WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, applauded committee passage of three bipartisan bills aimed at holding Putin accountable for his ongoing assault on Ukraine, two of which she authored or led, including the STOP Russia and China Act to disrupt Moscow’s ties to Beijing and the REPO Implementation Act to speed up efforts to use Russian sovereign assets for Ukraine. The measures target Russia’s war machine and ensure that the Kremlin pays for its refusal to end the war against Ukraine.
“Putin’s brutal war has now stretched into its fourth year, and his regime continues to murder innocent civilians, attack Ukraine’s hospitals, schools and energy facilities and abduct children,” said Senator Shaheen. “Today is the first time in this Congress that Russia-related legislation has passed through this committee. These bipartisan votes are a clear sign that Congress is ready and willing to act—and that we will move multiple pieces of critical legislation to hold Putin accountable if President Trump continues to stall. I’m glad President Trump cancelled his proposed summit with Putin—it never should have been scheduled in the first place without a ceasefire in place. But words aren’t enough. Now is the time to act.”
Senator Shaheen also advanced bipartisan legislation to counter overseas cyber scam centers targeting American citizens, strengthen critical mineral supply chains and hold corrupt actors in Haiti accountable. Together, these initiatives reaffirm America’s global leadership and commitment to standing with our allies.
The legislation now moves to the full Senate for consideration. Below is a summary of key foreign policy and national security priorities secured by Senator Shaheen in the Committee-passed legislation.
Summary of Key Foreign Policy Priorities Senator Shaheen Secured
Countering Russia’s War and Global Enablers:
Shaheen’s STOP Russia and China Act with Senator Cornyn (R-TX) imposes sanctions on entities and individuals in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) supporting Russia’s defense industrial base through transfers of dual-use technologies such as radar systems and aviation components. The legislation also directs the Administration to sanction Russian entities supporting China with capabilities for military operations in the Taiwan strait.
Shaheen co-led the REPO Implementation Act with Senators Whitehouse (D-RI), Risch (R-ID), Grassley (R-IA), Blumenthal (D-CT) and Graham (R-SC). The bipartisan bill authorizes the transfer of frozen Russian sovereign assets held in the United States into an interest-bearing account to fund Ukraine’s defense and reconstruction—without new cost to American taxpayers. It ensures that Russia, not the U.S., bears the financial burden of rebuilding Ukraine and encourages allied nations to adopt similar measures.
The Shaheen-supported Designating the Russian Federation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism Act directs the Secretary of State to assess whether, based on Russia’s deliberate targeting of civilians, systematic abductions of Ukrainian children and other acts, Russia should be designated a State Sponsor of Terrorism. The bill reflects growing bipartisan concern over Russia’s gross violations of human rights and international law.
Addressing Global Threats:
Shaheen and Senator Cornyn (R-TX) introduced the Scam Compound Accountability and Mobilization (SCAM) Act to combat overseas cyberscam compounds—criminal operations that traffic people and force them to work in scamming compounds that defraud Americans out of billions of dollars annually. The bill mandates a whole-of-government strategy to dismantle these networks, prevent human trafficking and sanction perpetrators.
Shaheen partnered with Senator Curtis (R-UT) on the Critical Minerals Partnership Act to authorize the U.S. role in the Minerals Security Partnership—a group designed to coordinate secure, reliable global supply chains for critical minerals. The bill directs the Secretary of State to work with allies and partners to reduce our collective dependence on China, ensure transparent sourcing and protect access to materials essential to our economy, energy transition and defense industry.
Shaheen led Senators Scott (R-FL), Curtis (R-UT), Kaine (D-VA) and Coons (D-DE) in introducing the Haiti Criminal Collusion Transparency Act, which mandates sanctions on Haitian political and business elites with ties to armed gangs. The legislation requires interagency coordination to expose and disrupt the criminal collusion fueling Haiti’s humanitarian crisis.
###