REFUSE PUTIN Act

Regaining Energy Freedom and Undeniable SEcurity and Preserving U.S. Trade Interests Now Act or the REFUSE PUTIN Act

This bill addresses U.S. energy security and independence, the importation and exportation of fossil fuels, and drawdowns from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

Specifically, the bill directs the President to prohibit the importation of fossil fuels from Russia. While the prohibition is in effect, the President may not ban the export of crude oil.

The President must also rescind certain orders, including specified environmental executive orders relating to climate change. Further, agencies must repeal any regulations that have the intent or effect of substantially reducing U.S. energy independence.

In addition, the bill grants the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission the exclusive authority to approve or deny applications for facilities, such as liquefied natural gas terminals, to export natural gas from the United States to foreign countries or import natural gas from foreign countries.

Additionally, the Department of Energy may not drawdown petroleum in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve until it develops a plan to increase the percentage of federal lands leased for oil and gas production.

Finally, the bill also approves the TransCanada Keystone Pipeline in Phillips County, Montana for the import of oil from Canada to the United States.

Bill 117 HR 6960, also known as the REFUSE PUTIN Act, is a piece of legislation introduced in the US Congress with the aim of imposing sanctions on individuals and entities that are deemed to be acting on behalf of Russian President Vladimir Putin. The bill seeks to target those who are involved in corruption, human rights abuses, or undermining democratic processes in Russia.

The REFUSE PUTIN Act includes provisions for freezing assets, restricting travel, and prohibiting financial transactions for those identified as being connected to Putin. It also calls for the US government to work with international partners to coordinate efforts in imposing these sanctions.

The bill has garnered bipartisan support in Congress, with lawmakers from both parties expressing concern over Putin's actions and the need to hold those responsible accountable. Supporters of the bill argue that it is necessary to send a strong message to Putin and his associates that their actions will not be tolerated. Opponents of the bill have raised concerns about the potential impact of the sanctions on US businesses and the broader economy. They also question the effectiveness of such measures in changing Putin's behavior. Overall, the REFUSE PUTIN Act represents a bipartisan effort to address concerns about Putin's actions and hold those responsible accountable. It remains to be seen how the bill will progress through Congress and what impact it may have on US-Russia relations.