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Office of the 11th Congressional District of Virginia
Formerly the Office of Representative Gerry Connolly
The Washington, D.C., office and the district office of former Representative Connolly will continue to serve the people of the 11th Congressional District of Virginia under the supervision of the Clerk of the House of Representatives. Representative Connolly passed away on May 21, 2025. See Press Release
Connolly Calls on Congress to Pass Connolly-Chabot Crimea Annexation Non-recognition Act
Washington, DC,
November 21, 2014
Failure to stand up against Putin's illegal annexation of Crimea will set a danger and irrevocable precedent, said Rep. Connolly. Read more.
On Thursday, the House Foreign Affairs Committee passed legislation prohibiting federal agencies from taking action that recognizes Russian sovereignty over Crimea. The bipartisan legislationwas introduced by Congressman Gerald E. Connolly (D-VA)with Steve Chabot (R-OH).“The United States must lead the way in refusing to recognize or legitimize the annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation,” said Rep. Connolly. “Failure to stand up against Putin’s illegal annexation of Crimea will set a danger and irrevocable precedent.” “Acquiescence on the part of the U.S. threatens the security of all sovereign nations. Who is next? Moldova? Georgia? The Baltic Republics?” added Connolly. When Russian troops were identified as fomenting unrest in Crimea in February of this year, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin adamantly denied involvement. By April, Russia had illegally annexed Crimea, and Putin had come clean about the blatant Russian intrusion, admitting that Russian troops had been deployed to Crimea before the illegal annexation on March 21. “Now, Putin’s playbook is being put to in eastern Ukraine,” said Connolly. Last week, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg certified a serious Russian military buildup in eastern Ukraine. The U.S. and our European allies have issued successive rounds of sanctions and warnings as Russian aggression has mounted and spurred violence and destruction in the region. “The U.S. lacks credibility objecting to Russia’s aggression without a firm stance on Crimea,” added Connolly. “Congress must make a simple, declarative statement on Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea. The Crimea Annexation Non-recognition Act does just that.” Full Connolly Statement on H.R. 5241, Crimea Annexation Non-recognition Act House Committee on Foreign Affairs |