The Senate next week will vote on legislation that will call for sanctions against Russia for meddling in the 2016 U.S. elections.
The expected action against Russia will happen in the context of a bill to impose new sanctions against Iran over its ballistic missile testing and support of terrorism in the Middle East. Lawmakers plan to add one or more amendments that would also punish Russia, in part for cyber-attacks that occurred during the 2016 election and that undermined the Democratic National Committee and presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.
Senate Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Bob Corker, R-Tenn., said Senate staff is working to construct a Russia sanction amendment that includes provisions authored by different lawmakers.
“We are looking at the work of everybody,” Corker said. “A lot of people have thoughts, and we are trying to pull it all together. We are just working with all the various groups to get it right.”
Democrats, who were most politically damaged by the Russian cyber hacks, said last week that they would vote against ending debate on the bill, preventing passage, unless it includes the Russian sanctions.
Among the provisions lawmakers are likely to include is one that would give Congress the authority to stop the the president from lifting sanctions on Russia.
“We on the Democratic side feel very strongly that we need a tough, effective package of Russia sanctions to move alongside Iran sanctions,” said Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. “I believe many of my Republican colleagues do as well, so there is very likely an agreement to be reached.”
Interest in Russia remains high in the wake of last week’s testimony from former FBI Director James Comey, who said President Trump encouraged him to drop his probe of former national security adviser Mike Flynn. Democrats say Trump’s actions show he’s eager to scuttle the Russia probe, possibly because it could implicate his campaign.
Outside of Russia, the Senate will begin accelerating healthcare talks and will move more quickly to write legislation repealing and replacing Obamacare, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., suggested last week.
McConnell has introduced the legislative vehicle for the healthcare bill and has put it on a fast track, which means it won’t churn through the time-consuming committee process before a floor vote.
Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn, R-Texas, told reporters he expects a vote on legislation before the end of July.
Over in the House, lawmakers will take up a Senate-passed measure that would improve accountability at the Department of Veterans Affairs and provide more protection for whistle-blowers.
“This bill gives the VA secretary the ability to set a new culture and deliver the top-of-the-line service our veterans deserve,” said Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif.
The House will also take up a measure to clarify rules about veterans’ health insurance and eligibility for the premium tax credit.
Members will also take up a few key healthcare bills. One would allow Obamacare’s premium assistance tax credit to be used for unsubsidized COBRA continuation health coverage. The bill is likely to pass, but the terms of the legislation prevent it from becoming law unless the House healthcare bill, which is not likely to pass the Senate in current form, also becomes law.
Rep. Lou Barletta, R-Pa., is the author of another bill lawmakers will vote on next week that would require people seeking Obamacare benefits to provide a Social Security number.
Barletta said the Verify First Act would address the fraud outlined in a 2016 Senate Homeland Security Committee report that found $750 million in benefits went to people who did not qualify for them, in some cases because they were not in the United States legally.
“My bill would fix this problem by verifying that an individual is legally entitled to taxpayer-funded benefits before sending that money out the door,” Barletta said.
