• The House of Representatives passed a bill to suspend normal trade relations with Russia and Belarus.
  • Eight House Republicans voted against the bill on Thursday.
  • Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Matt Gaetz, Lauren Boebert, and Thomas Massie were among them.

The House of Representatives passed a bill on Thursday to suspend normal trade relations with both Russia and Belarus amid the war in Ukraine.

The Suspending Normal Trade Relations with Russia and Belarus Act, which passed by a 424-8 margin, allows President Joe Biden to increase tariffs on products coming from the two countries and requires the US Trade Representative to seek suspension of Russia's participation in the World Trade Organization.

The legislation must now pass the Senate and be signed by Biden to be enacted into law.

This move comes one day after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's address to Congress, and a week after the House also voted to enact tougher sanctions on Russia and ban the importation of oil from the country. Seventeen members of Congress, overwhelmingly Republicans, voted against that measure.

Belarus, though not the primary aggressor in the current conflict, is a close ally of Moscow and has allowed its territory to be used by Russian troops for staging invasions.

While Congress has been relatively unified in calling for Russia to be punished and for the US to support Ukraine, some on the right flank of the party have adopted a different tactic. Rep. Madison Cawthorn of North Carolina faced criticism from members of the GOP after he called Zelenskyy a "thug" at an event with constituents.

Here are the eight Republicans who voted against the bill on Thursday:

  • Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia
  • Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida
  • Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado
  • Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky
  • Rep. Andy Biggs of Arizona
  • Rep. Dan Bishop of North Carolina
  • Rep. Glenn Grothman of Wisconsin
  • Rep. Chip Roy of Texas

Greene, for her part, bemoaned in a Thursday floor speech that "all we're hearing on the news is Ukraine" and claimed that "Washington seems to care more about sending our sons and daughters to a potential war" than more pressing domestic issues. 

And Massie told Insider in an email that "this bill allows Biden and future Presidents to sanction virtually anyone they choose anywhere on the globe without Congressional approval."

Biden has repeatedly pledged not to send Americans troops to Ukraine.

Insider has reached out to the six other House Republicans' offices for comment.

Read the original article on Business Insider

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