Russian State Duma passes 564 bills in 224, including 233 during autumn session - speaker
MOSCOW. Dec 18 (Interfax) - The Russian State Duma has adopted 564 bills this year, Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin said at the chamber's meeting on Wednesday wrapping up its autumn session.
"The State Duma reviewed 1,086 legislative initiatives in 2024, doing everything it can to help achieve the national development goals set by President Vladimir Putin," Volodin said in his speech.
The State Duma has passed 564 bills this year, including 233 during the autumn session, he said, adding that 22% of these bills are important social initiatives and 68% are direct action ones.
As previously, the absolute priority of parliamentarians' work in 2024 was providing "support to special military operation participants and their families," he said. "In total, 124 such bills have been adopted since the start of the special military operation, including 33 since the beginning of this year and 12 during the autumn session," he said.
"The number of bills adopted on the initiative of regional legislatures has increased as well, and the Duma has passed bills addressing matters requested by citizens. One of them is the need to bring order to the migration sector," Volodin said.
"Fourteen bills initiated by the State Duma and meant to update the migration policy and the crackdown on illegal migration have been adopted since the beginning of the year," he said.
The State Duma's all-time priority is to protect family, children, traditional values and the country's sovereignty, Volodin said.
"Only independent, sovereign states have a future. All other policies lead to a state's collapse and huge problems," he said.
In addition, the State Duma has intensified international cooperation this year, he said.
"We have been developing contacts with countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America. Meetings with counterparts from China, Vietnam, Uzbekistan, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Yemen, Nicaragua, Cuba, Algeria, Indonesia and Equatorial Guinea were held in 2024. And this is not the full list. This is our answer to those who thought that Russia could be isolated from the rest of the world," Volodin said.
Volodin also thanked President Vladimir Putin for "listening to the parliament, for supporting it, especially in situations where discussions on problems are really very hard."
"And, relying on this support, we find solutions that we are not ashamed of," he said.
"The year is coming to an end, but it does not mean that we are halting our work. Our work will now continue in the electoral districts, including reports to the voters. Politicians have no vacations, and those who rest on their laurels may welcome in the New Year in places where it is possibly warmer but lonely," Volodin said.
