WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statement on the Senate’s failure to pass S.3436, Protecting Europe's Energy Security Implementation Act.
“The vote today showed a bipartisan majority is still in support of shutting down Nord Stream 2 (NS). Those Democrats’ decision to vote against our NS2 sanctions bill, a bill most of them previously supported and which would take immediate and decisive action to deter Russia, is a blow to transatlantic security and for U.S. allies and partners, especially the people of Ukraine. The administration’s efforts to lobby against this bill have done nothing but weaken bipartisanship.
“While today’s legislation will not move forward, I remain committed to stopping NS2 and combatting the threat Russia poses to Ukrainian and transatlantic security. I will work to see my bill, the GUARD Act, which would give Ukraine what it needs to defend itself, given a vote. The people of Ukraine cannot afford for us to wait – we must do more, and quickly.”
Senator Risch spoke on the Senate floor ahead of the vote – you can watch his remarks here. The vote on S.3436 was 55-44.
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