WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Madeleine Dean (PA-04), member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, released the following statement regarding her vote for the Russian and Iran Sanctions Act:
“For four-and-a-half years, I have stood with the people of Ukraine in their fight for sovereignty against Russia’s illegal, brutal invasion. I have urged two administrations to stand with our ally Ukraine — to give them what they need to win.
I voted for sending advanced weapons, for passing supplemental funding packages, and for expanding Ukraine’s strike capabilities. I joined a bipartisan delegation to Ukraine in 2024 to meet with our troops in Poland, Ukrainian troops in Ukraine, and President Zelensky in Kyiv. And I condemned President Trump’s repugnant treatment of President Zelensky in the Oval Office on February 28, 2025. I have always stood with the people of Ukraine and the Ukrainian American community — including the large, welcoming population in my district — who have never given up hope.
Today, the Ukrainian people are asking us again to stand with them, with their young democracy, as their indispensable ally. To offer hope.
I did not agree often with Senator Graham. Yet, he saw the moral imperative of supporting Ukraine in this war. This bill is not perfect, but it can do one important thing. To end this conflict, we must turn off the spigot of Russian fuel sales.
Our work in Congress does not stop here. We must prevent President Trump from abusing any tariff authority or using them for his personal benefit, as he has continuously done before. We must ensure Russia’s war machine — not American families — bears the costs of Putin’s war crimes. We must reclaim our constitutional authority over trade and create coherent policies that strengthen our economy and our national security. Finally, we must force the administration to provide the $400 million Congress has already appropriated to Ukraine.
And in the meantime, I will not stop fighting to bring home the at least 20,000 precious Ukrainian children kidnapped by Russia.
These are the challenges ahead, but today, the most important question is — What are the people of Ukraine asking for? They are asking for hope, and that we cannot deny them.
In this narrow window before another Ukrainian winter or war, I voted ‘Yes’ to offer help and hope to the people of Ukraine.
Rep. Madeleine Dean is a mother, grandmother, attorney, professor, former four-term member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, and U.S. Representative for the Fourth District of Pennsylvania.
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