Duma opens autumn session, Volodin tells legislators Putin wished them productive work

MOSCOW. Sept 17 (Interfax) - Russian State Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin told lawmakers before opening the 2024 autumn session on Tuesday that President Vladimir Putin wished them productive work.

"Before starting to share working plans for the autumn session, I'd like to tell you at the request of our president, with whom I talked right before entering the session hall and discussed priority items on our agenda, that he most warmly wished you productive work in the interests of our voters and the country," Volodin said.

The president "attaches great significance to the development of parliamentarianism and the State Duma's work," he said.

The Duma's priorities for the autumn session include implementing provisions of the presidential annual address, supporting special military operation participants and their family members, reviewing and adopting a budget for next year and for a planned period, supporting regions and municipalities in upgrading their water and heat supply infrastructure, and upgrading urban electric transport systems, Volodin said.

The Duma will focus on enhancing parliamentary control over the implementation of government programs, he said.

The protection of traditional values, culture, family and childhood are also among the Duma's priorities, he said.

The lawmakers will also address measures to improve migration policy during this session, he said.

The Duma's legislative portfolio currently includes 1,113 bills, of which 236 it has passed at the first reading and two at the second, Volodin said.