No Russian Agriculture Act

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of my bill, H.R. 4768, the No Russian Agriculture Act. I thank Chairman McHenry for his support of my bill and his efforts to get it to the House floor. I certainly appreciate the ability to start the new year on this bipartisan note.

Over nearly 2 years, Russia's unprovoked and criminal war against Ukraine--led by Russian President Vladimir Putin, his military, and his mercenaries--has inflicted tremendous harm to Ukraine's people and infrastructure.

Among its many horrific acts, Russia has endeavored to strangle Ukraine's economy by restricting the country's exports, including those of its agricultural sector, which is critical to maintaining the world's food supply.

Prior to the war, Ukraine was the world's fourth largest corn exporting country and the fifth largest wheat exporting country. Annually, 400 million people were fed with Ukrainian food products with more than 50 nations receiving those goods. It is why Ukraine has been called the breadbasket of Europe.

Russia previously agreed to the Black Sea grain initiative, pledging to allow for Ukrainian commercial food and fertilizer exports from three Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea.

In July of last year, however, Russia withdrew from that initiative, causing global food prices to spike and hunger and pain around the world. Since then, Russia has attacked ports and grain stores in Ukraine, limiting the entrance of its agricultural products into the global market.

Today, Russia is not only trying to unjustly seize Ukrainian land, but it is also trying to sell its own grain and stolen Ukrainian grain into the world's market to support its war efforts.

This bill will help to push back on Russia while also increasing grain supply resiliency in the face of the shocks that Russia is causing in the world's agricultural markets. Specifically, H.R. 4768 would require the Treasury to press the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and other multilateral development banks to fund projects that decrease the reliance that countries around the world have on Russian agricultural commodities, particularly fertilizer and grain.

Doing so will help to undercut the financing of Russia's war and will help to improve global resiliency to the food supply disruptions that are caused by Russian President Putin.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4768, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

The brutality that Russia has unleashed upon the Ukrainian people is having profound effects in Ukraine and around the world. This includes significant cuts to global food supply and steep prices for countless foods and fertilizers.

This bill provides a novel way for the United States to further counter Russia; to stand with our fellow democracy, Ukraine; to reduce the world's reliance on Russian food; and to undercut Putin's use of food as a weapon. However, I would emphasize that this bill is not a substitute for providing additional funding for Ukraine so that it can stand up to Putin and his invasion. Congress must come together to stand behind Ukraine and to display U.S. strength in the face of injustice.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this critical bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4768) to require the Secretary of the Treasury to instruct the United States Executive Directors at the international financial institutions to advocate for investment in projects that decrease reliance on Russia for agricultural commodities, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4768, the No Russian Agriculture Act, introduced by the ranking member of the Financial Services Committee, the former chair, Maxine Waters.

Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the global agricultural markets have been severely disrupted.

Post invasion, Russia withdrew from an agreement allowing Ukrainian grain shipments to pass through the Black Sea to international markets, thus eliminating a major competitor to Russian exports in the process.

As a result, Russian agricultural exports have remained robust. Additionally, Moscow-imposed export taxes and quotas have only further secured its own domestic food supply at the expense of the international community.

Nearly 2 years later, Moscow continues to diligently weaponize its agricultural trade to ensure dependence on Russian exports. Russia's actions have not only impacted farmers in Ukraine and Europe but across America, as well. As with many things, the United States should never have to rely on foreign adversaries for our food supply.

Diversifying agricultural supplies is imperative for our economic growth and our national security. International financial institutions like the World Bank and the IMF can play a critical role in providing financial and technical assistance to develop the agricultural sectors of poorer countries.

Ranking Member Waters' bill is a critical step in the right direction. It will deter Russia's calculated acts by limiting the reliance of other countries on Russian agricultural commodities.

The voice, the vote, and the influence of the United States is a powerful mechanism at the international financial institutions that we are a part of, and it will allow the world to continue to fight Russia in its path of destruction and injustice.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member of the committee, Ms. Waters, for her leadership on this legislation. I urge my colleagues to support it, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I would just reiterate that Ranking Member Waters' bill is a critical step in the right direction. We are trying to deter Russia's calculated acts by limiting the reliance of other countries on Russia's agricultural commodities.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make a point of order that a quorum is not present.