The House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a sweeping sanctions bill targeting Russia, Iran, and North Korea on Tuesday, 419-3.
The legislation—originally a Senate-based, Iran-focused package—has been mired in technical and partisan disputes for weeks. Trump administration officials have also voiced concerns about parts of the bill, including a congressional review clause that forces the president to obtain approval from Congress before altering Russia sanctions.
House Foreign Affairs Committee chairman Ed Royce defended the review provision on the floor Tuesday, as has his Senate counterpart, foreign relations committee chairman Bob Corker.
“This bill empowers Congress to review and disapprove any sanctions relief. This strong oversight is necessary, it is appropriate,” Royce said. “After all, it is Congress that the Constitution empowers to regulate commerce with foreign nations.”
White House officials have come around and indicated support for the bill, complimenting the revised version for answering some of its concerns. The president’s stance on it, however, remains an open question.
Royce described the legislation as representing consensus from both parties and chambers that America must hit North Korea, Russia, and Iran with tougher sanctions.
“These three regimes in different parts of the world are threatening vital U.S. interests, and they are destabilizing their neighbors,” he said on the House floor. “It is well past time that we forcefully respond.”
Still, Corker told reporters Monday that lawmakers have a few “minor details” left to sort out related to the legislation. He suggested that the bill’s passage could be delayed depending on how those kinks are worked out, though he said he preferred its passage before August recess.
“We still have some work to do, both on procedure but also the North Korea piece,” Corker said. “It’s effectively almost done.”
A GOP aide was unfamiliar with the remaining issues Corker referenced and told TWS that House and Senate staff had worked together on the revised bill passed Tuesday.
“House negotiators incorporated several changes to the North Korea provision on Friday that Senate staff had asked for,” the aide said. “We are unaware of any additional substantive concerns from Corker and Senate Republicans on this legislation.”
The legislation slaps Iran with sanctions over its ballistic missile program and human rights abuses. It also ramps up sanctions on North Korea and targets Russia over election interference, its 2014 annexation of Crimea, and its support of Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad, among other activities.
