Congress Advances Russia Sanctions Bill to President Trump
The House passed a bipartisan sanctions package targeting Russian officials and companies, and granting the president authority to levy tariffs on major importers of Russian energy, before sending it to the president for signature.
The House approved a Russia sanctions bill on Wednesday with a 262-to-159 vote, sending the measure to President Trump. The legislation aims to pressure the Russian economy to compel an end to the war in Ukraine by targeting Russian officials, companies and financial institutions linked to the conflict.
The bill also authorizes the president to impose tariffs on countries that import significant volumes of Russian oil and natural gas, naming China and India as examples. Democrats expressed concern that the tariff provision could allow the president to designate any nation as a sanctions-evasion facilitator and impose duties of up to 100 percent without clear oversight.
Republican Rep. Michael McCaul said the effort reflects a moral imperative to “do everything possible to end this war.” Democratic Rep. Don Beyer warned that the bill contains a loophole that could enable broad tariff authority without safeguards. The measure previously cleared the Senate with an 86-11 bipartisan vote, and a small group of Republicans joined Democrats in opposing it in the House.