Hoyer: This is an Anti-Russia, Pro-Ukraine Bill. Let us Pass It.
WASHINGTON, DC –Today, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) delivered remarks on the House Floor during debate on the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026. Below are a video and transcript of his remarks:
Click here to watch a video of his remarks.
“I thank the gentleman, my friend who co-sponsored the Ukraine Support Act with me. I'm sorry that the Senate won't pass that bill, and I'm sorry the President won't sign that bill. But the President will sign this bill. This is something we can do. And I rise in very strong support of the passage of this legislation and, very frankly, in disagreement with the people that have spoken about giving Trump this unfettered power. Trump believes he has unfettered power right now without this bill or any action by the House of Representatives, so that's an irrelevant argument. And the Senate, three quarters of the Democrats and 87 members of the Senate – it was 86 [votes], but McConnell's back – believe that it limits simply to those who are aiding Russia's war effort to additional tariffs under this bill. I disagree with my dear friend that it opens up any country. France just endorsed this bill within the last 24 hours. They would be one of those countries subject to adverse action. We must pass this bill because if we do not pass this bill...
“The fact of the matter is, my friend mentioned a Chamberlain moment or Churchill moment. Let me suggest to you that if we believe the enemy in this case is Trump, it will be a Chamberlain moment. But if we vote for this bill, it will be a Churchill moment because we will tell the President, ‘You need to do something that you don't want to do. You may not do it. We can't force you to do it –’ I'd like to force him to do it – but we can say to him, 'Do it because the Congress wants to do it.' We've been unanimous on this side, and you have had the majority votes on your side almost every time we voted. Support Ukraine. If we fail to pass this bill, there will be cheers in the Kremlin and tears in Kyiv. This is a moment when we stand up and say where we are. We can't control where the President is. I disagree with the President, but I agree strongly, ladies and gentlemen of this House, it is time for us to stand up and say to Russia: ‘You will not continue with this without our adverse action.’ This is an anti-Russia, pro-Ukraine bill. Let us pass it. I yield back the balance of my time.”