U.S. House approves bipartisan sanctions bill targeting Russia
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The House passed a bipartisan bill granting the president authority to impose tariffs and sanctions on Russia and entities supporting its energy trade, sending it to the president for signature.
The U.S. House of Representatives voted 262-159 on Wednesday to approve a bipartisan sanctions package aimed at curbing Russia’s ability to finance its war in Ukraine. The legislation, originally championed by the late Senator Lindsey Graham, now moves to the president’s desk after clearing the Senate.
The bill would allow the president to levy tariffs of up to 100 percent on countries that import Russian energy, including China and India, and would impose sanctions on Russian officials, banks and a network of tankers that transport Russian fuel. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had urged senators to support the measure.
While 58 Democrats joined Republicans in favor, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries opposed the bill, arguing that its tariff provisions contain loopholes that could be misused against U.S. allies. > "The manner in which this bill has been written doesn’t require the president of the United States to impose sanctions on Russia. In fact, there are so many loopholes written into the bill, I believe, that it’s very unlikely that the sanctions relief contemplated in the legislation will ever see the light of day," Jeffries said on the House floor.
House Speaker Mike Johnson praised the vote, stating it would increase pressure on Russia’s leadership. Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal, who co-authored the bill, expressed hope that the sanctions would push President Vladimir Putin toward negotiations. The legislation marks the first congressional action in more than two years specifically supporting Ukraine, and the president is expected to sign it into law.