Calling on major United States companies still operating in the Russian Federation to reconsider their continued presence given Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Bill: 118-hres-274
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Keating, William R. [D-MA-9]
Introduced: 2023-04-03
Policy area: International Affairs
Latest action: action_date: 2023-04-03
text: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Summaries:
action_date: 2023-04-03
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">This resolution calls on major U.S. companies still operating in Russia to reconsider their continued presence after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Supporting Americans who use their free speech rights to boycott U.S. firms still operating in Russia, the resolution condemns those companies, who provide financial benefits to the Putin regime and enable the regime to continue to wage war in Ukraine.</p>

tv_txt: IV 118th CONGRESS 1st Session H. RES. 274 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 3, 2023 Mr. Keating (for himself, Mr. Fitzpatrick , Ms. Kaptur , and Mr. Quigley ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs RESOLUTION Calling on major United States companies still operating in the Russian Federation to reconsider their continued presence given Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Whereas, on February 24, 2022, the Government of the Russian Federation, led by Vladimir Putin, launched an expanded invasion of Ukraine; Whereas, on February 18, 2023, Secretary of State Antony Blinken released a statement stating that, based on a careful analysis of the law and available facts, I have determined that members of Russia’s forces and other Russian officials have committed crimes against humanity in Ukraine ; Whereas, on February 18, 2023, while attending the Munich Security Conference, Vice President Kamala Harris stated that the United States has formally determined that members of Russia’s forces and other Russian officials have committed crimes against humanity in Ukraine; Whereas, while visiting Kyiv in February 2023, President Biden said, The cost that Ukraine has had to bear has been extraordinarily high, and the sacrifices have been far too great , while underscoring that, the Americans stand with you, and the world stands with you ; Whereas the United States, in tandem with allies and partners, has imposed unprecedented and expansive sanctions against Russia resulting in swift and severe economic costs; Whereas, on May 3, 2022, the Securities and Exchange Commission issued a Sample Letter to Companies Regarding Disclosures Pertaining to Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine and Related Supply Chain Issues based on the potential direct and indirect material impacts of the invasion on companies with business operations or relationships in Russia, Belarus, or Ukraine; Whereas Article 9 of Russian Federal Law No. 31–FZ, amended in September 2022, obliges all companies present in Russia to contribute to a partial mobilization in support of the war effort by facilitating the conscription of eligible staff and providing material support upon demand of the Russian military; Whereas, on December 21, 2022, during a visit by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Washington, DC, President Biden reaffirmed efforts to hold Russia accountable for its war crimes in Ukraine; Whereas, as of March 20, 2023, according to the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has caused at least 22,209 civilian casualties, with 8,317 killed and 13,892 injured, as well as forcibly displaced more than 13,000,000 Ukrainians with estimates likely severely undercounting the actual toll; Whereas, on March 16, 2022, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy urged that 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 and conduct business in Russia and to make sure that the Russians do not receive a single penny that they use to destroy people in Ukraine ; Whereas a team at the Yale School of Management has compiled a list of over 1,000 major foreign companies that have curtailed their operations in Russia since February 24, 2022; Whereas, according to the same Yale database of major foreign companies, 27 American companies are defying demands for exit or reduction of activities and continue to operate in Russia despite the horrific crimes taking place in Ukraine; Whereas, according to the same Yale database, 47 American companies are holding off new investments/development but are continuing substantive business inside Russia; Whereas in testimony before the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Investor Protection, Entrepreneurship, and Capital Markets on November 15, 2022, it was noted that international sanctions and voluntary business retreats have exerted a devastating effect over Russia’s economy ; Whereas, by refusing to reduce, cease, or withdraw operations in Russia, these companies contribute to undermining efforts undertaken by the United States and its allies that are intended to deter further Russian aggression; Whereas a number of United States and multinational companies that do business in Russia do not provide lifesaving or health-related goods and services to the Russian people and contribute to Putin’s ability to wage war and commit war crimes in Ukraine by providing revenue for the Russian Government; and Whereas individuals around the world have chosen to boycott certain companies that continue to operate in Russia and provide financial benefits to the Putin regime: Now, therefore, be it

That the House of Representatives— (1) calls on major United States companies still operating in the Russian Federation to reconsider their continued presence given Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine; (2) supports and encourages Americans who choose to exercise their free speech rights by boycotting companies that do not provide lifesaving or health-related goods and services to the Russian people yet continue to operate in Russia; (3) 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; (4) encourages American companies who provide goods and services to democracy activists in Russia to create specific programs to continue to make those goods and services available to support democracy-promotion initiatives; (5) 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; and (6) calls on the Department of State to issue a business advisory to inform individuals, businesses, financial institutions, and other persons of the heightened risks associated with conducting business in Russia, particularly business activity that could benefit the Putin regime, and include a list of the types of risks associated with continued business, such as the need to conduct heightened due diligence, and particularly at-risk business partners including Russian state agencies, State-owned and affiliated businesses, and oligarchs.