NEW HAVEN, CT—In a visit to Milford’s Spectrum Associates, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-3) unveiled the Rosoboronexport Embargo Act of 2014. The bill would prohibit any federal government funds from going to the company that accounts for 80 percent of Russia’s arms exports.

Spectrum Associates gets approximately half of their work from contracts with Sikorsky, including Black Hawk helicopters. Since 2011 the Department of Defense (DOD) has awarded more than $1 billion in no-bid contracts to Rosoboronexport to buy dozens of Russian helicopters for the Afghan National Security Forces.

“Connecticut has always been the ‘Arsenal of the Republic’ and its companies should be able to compete on a level playing field,” DeLauro said. “Instead, the DOD has been giving no-bid contracts to a Russian manufacturer that has helped fuel the violent and repressive regime in Syria, and played a role in Ukraine’s destabilization.

“The Rosoboronexport Embargo Act of 2014 would expand sanctions so that the government can no longer enter into contracts or agreements with the Russian company. We should not be filling the coffers of Russian arms dealers in any way, shape, or form. Our domestic manufacturers, like Sikorsky and Spectrum Associates, should get the chance to compete for this important work.”

For more information on the Rosoboronexport Embargo Act of 2014, please click here.

DeLauro has led congressional opposition in this area since 2009. That opposition led to the Pentagon canceling a planned future purchase of helicopters from Rosoboronexport. Most recently, the House of Representatives passed an amendment authored by DeLauro that strengthens the ban on DOD contracts with Rosoboronexport. That amendment was part of the Fiscal Year 2015 Defense Appropriations bill.