Senators Rick Scott (R-FL) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) reintroduced the Halting Enrichment of Russian Oligarchs and Industry Allies of Moscow’s Schemes to Leverage its Abject Villainy Abroad (HEROIAM SLAVA) Act, alongside Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA).
The senators believe that “Russia must face severe consequences” for their invasion of Ukraine and act against their state-owned enterprises which have access to U.S. capital, allowing the Russians to fund their war effort.
These companies include Rosneft, Gazprom, Rosatom, Aeroflot, and RT.
“Vladimir Putin is a thug and the United States cannot continue to allow him and his evil regime to access American money,” said Sen. Scott. The HEROIAM SLAVA Act will stop these state-owned and Putin-backed war-funding enterprises from accessing capital through strict sanctions.”
Sen. Rubio would add that the United States has a “moral duty” to limit U.S. funds that “enrich the pockets of the Russian regime.”
“The U.S. will never support Putin and his immoral war. We have a moral duty, and it’s in our national security interest, to do everything in our power to limit any U.S. funds that enrich the pockets of the Russian regime. This bill is vital to limit Putin and his cronies from accessing American capital and putting it towards evil,” stated Sen. Rubio.
Finally, Sen. Grassley mentioned that America cannot allow Vladimir Putin to “squeeze a single American cent out.”
“We can’t allow Putin to squeeze a single American cent out of Russia’s state-owned enterprises while his barbaric actions in Ukraine continue. This bill will strike a blow to Moscow and further cripple Putin’s war machine,” wrote Sen. Grassley.
Sen. Scott and Sen. Rubio recently signed a letter blasting Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) for changing the 230-year-old business attire decorum.
After freshman Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) presided over the Senate in shorts and a short-sleeve button-down shirt, Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) led 45 of his colleagues to demand that Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) “restore decorum” in the upper chamber.
According to NBC News, Sen. Schumer changed the rules just days ago to allow Senators – like Sen. Fetterman – to wear casual attire on the floor.
Sen. Scott and his cohorts wrote that “the world watches us on that floor” and that “we must protect the sanctity of that place at all costs.”
“For more than 230 years, the United States Senate has served the American people with honor and dignity. As members of this esteemed body, we understand the seriousness our positions require,” wrote Sens. Scott, Rubio, and his colleagues. “The Senate is a place of honor and tradition, and the Senate floor is where we conduct the business of the American people. It is where we debate the policies which impact every American family and, when necessary, it is where we must make the gravest decision imaginable – whether to send our fellow Americans into battle to defend the freedoms we all hold dear. The world watches us on that floor and we must protect the sanctity of that place at all costs.”
Of the 45 additional senators that signed the letter, notable names include Sens. Marco Rubio (R-FL), Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), John Kennedy (R-LA), Rand Paul (R-KY), Mitt Romney (R-UT), Tim Scott (R-SC), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), JD Vance (R-OH), and Ted Cruz (R-TX).
