DeLauro, Cornyn Applaud Provision Cutting Ties with Russian Arms Dealer

RosoboronexportSupporting Syrian Regime

WASHINGTON,DC—Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) todayapplauded the passage of a provision requiring the Pentagon to cut ties withthe Russian state arms dealer, Rosoboronexport, which is arming the Assadregime in Syria. Included as part of the 2013 National DefenseAuthorization Act, the provision prohibits the Defense Department from enteringinto any future contracts with Rosoboronexport.

"Itis simply an unacceptable use of taxpayer dollars for the Pentagon to purchasehelicopters for the Afghan Security Forces from a Russian state arms dealerthat is also enabling President Bashar al-Assad regime to continue to commitmass atrocities against his own people," DeLauro said. "Iam proud to have worked in a bipartisan, commonsense way to prevent thePentagon from continuing to enter into contracts with Rosoboronexport and lookforward to working with my colleagues to ensure that any future contracts topurchase helicopters for the Afghans are competitively bid."

"TheAmerican taxpayer should not be indirectly subsidizing the mass murder ofSyrian civilians, especially when there are perfectly good alternatives forpurchasing aircraft through U.S. brokers," said Cornyn. "Continuing thisrobust business relationship with Rosoboronexport would continue to undermineU.S. efforts to stand with the Syrian people."

Thefinal version of the National Defense Authorization Act passed the House ofRepresentatives yesterday and the Senate today. It now heads to thePresident for his signature. DeLauro and Cornyn spearheaded the effort intheir respective chambers to ensure the Pentagon will no longer be able topurchase arms from Rosoboronexport.