Today, Florida legislators, Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) and Rep. Michael Waltz both introduced the Keeping Russia’s Energy and Military Liable for Invading its Neighbors (KREMLIN Act) Act in both the Senate and the House of Representatives. As the media coverage of the Russo-Ukrainian War has dwindled, Sen. Scott and Rep. Waltz have reminded the public about an ongoing problem that needs to be addressed.
According to the Rick Scott press release, the main goal of the KREMLIN Act is to “prohibit federal agencies from doing business with any entity that contracts with Putin’s evil regime or his cronies in the Russian natural gas, oil, and coal sector.” The press release goes on to mention that the prohibition would “remain in effect until the President of the United States certifies that an agreement has been reached and accepted by a free and independent government of Ukraine to withdraw Russian forces and cease military hostilities, that Russia does not pose an immediate threat of aggression to any NATO member, and that Russia recognizes that right of the Ukrainian people to independently and freely choose their own government.”
The Washington Examiner wrote a story about the proposal and stated “The legislation isn’t aimed at a specific company he (Waltz) said, adding, ‘It’s really the message to all companies who are doing business in Russia, if they’re doing business with the Russian government. You cannot and will not be authorized to do business with the Defense Department.’
The Florida lawmaker predicted that the legislation will be included as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act instead of a stand-alone bill…and he noted that the White House could implement such a ban without congressional approval.”
“As Russia wages war against Ukraine and threatens democracy and our national security in Europe, the United States must endure that no American tax dollars are being used to support Putin’s evil regime," said Sen. Scott. “This bill is an important step thwart Putin’s evil and murderous regime from continuing its unjust invasion of Ukraine and again clarify that the United States stands firmly with the Ukrainian people.”
