Title: Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that United States policy should encourage Russian soldiers to abandon Putin's war with Ukraine, and that Russian soldiers who defect should be granted expedited admission to the United States as refugees if they clear all applicable vetting and security procedures.
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
This resolution expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that U.S. policy should

[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 969 Introduced in House (IH)]

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117th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 969

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that United States 
 policy should encourage Russian soldiers to abandon Putin's war with 
    Ukraine, and that Russian soldiers who defect should be granted 
expedited admission to the United States as refugees if they clear all 
              applicable vetting and security procedures.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 8, 2022

 Mr. Wilson of South Carolina (for himself and Mr. Phillips) submitted 
   the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 
                            Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that United States 
 policy should encourage Russian soldiers to abandon Putin's war with 
    Ukraine, and that Russian soldiers who defect should be granted 
expedited admission to the United States as refugees if they clear all 
              applicable vetting and security procedures.

Whereas, on February 24, 2022, the Russian military began a shameless full-scale 
        invasion of Ukraine, including carrying out attacks on cities with 
        ballistic missiles, artillery, and tanks;
Whereas Russia has conscripted involuntary soldiers serving in its military;
Whereas there are reports that over 5,000 Russian troops have been killed or 
        captured as of March 1, 2022;
Whereas there are reports of Russian soldiers abandoning military equipment;
Whereas captured Russian soldiers have expressed confusion as to the purpose of 
        the war with Ukraine;
Whereas Russian military authorities have threatened physical abuse or worse to 
        enforce discipline in some units;
Whereas Russian soldiers could be executed for desertion;
Whereas Russian soldiers and citizens have reported that they initially believed 
        the Russian military was only conducting training exercises;
Whereas Russian soldiers may not and should not agree with Putin's unjust war in 
        Ukraine;
Whereas Ukraine has offered amnesty and compensation for Russian soldiers who 
        surrender;
Whereas soldiers who defect can be considered refugees by the United Nations; 
        and
Whereas the United States has expedited procedures for immigration for other 
        refugees: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives that 
United States policy should--
            (1) encourage Russian soldiers to abandon Putin's war with 
        Ukraine, and that Russian soldiers who defect should be granted 
        expedited admission to the United States as refugees if they 
        clear all applicable vetting and security procedures; and
            (2) incentivize Russian soldiers to turn over any Russian 
        military equipment to Ukraine as part of their surrender, by 
        providing compensation to such a soldier in an amount not more 
        than $100,000, in accordance with the value of such equipment.
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