Representatives Joe Wilson (R-SC), Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), Tom Kean (R-NJ), and Steve Cohen (D-TN) have introduced the REPO Implementation Act of 2025. The bipartisan bill aims to build on previous legislation by repurposing a portion of frozen Russian sovereign assets for Ukraine on a regular schedule.
Rep. Wilson, who has represented South Carolina’s 2nd district in Congress since 2001 after serving in the South Carolina Senate from 1985 to 2001, said, “War criminal Putin chose to invade Ukraine. Despite losing his war, he continues mass murder and destruction while abducting and erasing identities of Ukrainian children. I was grateful to be among the first supporters of the original REPO Act, and I am grateful to sponsor the REPO Implementation Act of 2025 to ensure that Putin’s own money is used to help Ukraine defend itself against Russian aggression.”
Rep. Kaptur stated, “Last year, Congress overwhelmingly passed the Rebuilding Economic Prosperity and Opportunity (REPO) for Ukrainians Act to ensure that Russia alone is held responsible for the death and destruction that Dictator Putin has forced upon the free people of Ukraine. While that step was an essential one, which we took along with our other allies for Liberty, more can be done. Today, Congress follows through on the promise of the REPO Act and ups the pressure on Putin’s Russia to come to the table for peace with the introduction of this new bipartisan legislation. Together, we will push Russia’s bloody incursion back across their own borders and rebuild Ukraine so that it can take its long-sought place among the free democratic nations in Europe.”
Rep. Kean added, “Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine continues to inflict tremendous suffering on the Ukrainian people. By repurposing frozen Russian sovereign assets in the United States, we can ensure that Russia bears the cost of Putin’s aggression. The REPO Implementation Act establishes a clear framework to provide Ukraine with consistent investments from the United States and encourages our G7 allies to do the same. Together, these efforts will help Ukraine sustain its defense and sovereignty, rebuild what Putin’s forces have destroyed, and strengthen Europe’s collective security.”
Rep. Cohen commented further: “Vladimir Putin put his corrupt money in the United States and Europe, and we froze it. The REPO for Ukrainians Act was a major accomplishment last year, and we must continue this progress with the REPO Implementation Act. This bill ensures that this blood money will now be put to good use supporting the Ukrainians who Putin has attacked. This is a matter of basic justice—the aggressor must pay for his aggression.”
Joe Wilson was born in Charleston in 1947 and currently lives in Springdale at age 75. He graduated from Washington and Lee University with a BA in 1969 before earning a JD from University of South Carolina in 1972.
A copy of the full text is available here.
