ALBANY, NY – State Senator Elijah Reichlin-Melnick (D-Rockland/Westchester) announced that he is introducing legislation, to be known as the “Stop Russian Aggression Act,” in response to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. The legislation will block the awarding of New York State contracts to any company conducting business in Russia, and will instruct the New York State Comptroller to begin the process of divesting the state retirement system pension fund from any investment in companies that do business in Russia.
“Russia’s unprovoked and illegal invasion of Ukraine demands the strongest possible response,” said Senator Reichlin-Melnick. “New York State does not invest in or support companies that do business in North Korea or Iran, and Vladimir Putin’s reckless actions have now put Russia in the company of these rogue nations. In the 1980s, the United States and other democracies boycotted and divested from South Africa to pressure them to end their racist apartheid system. Now we must wield similar economic pressure to ensure Russia faces serious consequences for this devastating attack on a peaceful nation in violation of international law.”
The Stop Russian Aggression Act will be introduced within the next few days, and Senator Reichlin-Melnick will be inviting other Senators to co-sponsor his legislation.
Evan R. Menist, MPA (he/him)
Director of Communications/Deputy Chief of Staff
State Senator Elijah Reichlin-Melnick, SD38
845.337.2448