HARRISBURG – A bill to ban companies with connections to the Russian government from receiving taxpayer dollars was approved by a bipartisan vote of 47-2 by the Senate today, according to the bill’s prime sponsor Senator David G. Argall (R-29).
Senator Argall introduced this legislation shortly after the unprovoked invasion of Ukraine by Russia in February of 2022. Reports in Ukraine have detailed atrocities including the bombing of hospitals, schools, and residential buildings. Thousands of Ukrainian soldiers and civilians have been killed during the conflict.
“Today in the Senate, we agreed that Pennsylvania taxpayer dollars should not support the actions of a tyrant like Vladimir Putin,” said Senator Argall. “I represent some of the most concentrated communities of Ukrainian Americans in the United States, and they want our state government to take a strong stand against the aggression of the Russian government.”
“It’s not just my constituents of Ukrainian heritage that are concerned by recent events. Many Lithuanian and Polish Americans are worried that if Ukraine falls, their distant cousins could be the next to be put in danger due to Putin’s violent actions.”
Senator Argall spoke with Lithuanian Ambassador to the United States of America Audra Plepytė about the importance of holding Russia accountable when she visited Schuylkill County in August.
Senate Bill 1203 will prevent companies from receiving state contracts, grants, or tax credits if they are determined by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the United States Treasury Department to be owned, controlled by, or acting on behalf of the Russian government.
The bill now moves to the House of Representatives for its consideration.
Contact: Jim Brugger
717.787.2637