Statement by Congresswoman Lee on Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations, released the following statement on Russia’s attack on Ukraine. Congresswoman Lee visited Ukraine in 2019 with the House Democracy Partnership and recently returned from the 2022 Munich Security Conference where she met with various world leaders to reinforce the United States’ commitment to global peace and security.
“My prayers are with the people of Ukraine as they face this unprovoked, unjustified attack by Russian military forces. Once again, Putin is spurning diplomacy, choosing to escalate his lawless invasion of Ukraine. His actions will expand the humanitarian crisis and cause untold human suffering. The United States must be ready to support the victims of this conflict with humanitarian and economic assistance. We must continue working diligently with our allies on diplomatic solutions, including through the United Nations, to secure an immediate ceasefire.
“We must now impose controlled, targeted sanctions on Putin and his oligarchs, including denying them access to the billions of dollars they have hoarded in European and American banks. I support President Biden’s actions to impose significant costs on Russia and reinforce NATO as it began its invasion of Ukraine, but we must do so without causing innocent Russians further suffering.
“I am confident in President Biden’s repeated commitment to keep U.S. military personnel out of any conflict in Ukraine itself. Should the ongoing situation compel the President to consider U.S. military intervention in addition to these sanctions, however, Congress must be consulted prior to any authorization as per the War Powers Resolution of 1973. The American people deserve to have a say before we become involved in yet another foreign conflict.
“As Chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations, I will do everything in my power to provide the support to the Ukrainian people that this dire and tragic moment warrants. From visiting Ukraine in 2019 with the House Democracy Partnership to hearing from President Zelenskyy himself at the Munich Security Conference last week, I know that the Ukrainian people want democracy and that they will defend their country. I vehemently condemn Putin’s imperialist ambitions and call upon the international community to come together in defense of human rights, global peace, and democracy.”
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Congresswoman Lee is a member of the House Appropriations Committee and Chair of the Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations. She serves as Co-Chair of the Steering & Policy Committee, former Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, Chair Emeritus of the Progressive Caucus, Co-Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Health Task Force, and Co-Chair of the Pro-Choice Caucus. She also serves as Chair of the Majority Leader’s Task Force on Poverty and Opportunity. As a member of the House Democratic Leadership, she is the highest ranking Black woman in the U.S. Congress.