Rep. Ilhan Omar Voted Against Russian Oil Ban: Here's Why

MINNEAPOLIS — Rep. Ilhan Omar Wednesday voted against a bill that would ban Russian energy imports, including oil, to the United States. The bill passed overwhelmingly by a vote of 414 "yes" votes to 17 "no" votes.

"I opposed the Suspending Energy Imports from Russia Act, a bill that mandates a complete ban on Russian oil imports," Omar said. "The President clearly already has the authority to take this step - evident in that President Biden announced such a ban yesterday. But putting the specifics into statute with no sunset and no conditions for lifting the ban creates a dangerous scenario, one in which we are taking today’s policy question and making it tomorrow’s political question."

“The last time Congress passed significant trade restrictions on Russia was the Jackson-Vanik Amendment of 1974," she continued.

"Like this bill, it was motivated by genuine concern for human rights and human security. It was not repealed until 2012, more than 20 years after the fall of the Soviet Union, well after its usefulness had expired. I have serious concerns that the Suspending Energy Imports from Russia Act will become yet another clear example where a policy stays on the books well past its utility because the political will to lift it has never materialized.

Omar joined Democratic Rep. Cori Bush and 15 Republican representatives in voting against the ban.

All of Minnesota's Republicans in Congress — plus Democrats Betty McCollum, Angie Craig, and Dean Phillips — voted in favor of the ban.

"Banning Russian oil to stop funding Putin’s war is necessary," Republican Rep. Pete Stauber said in a statement. "Now it’s time to unleash domestic energy and restore American energy dominance so we never have to rely on adversarial nations again."

"Today, Congress is taking action to isolate Russia from the global economy by banning imports of Russian oil & energy products into the U.S," said Democratic Rep. Angie Craig.

"To lessen the impact on domestic prices, we must also take steps to increase supply and lower costs for consumers."