Representative Cook Supports
Pro-western Government Ukraine
A member of the House Armed Services, Foreign Affairs,
Veterans’ Affairs
Committees, Paul Cook served as an infantry
officer and retired after
26 years as a Colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps. During his
time in combat,
he was awarded the Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts.
WASHINGTON
D.C. March 27, 2014 ____ Thursday, Rep. Paul Cook (R-Apple Valley) applauded
the passage of H.R. 4278, the Ukraine Support Act. This legislation, which
passed on an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 399-19, imposes sanctions on
Russia and provides support for the pro-western government of Ukraine.
This legislation will codify the sanctions on
Russian officials and will allow additional targeted sanctions to be imposed on
corrupt Russian officials. It urges the President to expand sanctions on
Russian leaders engaged in massive human rights violations and international
aggression. It also authorizes additional American support to the Ukrainian
government, which is fully offset by reductions in American aid to Pakistan.
Cook also co-sponsored H.R. 4155, legislation to
streamline the approval process for American natural gas exports. While America
has emerged as the world’s largest producer of natural gas, Russia remains the
world’s largest gas exporter. This would create thousands of good-paying
American jobs while reducing the dependence of key American allies on Russian
energy.
Cook said, “Today’s
passage of the Ukraine Support Act sends Russia a message that aggression will
no longer be tolerated and the United States will stand with its democratic
allies. The days when a rogue empire like Russia could make war on its
neighbors without paying a price have ended. By supporting the democratic
government of Ukraine, expanding American energy production and exports, and
sanctioning Putin and his cronies, America can deter further aggression and
keep the peace in Europe.”