{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://joewilson.house.gov/media/press-releases/wilson-cohen-whitehouse-graham-introduce-bipartisan-bicameral-legislation", "Wilson, Cohen, Whitehouse, Graham, Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Legislation to Seize Russian Oligarch Assets to Aid Ukraine", "2023-11-29", "2023", "2023-11", "Republican", "House", "SC", "Joe Wilson", "W000795", "joewilson.house.gov", "joewilson", "https://joewilson.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2013 Representatives Joe Wilson (R-SC) and Steve Cohen (D-TN), together with Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC), introduced the bipartisan, bicameral Asset Seizure for Ukraine Reconstruction Act. The bill would allow for expedited seizure of high-value assets including private jets, mega yachts, and luxury real estate owned by Russian oligarchs who have violated U.S. law. This commonsense policy works through existing administrative forfeiture processes, preserving due process. The proceeds from these assets would be transferred to Ukraine for reconstruction. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Jim Risch (R-ID), and Michael Bennet (D-CO) cosponsored the legislation.\n\n\u201cWar criminal Putin\u2019s oligarchs have played a major role in financing the mass murder of Ukrainians while lining their own pockets and benefitting from freedoms they actively work to destroy. This commonsense legislation provides a clear mechanism to expedite the seizure of Putin-connected illicit assets and transfer those funds to support Ukraine. Putin and his cronies will be held accountable for the death and destruction they have caused,\u201d said Congressman Wilson.\n\n\u201cWe must do all we can to assist Ukraine, and that should include making use of forfeited Russian assets to defend and rebuild,\u201d said Congressman Cohen. \u201cThe corruption we have uncovered through whistleblowers and the Magnitsky Act is staggering. Rather than line the pockets of Putin's friends, these assets should be used to support the Ukrainian people, and rebuild their institutions, in the face of Russian aggression.\u201d\n\n\u201cPutin and his oligarch cronies launder their dirty money by purchasing super-yachts, priceless artwork, and other high-value assets in rule-of-law nations. We must shutter the sanctuaries for oligarchs\u2019 riches and punish the enablers propping up Putin,\u201d said Senator Whitehouse. \u201cGetting this bipartisan bill over the finish line will give the Biden administration the tools it needs to seize oligarchs\u2019 ill-gotten assets more expeditiously and repurpose them to support Ukraine.\u201d\n\n\u201cDictators like Putin care only about themselves and their cronies,\u201d said Senator Graham. \u201cAll the Russian oligarchs \u2013 Putin\u2019s partners in crime \u2013 should lose their yachts, luxury apartments, and pay a price for being part of a thuggish group \u2013 a nation-state that really is a mafia-state. I want to see the Department of Justice, Treasury, and law enforcement partners go in and take apartments, fine art, and seize yachts from a bunch of thugs and crooks. This is an important step in the effort to push back against Putin and his misadventures.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur bipartisan bill holds accountable the cruel enablers of Putin\u2019s murderous invasion of Ukraine. By providing necessary authorities to U.S. law enforcement, it will enable swift seizures of super yachts, jets, mansions, penthouses, and other luxury assets belonging to Putin\u2019s partners in conflict to support the brave Ukrainian freedom fighters,\u201d said Senator Blumenthal.\n\n\u201cThe Ukrainian people have suffered unspeakable atrocities at the hands of Russia. As such, it is only fair that Putin and his henchmen pay to help Ukraine and its people recover. This legislation will help ensure the private financial assets of those enabling Russia\u2019s war are seized and used to help the people of Ukraine, rather than fund terror and genocide,\u201d said Senator Risch. \u201cBut this bill is just a first step. We must also act to seize Russia\u2019s sovereign assets in the United States. That is why I have been working with Senator Whitehouse on the REPO Act to ratchet up pressure on Russia and send a strong message of American support for Ukraine.\u201d\n\n\u201cOver the past two years, the Ukrainian people have made tremendous sacrifices in the name of democracy. They are winning on the battlefield, and we cannot let them down on Capitol Hill,\u201d said Senator Bennet. \u201cPutin and his oligarchs are directly responsible for the death, destruction, and dislocation wrought by their illegal war in Ukraine. Our bipartisan legislation will make them pay by directing funds from their seized assets to support Ukraine\u2019s reconstruction and recovery.\u201d\n\nRussian oligarchs have played a major role in financing Russian aggression while profiting personally from their alliance with the Putin regime. The legislation would aid Ukraine by facilitating the forfeiture of oligarchs\u2019 ill-gotten assets and the transfer of such proceeds to Ukraine. The bill would lift the $500,000 cap on administrative forfeitures of assets owned by Russian oligarchs and others that aid the Russian government in violation of U.S. laws. The bill would also clarify DOJ\u2019s transfer authority, ensuring that the U.S. government can transfer to Ukraine all the funds it acquires through seizure of Russian oligarch assets.\n\nThe Asset Seizure for Ukraine Reconstruction Act is supported by Razom for Ukraine and Foreign Policy for America.\n\nFull text of the legislation can be found here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://joewilson.house.gov/media/press-releases/wilson-cohen-whitehouse-graham-introduce-bipartisan-bicameral-legislation"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.5370899345725775, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}