw operations in Russia, these companies contribute to undermining the sanctions imposed by the United States and its allies that are intended to deter further Russian aggression; and Whereas a number of United States and multinational companies that do business in Russia do not provide life-saving or health-related goods and services to the Russian people and contribute to Putin’s ability to wage war in Ukraine and continue to commit war crimes by providing revenue for the Russian Government: Now, therefore, be it That the House of Representatives— (1) supports and encourages Americans who choose to exercise their free speech rights by boycotting companies that do not provide life-saving or health-related goods and services to the Russian people yet continue to operate in Russia; (2) condemns companies that continue to operate in Russia and provide financial benefits to the Putin regime that enable his ability to continue waging war in Ukraine; and (3) commends companies that have already suspended operations in or withdrawn from markets in Russia in response to the Putin regime’s unlawful invasion of Ukraine.

Summary: This resolution supports and encourages Americans who choose to exercise their free speech rights by boycotting companies that do not provide life-saving or health-related goods and services to the Russian people yet continue to operate in Russia. The resolution also condemns companies that continue to operate in Russia and provide financial benefits to the Putin regime that enable his ability to continue waging war in Ukraine. Finally, the resolution commends companies that have already suspended operations in or withdrawn from markets in Russia in response to the Putin regime's unlawful invasion of Ukraine.