On Oct. 22 the Senate Foreign Relations Committee passed by voice vote three bills to pressure Russia and aid Ukraine. These anti-Russian bills were introduced by Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), the top Democrat on the committee, and Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC), both of whom had met with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on the same day.
The first bill would update the 2024 REPO for Ukrainians Act, which authorizes the U.S. President to send the $5 billion in frozen Russian assets in U.S. jurisdiction to Ukraine. The second bill requires sanctions against any individual or business which aids Russia’s military. The third bill requires that Russia be declared a state sponsor of terrorism unless all children allegedly taken during the war are returned from Russia to Ukraine. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen stated, “I think it’s notable that this is the first time in this Congress that Russia-related legislation has been considered before the committee.”
