US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi this week has joined both Democratic and Republican lawmakers in calling for a ban of Russian oil and energy products from entering the US. Pelosi has urged House Democrats to support the ban.
Pelosi made the announcement through a memo Sunday night, the same day the White House released a statement regarding aid to Ukraine and also urging Congress to stop accepting Russian oil into the country. Pelosi said that the House of Representatives is exploring legislation that would further isolate Russia from the global economy. However, Pelosi also made clear that this legislation that Congress is set to pass will not affect global markets, despite the rising gas prices in the country.
“The House is currently exploring strong legislation that will further isolate Russia from the global economy,” said the memo. “Our bill would ban the import of Russian oil and energy products from the United States, repeal normal trade relations between Belarus and the United States, and take the first step to deny Russia access to the World Trade Organization. We would also empower the Executive to raise tariffs on Russian imports.”
Pelosi sent the memo to House Democrats following US President Joe Biden’s request for Congress to authorize $10 billion in humanitarian, military, and economic assistance for Ukraine. Congress will vote on the legislation, but with Biden’s stance that no US troops will be deployed to Ukraine.
In other related news, Pelosi has given her endorsement to Democratic California Rep. Karen Bass, who is running for mayor of Los Angeles, according to the Los Angeles Times. Bass is one of the frontrunners among candidates to succeed Mayor Eric Garcetti. Pelosi endorsed Bass in a video message.
“Karen fights to meet the kitchen table needs of Los Angeles families and of families across America,” said Pelosi. “What keeps you up at night is what keeps her up at night.”
Bass has also received the endorsements of her fellow Democratic colleagues in Congress, including Reps. Jimmy Gomez, Norma Torres, and Lou Correa. Recent polls have shown Bass in the lead despite a big portion of voters in Los Angeles who are undecided.