Bera participates in hearing on Ukraine, votes for Russian sanctions

Congressman Ami Bera, M.D. participated in a House Committee on Foreign Affairs hearing earlier today to examine the ongoing situation in Ukraine and the next steps forward for U.S. foreign policy in the region. Officials from the State Department, Treasury and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) testified at the hearing entitled, “U.S. Foreign Policy Toward Ukraine.”

Immediately following the hearing, Bera joined his fellow committee members in voting unanimously in support of bipartisan legislation (H. Res. 499) that condemns the violation of Ukrainian sovereignty and calls for sanctions on Russian officials, banks and other state agencies.

“Russia must be put on notice that aggression against the Ukrainian interim government is unacceptable and has serious consequences,” said Bera. “As the world’s greatest democracy, the U.S. has the solemn duty to demonstrate strong humanitarian principles, democratic values, and good governance. We must support the right of the Ukrainian people to choose their own future free of intimidation and fear.”

Congressman Ami Bera, M.D. represents Sacramento County. Born and raised in California, Bera is a physician and the only Indian American currently serving in Congress. He’s fighting to rebuild an economy that works for middle class families and to reduce our country’s debt in a responsible way. One of Bera’s first acts in Congress was to help lead the effort to pass the No Budget No Pay Act, which says if members of Congress don’t pass a budget, they don’t get paid. As a leader of the No Labels' Problem Solvers, he’s working with people from both parties to find bipartisan solutions to our nation’s challenges. He and his wife Janine live in Elk Grove with their daughter Sydra. For more updates on Rep. Bera follow @RepBera on Twitter, like Congressman Bera on Facebook, or visit https://www.bera.house.gov.