House Democrats Unveil Russia Sanctions Package
House Foreign Affairs Committee ranking member Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y., and former House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., introduced a bill April 14 that would increase sanctions and export controls on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.
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Like the Sanctioning Russia Act, which Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., introduced April 1 (see 2504020003), the Ukraine Support Act would sanction Russian financial institutions and oil and mining companies and Russia's supporters if Moscow refuses to end the war. But it would go further, such as by sanctioning tankers that violate the international price cap on Russian oil.
"The U.S. must remain committed to shoring up Ukraine’s ability to negotiate a just, acceptable end to this war and to holding Russia -- and those supporting its illegal invasion -- accountable for as long as Putin’s war of choice continues," Meeks said.
The Meeks-Hoyer bill also would seek to prevent exports of semiconductors to Russia and drone parts to Iran, and it would increase tariffs on Russian goods and services to 500%. It would require the president to notify Congress before making changes to sanctions or export controls that significantly alter U.S. foreign policy toward Russia.
The package includes two sections similar to stand-alone bills Meeks reintroduced in January (see 2501210004). One section would sanction entities and people who have endangered the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine, while the other would sanction foreign persons who contribute to the construction, maintenance or repair of tunnels or bridges from Russia to the Crimean Peninsula.
The Meeks-Hoyer bill, which has three other Democratic co-sponsors and also includes military and other assistance to Ukraine, was referred to several committees, including Foreign Affairs, Financial Services, Armed Services and Ways and Means.