(Washington, D.C.) – Today, Congressman Glenn Grothman (WI-06) voted for the Senate-amended Suspending Normal Trade Relations with Russia and Belarus Act, which also reauthorizes the current definition of gross violations of internationally recognized human rights within the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act.
On March 17, 2022, Congressman Grothman voted against H.R. 7108, the original version of the Suspending Normal Trade Relations with Russia and Belarus Act because of a poor provision that would have significantly changed the purpose of the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act by removing definitions of gross violations of internationally recognized human rights in favor of more vague language. This revised version of the Magnitsky Act would have broadened the power of the President and left open the possibility of the U.S. government weaponizing our vast financial wealth for political purposes. This concern is not unfounded. It was recently reported by Life Site news that legislators in the Dominican Republic have received a warning from the American embassy that if they do not legalize abortion, they will be without American visas. With the changes to the Global Magnitsky Act that were in H.R. 7108 when it passed the House on March 17, this warning could be backed up with the threat of sanctions, too.
The removal of this poor provision amending the Magnitsky Act was taken out of the bill after Grothman voiced concerns to his colleagues in the Senate.
Following today’s vote, Congressman Grothman released this statement:
“I appreciate my friends in the Senate for standing up to President Biden and removing this dangerous provision from a bill that should have been bipartisan from day one,” said Grothman. “This presidential power grab could have been used to intimidate foreign officials into following President Biden’s radical personal agenda.
“Now that the inclusion of the vague definition of human rights abuses in the Magnitsky Act has been removed, I am proud to support this version of the bill.
“The bill will now go to the President’s desk, and I strongly urge him to use this powerful legislation as leverage to end this bloody war.”
