US House of Representatives to Take Up Russia Sanctions Bill
The US House is anticipated to address a stringent Russian sanctions package, although the likelihood of its passage remains uncertain despite the strong backing the bill garnered in the Senate in the coming week.
The House Rules Committee has arranged a meeting regarding the bill, with a procedural vote anticipated later in the week that may decide the bill's outcome.
Multiple leading Democratic legislators have expressed worries that the proposal significantly increases President Donald Trump's power to impose tariffs, which he might use against American allies.
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The legislation is named in honor of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who collaborated with fellow lawmakers for over a year to see it passed. The bill was approved by the Senate with a vote of 86-11 roughly a month following his death.
The legislation aims to increase pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin to seek a resolution for Russia's conflict with Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on the House to approve the bill in a post on X. He emphasized that sanctions should be enacted immediately and must be robust.
“And this is a very important historical moment for the US. The bill must be passed, voted on, and supported,” Zelenskyy said. “Beyond that, strong decisions from the U.S. Administration are important. Personal decisions by President Trump. I very much hope we will see that.”
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Three Democratic lawmakers, who hold the top positions on important congressional committees, released a collective statement affirming that House Democrats are firmly behind Ukraine, but the legislation would cause more damage than benefit. They urged discussions to create a proposal that can gain solid backing in both houses.
“In the meantime, the President has ample authority to expand sanctions on those fueling Russia’s war machine, including those targeted by this bill, and we renew our call on him to do so without further delay,” read the statement from Reps.
Gregory Meeks, the ranking member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Richard Neal, the ranking member of the House Ways and Means Committee, and Don Beyer, the senior House Democrat on the Joint Economic Committee.
The upcoming vote is probably the final opportunity for the House to address the measure before the midterms, as House members are anticipated to use the remainder of September and October campaigning for reelection in their home districts.
The bipartisan legislation enables the president to levy tariffs as high as 100 percent on the top five global buyers of Russian oil or gas, which includes China and India. It allows exemptions for nations that import under 15 percent of Russia's natural gas exports and are making efforts to lessen their reliance on Russian energy.
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The law also imposes penalties on Putin, high-ranking Russian political and military officials, Russian financial institutions, and Russian energy initiatives. It would broaden US sanctions to include older oil tankers that Russia reflags to evade current US sanctions on its oil and energy profits. The legislation also permits the White House to lift sanctions or limitations if the president informs Congress that it serves the national interest.
The legislation additionally features an extension of specific sanctions on Iran following Trump's request to the Senate to incorporate Iran into the bill. The administration has aimed to merge economic leverage with the possibility of increasing military action to end the conflict with Iran.