Washington, DC— Today, Congressman Jim Himes (CT-04) released the following statement on newly announced sanctions on Russian entities and individuals:

“Today, the Biden administration announced an executive order imposing sanctions on 32 Russian individuals and entities in response to the SolarWinds cyberattack. This response is important, but I fear it will be insufficient to change Russian behavior. 

“The imposition of sanctions alone in the face of sustained cyberattacks is not enough to deter our foes. We know this because the Obama administration also imposed sanctions on the Russians in 2016 with little effect.

“When foreign actors attack the United States, through conventional or cyber means, we must respond swiftly and consistently.  We need clear principles outlining our response to cyberattack, so that our adversaries know they will face certain and proportional retaliation. Until we make it clear that there’s a high price to pay for those who test us, hacks from state entities and lone wolves will increase in both frequency and severity. 

“I look forward to working with the administration to craft a holistic and strategic cyberdefense strategy that will keep our homeland safe in the face of attack as well as deter any future threats.”

With any questions, contact Patrick Malone at Patrick.malone@mail.house.gov.

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