Washington, D.C. – Today, House Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Adam Smith (D-WA) will host a press conference unveiling the Fostering Unity Against Russian Aggression Act of 2017. The press conference will occur at 10:45am ET in room 2118 of the Rayburn House Office Building. Ranking Member Smith released the following statement on the bill, policy summary of the bill, and bill text:

“Today, we are witnessing some of the most fundamental threats to our democratic values and to the cohesion of our alliances since the beginning of the post-World War II era. President Putin’s campaign to erode our institutions poses a genuine threat to our system of government and our way of life.

“It is time for us to recognize that this challenge must become one of the central concerns of U.S. national security strategy, and that if we do not stand up to this menace, we stand to lose much of what we have sacrificed to build and preserve during the life of our country. This threat merits a comprehensive response that will deter Russian aggression, strengthen allied and partner defenses, and boost our cohesion while including measures to reduce the risk of nuclear war and avoiding a reckless plunge into a new nuclear arms race.

“President Trump has only exacerbated this problem, belittling our allies and partners, embracing dictatorships, and calling into question our collective security commitments. In this situation, Congress has a responsibility to do its utmost to push back against these dark trends.

“This bill represents a forceful and responsible counter to Russia’s provocations. It is an attempt to lay the foundations for a new security effort to combat the spread of Putinism and increase the resilience of democratic societies.

“It is only one component of such an effort, but it a step we must take. I hope that Congress will include these proposals in the National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2018, and build on them as we seek to preserve democracy and freedom.”

The bill is currently open for signature, and Ranking Member Smith will introduce it during the coming weeks.

###