Law to Prevent Pennsylvania Taxpayers Dollars from Supporting Russian War Crimes Takes Effect
Harrisburg, PA - As the world reflects on the two years of carnage that followed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Sen. Dave Argall (R-29) and Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity announced today that a new law has taken effect that bans companies connected to the governments of Russia and Belarus from receiving state contracts, grants, or tax credits.
“My constituents of Ukrainian descent have been clear. They do not want their tax dollars supporting the war crimes committed by Russia. We should not be investing in companies that support the attempt of Putin’s Russia to extinguish democracy in Ukraine.”
Senator Dave Argall (R-29)
“After Vladamir Putin’s unjustified and illegal invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, I immediately ended the Pennsylvania Treasury Department’s investments in any Russian and Belarusian entities. I strongly support Senator Argall’s work to ensure that no state funds are given to any company connected to Russia or Belarus.”
Pennsylvania State Treasurer Stacy Garrity
Argall introduced the bill that would become Act 57 of 2023 at the outset of Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. The bill ultimately received unanimous, bipartisan support in both chambers of the General Assembly and was signed into law by Governor Shapiro on December 14, 2023.
Act 57 of 2023 prevents companies from receiving state contracts, grants, or tax credits if they are determined by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the United States Treasury Department to be owned, controlled by, or acting on behalf of the Russian or Belarusian governments.
According to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, from the start of Russia’s invasion on February 24, 2022 to January 31, 2024, records show that 10,378 Ukrainian civilians were killed and 19,632 were injured. The office expects the actual figure to be much larger due to the difficulty of gathering data in active combat zones. Military casualties on both sides of the conflict are estimated to be higher than a half a million.
Last 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.
Media contacts:
Samantha Heckel, Press Secretary (Treasury), 717-418-0206 or sheckel@patreasury.gov
Jim Brugger (Argall) 717-787-2637 or jbrugger@pasen.gov
