Rep. Vargas Leads Bipartisan Letter Urging U.S. Development Finance Corporation to Fund Critical Energy Infrastructure Reconstruction across Ukraine
Media Contact: Brian Garcia | (202) 360-8950 | Brian.Garcia3@mail.house.gov
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Recently, Rep. Juan Vargas (CA-52), joined by Rep. Lance Gooden (TX-05), led a letter urging the U.S. Development Finance Corporation (DFC) to prioritize funding for critical energy infrastructure across Ukraine. Due to the cruel war Vladimir Putin has waged on Ukraine, multiple heating and electrical facilities have been bombed – causing fractures across the nation’s energy infrastructure. As a result, millions of Ukrainian families and children have been left without electricity, heating, and/or water.
This letter comes at a time when fears about Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, which is Europe’s largest nuclear power plant and currently under Russian occupation, are at an all-time high. The power plant produced a quarter of Ukraine’s electricity production, but it was re-configured to power Russia’s electrical grid in September 2022. As of Monday, May 22, 2023, the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant has experienced its seventh blackout since Russia seized it in March 2022 – further damaging the energy infrastructure.
“Putin’s vicious invasion of Ukraine is unfounded and wrong. Not only has he launched an offensive on a sovereign nation, but he has targeted vulnerable families by prioritizing the destabilization of citizens’ access to basic resources,” said Rep. Vargas. “We must continue to demonstrate to the world that the United States stands with Ukraine. That’s why I’m proud to lead this bipartisan letter in hopes that the DFC will help the Ukrainian people by prioritizing funding that will rebuild their critical energy infrastructure. We must help ensure that Ukraine not only emerges victorious, but that we prevent bad actors from taking advantage of their weakened energy infrastructure.”
"As a leading voice for American business in Ukraine, we have witnessed the detrimental impact of energy infrastructure attacks on Ukraine and the resulting damage to businesses. We commend the efforts of Rep. Vargas and Rep. Gooden in their commitment to ensuring that Ukraine not only emerges victorious from the war but also achieves lasting peace. By prioritizing energy infrastructure in Ukraine's reconstruction, we can lay a strong foundation for economic growth and prosperity. We are grateful for their leadership and support in this crucial endeavor." said Morgan Williams, US-Ukraine Business Council (USUBC), CEO and President.
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