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.

IV 118TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. RES. 274 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. 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 Rus- sian Federation, led by Vladimir Putin, launched an ex- panded 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 de- termined that members of Russia’s forces and other Rus- sian officials have committed crimes against humanity in Ukraine’’; VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:42 Apr 03, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR274.IH HR274 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 2 •HRES 274 IH Whereas, on February 18, 2023, while attending the Munich Security Conference, Vice President Kamala Harris stat- ed 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 part- ners, has imposed unprecedented and expansive sanctions against Russia resulting in swift and severe economic costs; Whereas, on May 3, 2022, the Securities and Exchange Com- mission 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 mobiliza- tion’’ in support of the war effort by facilitating the con- scription 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 ac- countable for its war crimes in Ukraine; VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:42 Apr 03, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR274.IH HR274 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 3 •HRES 274 IH Whereas, as of March 20, 2023, according to the United Na- tions 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 re- ceive a single penny that they use to destroy people in Ukraine’’; Whereas a team at the Yale School of Management has com- piled 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 for- eign companies, 27 American companies are ‘‘defying de- mands 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/develop- ment’’ but are continuing substantive business inside Russia; VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:42 Apr 03, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR274.IH HR274 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 4 •HRES 274 IH 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 re- treats 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 ef- forts undertaken by the United States and its allies that are intended to deter further Russian aggression; Whereas a number of United States and multinational com- panies that do business in Russia do not provide life- saving or health-related goods and services to the Rus- sian 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 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 1 (1) calls on major United States companies still 2 operating in the Russian Federation to reconsider 3 their continued presence given Russia’s full-scale in- 4 vasion of Ukraine; 5 (2) supports and encourages Americans who 6 choose to exercise their free speech rights by boy- 7 cotting companies that do not provide lifesaving or 8 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:42 Apr 03, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HR274.IH HR274 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 5 •HRES 274 IH health-related goods and services to the Russian peo- 1 ple yet continue to operate in Russia; 2 (3) condemns companies that continue to oper- 3 ate in Russia and provide financial benefits to the 4 Putin regime that enable his ability to continue wag- 5 ing war in Ukraine; 6 (4) encourages American companies who pro- 7 vide goods and services to democracy activists in 8 Russia to create specific programs to continue to 9 make those goods and services available to support 10 democracy-promotion initiatives; 11 (5) commends companies that have already sus- 12 pended operations in or withdrawn from markets in 13 Russia in response to the Putin regime’s unlawful 14 invasion of Ukraine; and 15 (6) calls on the Department of State to issue a 16 business advisory to inform individuals, businesses, 17 financial institutions, and other persons of the 18 heightened risks associated with conducting business 19 in Russia, particularly business activity that could 20 benefit the Putin regime, and include a list of the 21 types of risks associated with continued business, 22 such as the need to conduct heightened due dili- 23 gence, and particularly at-risk business partners in- 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:42 Apr 03, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HR274.IH HR274 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 6 •HRES 274 IH cluding Russian state agencies, State-owned and af- 1 filiated businesses, and oligarchs. 2 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:42 Apr 03, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\HR274.IH HR274 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS