Dear Friends,

October 10th was a dark day for all of Ukraine and all people of good will.  While we were asleep, Putin’s Russia launched at least 84 rockets into more than 14 Ukrainian cities targeting civilians. While 43 were destroyed midair by Ukraine’s air defense, the rest hit residential buildings, schools, power plants, and roads busy with rush hour traffic, causing catastrophic loss of life, injuries, and, in some areas, electricity, water, or internet.

As Congress gets back to session, this is all the more reason for your Senator and Congressional Representative to co-sponsor and pass S. 4848 (Graham-R-SC and Blumenthal-D-CT) in the Senate and H.R. 8568 (Lieu-D-CA) in the House, which will designate Russia as a State Sponsor of Terrorism.

This designation will ensure that hundreds of billions of dollars in Russian assets are no longer protected by the Foreign Sovereign Immunity Act and could be used to assist Ukraine. It is critical that the Congress would give Ukraine standing to sue for these assets which have been sealed with the blood of innocent civilians. It will also ensure an end to bad actors’ (e.g., material-service providers, weapons manufacturers, and oil tycoons) continued circumvention of existing sanctions on Russia for waging an unprovoked war on the sovereign nation which systematically targets innocent civilians and their way of life.

October 10th events have made it clear: declaring Russia what it is – a State Sponsor of Terrorism – is one of the most important demands we have.

Please take 5 minutes to SEND A NOTE AND/OR OR CALL NOW to your Senators and Congressional Representatives. Here is a template message (feel free to personalize it):

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Dear [SENATOR {Last name of the Senator}, or REPRESENTATIVE {Last name of the Representative}],

October 10th was a dark day for all of Ukraine and all people of good will. While we were asleep, Putin’s Russia launched at least 84 rockets into more than 14 Ukrainian cities targeting civilians. While 43 were destroyed midair by Ukraine’s air defense, the rest hit residential buildings, schools, power plants, and roads busy with rush hour traffic, causing catastrophic loss of life, injuries, and, in some areas, electricity, water, or internet. As a constituent and [personalize this – e.g. member of the Ukrainian-American community], I write with an urgent plea to co-sponsor [S. 4848 if writing to a Senator; H.R. 8568 if writing to your Congressional representative], designating Russia a State Sponsor of Terrorism.

Russia’s heinous actions have made it abundantly clear why this bill is needed today. It will strengthen sanctions that decrease Russia’s capacity to wage war, violate international humanitarian laws, and commit unspeakable atrocities. Sanctions must change incentive structures for individuals involved in carrying out the invasion.

The U.S. should impose sanctions on material-service providers circumventing the Controlled Sales Regime and support Russian oil price cap efforts underway. This bill will do just that by enacting a new wave of financial sanctions focused on systemically important banks and unsanctioned oligarchs. In addition, to duly recognizing Russia’s engagement in terrorist acts, the designation would eliminate Russia’s assets’ immunity under 28 U.S.C. Section 1605A. Thus, hundreds of billions in Russian assets will no longer be protected by the Foreign Sovereign Immunity Act and could be used to assist Ukraine at a time when its economy has contracted by nearly half. Congress must give Ukraine a standing to sue for these assets.

For these reasons and more, I call on you to co-sponsor and support [S. 4848 if writing to a Senator; H.R. 8568 if writing to your Congressional representative].

Dyakuyu (thank you),
[Your Name]
[Your Address]

The Next Steps

Step 1: If you live in California, contact Senator Alex Padilla here (click on “Share your opinion or comments on bills or other issues” in the pull-down menu and start typing)

Step 2: If you live in California, Contact Senator Dianne Feinstein (if you live in California) here (click on “Foreign Affairs” in the menu and start typing)

Step 3: Find your Congressional Representative here (if you don’t know it) by entering your zip code

Step 4: Click on the email or letter box that shows up and follow the steps similar to Steps 1 and 2 to contact your Congressional Representative

Step 5: If you live in states other than California, you can find your Senators/Representatives here.