Argall Bill to Block Money to Russian Firms Goes Into Effect

State Sen. Dave Argall’s bill to prevent Pennsylvania taxpayer money from supporting the Russian and Belarussian governments recent went into effect.

According to a release from Argall’s office, Act 57 of 2023 took effect at the end of February. It bans companies connected to the governments of Russia or Belarus from receiving state government contracts, grants, or tax credits. 

Argall introduced this as a bill soon after the presumed beginning of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine in February 2022. The bill has received unanimous support from the state House and Senate. 

The bill was signed into law by Gov. Josh Shapiro on Dec. 14, 2023. Act 57 relies on the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the US Treasury Dept. to determine which companies would be affected by this new law in Pennsylvania. 

Argall pushed for this bill because of his constituents connection with Ukraine. Cass Township has the higest concentration of US residents with Ukrainian descendancy, according to recent data.

“My constituents of Ukrainian descent have been clear. They do not want their tax dollars supporting the war crimes committed by Russia. We should not be investing in companies that support the attempt of Putin’s Russia to extinguish democracy in Ukraine,” Argall says in a statement.