Majority Leader Schumer Floor Remarks Moving To Pass Legislation To Revoke Permanent Normal Trade Relations With Russia
Washington, D.C. – Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) today spoke on the Senate floor as a Senate Republican blocked the Senate from debating then voting on passage of House-passed legislation to revoke Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) with Russia. Below are Senator Schumer’s remarks:
As President Biden begins the most important foreign trip of his presidency, the best thing the Senate can do this week is pass Permanent Normal Trade Relation legislation so we can land another devastating blow on Putin's economy.
In a few moments I will ask the Senate for consent to do just that. Last week the House passed legislation revoking Russia's normal trade relations with the U.S. by 424-8. The vast majority of House Republicans backed it, including Leader McCarthy and the Republican leadership.
Here in the Senate, my friend, the senior Senator from Idaho, sincerely believes that we should amend the bill by including an oil ban. I don't believe we should do that.
As I said earlier today, there are four reasons why we should move forward quickly on PNTR and then have a separate discussion on the oil ban.
First, President Biden has already implemented a ban on Russian oil and gas, so passing something the president has already done is not even remotely as urgent as passing the PNTR, especially because the president is leaving today and meeting with our European allies. What could be better than a united Senate putting further sanctions on Russia as the president meets with our European allies, where he's done a very good job of bringing them together?
Second, there's still some disagreement, including with the Administration, about how to best draft an oil ban proposal. There are some who worry that the proposal that my friend from Idaho is pushing would actually delay the ban on Russian oil compared to the president's proposal. This is a consequence no one wants.
Third, it is so important we show unity right now as President Biden meets with our European allies. Swift Senate action, combining Democrats and Republicans with one voice, supporting PNTR, would do just that.
And finally, the House is not in session. Any changes we would make to the PNTR legislation by amendment delays enactment by at least a week. There is no reason, absolutely no reason, to change the PNTR legislation the House has already approved and delay action.
Now again, I repeat, I am, Senator Wyden is, and Senate Democrats are willing to work with Senator Crapo on this issue if he can agree to let the process move forward.
So let me say again, PNTR has already been overwhelmingly passed by the House. It is a very important and logical step in the fight against Putin's barbaric war. We should move the House bill ASAP.
[Senator Schumer made a unanimous consent request to debate then vote on passage of H.R. 7108, the Suspending Normal Trade Relations with Russia and Belarus Act. Senator Crapo (R-ID) objected.]
Senator Schumer‘s remarks followed:
First I thank my colleague from Idaho. I know he sincerely wants to move forward. The best way to send a message [to Putin] is pass the House bill, get it to the president, and have him sign it while the European allies and we are meeting.
I'm disappointed that we were unable to take quick action now, but I very much appreciate what Senator Crapo has said now. And Senator Crapo and I had a good discussion this morning.
We agree we want to get to a bipartisan resolution to this legislation. So, Senators Wyden, Crapo, and my staff are going to work throughout the day on language related to the oil ban and the other issues that Senator Crapo talked about that we could consider separately.
We would then move to pass PNTR separately, which we hope we can pass today or certainly tomorrow. So I'm committed to getting this issue resolved and very much appreciate my friend, the Senator from Idaho's willingness to discuss it so we can work out something that both sides can accept.
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