Washington, D.C. — Today, in direct response to Vladimir Putin's Ukraine invasion, Rep. Dean Phillips (D-MN) introduced bipartisan legislation that would instate a comprehensive travel ban on Russian government officials and members of the Russian oligarchy.

“America must always stand on the side of freedom and the will of people - not autocrats,” Phillips said. “A comprehensive travel ban on Russian leadership will isolate Putin and those connected to his unjust invasion without unduly punishing the Russian people. Few other tactics could have greater impact with no threat to human life.”

The purpose of the Russian Travel Sanctions for a Democratic Ukraine Act is to ensure Russian leadership is negatively impacted by Putin’s decision to invade Ukraine without further loss of human life or undue harm to the citizens of the Russian Federation, many of whom have taken to the streets to protest this unwarranted act.

The banned representatives of Russian leadership would include:

• All government officials; 
• All oligarchs
• Any employee of a state-owned company; and 
• Any employee of a company that receives state funding. 

These visa restrictions will be executed in coordination with NATO nations and other allies. The bill gives the White House the power to define who falls into which categories and to grant limited and appropriate waivers with Congressional pre-notification, ensuring the Biden administration has the flexibility it needs to respond to an ever-evolving situation.  

Original cosponsors of the bill include: Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC), Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-PA), Rep. John Garamendi (D-CA), Buddy Carter (R-GA), Rep. John Curtis (R-UT), Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN), Rep. Angie Craig (D-MN), Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH), Rep. Stephanie Murphy (D-FL), Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-MO), Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ), Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE), Rep. Eric Salwell (D-CA), Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA), Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA), Rep. Al Green (D-TX), Rep. Trent Kelly (R-MS), Rep. Chris Pappas (D-NH), Rep.  Jim Costa (D-CA), Rep. Brad Schneider (D-IL), Rep. Ann McLane Kuster (D-NH),  Rep. Young Kim (R-CA), Rep. John B. Larson (D-CT), Rep. Rick Larsen (D-WA), Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA), Rep. John Moolenaar (R-MI), Rep. Jim Langevin (D-RI), and Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-NY).

Rep. Phillips is a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

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