Rep. Andy Biggs
By Ronald J. Hansen | Arizona Republic
Rep. Andy Biggs was one of only eight House members to vote Thursday against suspending normal trade relations with Russia and Belarus, saying he fears President Joe Biden will use a provision to punish opponents of abortion rights.
The House of Representatives voted 424-8 to further punish Russia economically for its invasion of Ukraine and Belarus for enabling it.
The bill, which now goes to the Senate, would impose tariffs on goods from Russia and Belarus and requires Biden to seek to remove Russia from the World Trade Organization.
Biggs, R-Ariz., said Democrats took a broadly popular measure and added a “couple pieces of garbage to give themselves more power.”
Specifically, Biggs cited his opposition to a provision giving the president expanded authority under an existing law targeting human-rights abusers
