US House committee advances late Senator Graham's Russia sanctions bill
A US House committee has approved a bipartisan Senate-passed bill to toughen sanctions on Russia, co-authored by the late Senator Lindsey Graham, clearing the way for a floor vote this week.
The House Rules Committee approved on September 14 a bipartisan bill aimed at intensifying sanctions pressure on Russia. The legislation was co-authored by Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who has since died, and Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal.
The bill would impose "punitive" tariff rates on goods from countries that purchase Russian uranium and petroleum products. The committee's approval sets the stage for a full floor vote in the House later this week.
House Speaker Mike Johnson said on Monday that he could bring the bill up under an expedited procedure, which would require a two-thirds majority for passage.
Next steps expected within days
Ukraine's presidential envoy for sanctions policy, Vladyslav Vlasiuk, said the next procedural steps should take place within the next two days. Writing on social media, he said the "hellish sanctions" bill had cleared its first procedural vote in committee, with the next stop being a procedural floor vote on Tuesday at midday, followed by a substantive vote on Wednesday at midday. Vlasiuk added there was still no clarity on proposed Democratic amendments, but the process appeared to be moving forward with a clean version of the bill.
As previously reported, the US Senate approved the Russia sanctions bill on August 7 by a vote of 86 in favor, with Graham and Blumenthal as co-authors. Media later reported that the bill faced growing resistance in the House and could be blocked at least until the November congressional elections.
