Lycoming News

HARRISBURG – In a unanimous and bipartisan vote, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives has approved a bill aimed at preventing taxpayer dollars from supporting companies with ties to the governments of Russia and Belarus. The sponsor of the bill, Sen. Dave Argall (R-29), expressed the urgency of the measure, stating, "My constituents of Ukrainian descent have been loud and clear – we need to keep taxpayer dollars out of the hands of the war criminals who aim to conquer the home of their distant cousins."

The proposed legislation, Senate Bill 282, will prohibit companies owned or controlled by the Russian government from receiving state contracts, grants, or tax credits. This move comes in response to Russia's invasion into Ukraine, which has resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands, including over 100,000 Ukrainian civilians. Ukrainian women and children have been subjected to heinous acts of torture and rape, while captured prisoners of war have endured torture and mutilation.

Highlighting the gravity of the situation, earlier this year, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian Commissioner for Children's Rights Maria Lvova-Belova for the war crime of unlawful deportation and transfer of children from Ukraine to Russia.

The significance of this bill extends beyond its legislative implications. The 2020 census revealed that Cass Township in Schuylkill County boasts the highest percentage of people with Ukrainian ancestry in the United States. In this community, the celebration of Ukrainian culture and heritage is deeply rooted, with local organizations like the Ukrainian Homestead of CEC ODWU Inc. in Lehighton playing a vital role.

With the bill's approval in the House of Representatives, it now awaits the Governor's signature to become law. Once signed, Pennsylvania will take a decisive stand against supporting Russian war crimes, ensuring that taxpayer dollars do not inadvertently contribute to the suffering and injustice faced by the Ukrainian people.

For further information, please contact Jim Brugger at 717-787-2637.

To learn more, click on this link: https://www.senatorargall.com/2023/12/13/argall-bill-to-ban-pa-tax-dollars-from-supporting-russian-war-crimes-heads-to-the-governors-desk/