Congress reaches a deal on new Russian sanctions News
Congress reaches a deal on new Russian sanctions

The House of Representatives and the Senate reached an agreement on Saturday to impose a new sanctions bill [materials] on Russia that would give Congress a new veto power in any presidential attempt to roll back the sanctions. The development was brought by both congressional Republicans and Democrats following concerns that President Donald Trump may return two Russian compounds previously taken in response to the cyber attacks surrounding the American election. The bill had previously faced a blue slip constitutional program, which was ironed out through negotiations between the two chambers, leading to a bill that imposes sanctions on Russia, North Korea and Iran. House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer [gov website] said in a statement [CNN report], “The legislation ensures that both the majority and minority are able to exercise our oversight role over the administration’s implementation of sanctions”. The vote on the bill is scheduled for the House on Tuesday.

All three of the countries who will be directly effected by the new sanctions have been subject to numerous American sanctions for a variety of issues over the past decade. All of the countries in one way or another have attempted to get lawmakers to ease sanctions against their respective nations. In May North Korea took a somewhat unprecedented step when it sent a letter [JURIST report] to the House over sanctions, a move that is uncommon due to lack of formal negotiation channels between the two countries. Iran has been subject to an array of sanctions, including ones placed on an Iranian prison company [JURIST report] by the US Department of the Treasury in April. Though out of the three nations Russia has been subject to the most sanctions over the years. Back in 2012 a House committee approves bill [JURIST report] to sanction Russia officials linked to lawyer’s death.