Lawmaker: Russia Sanctions Bill Will Move 'Come Hell or High Water'
The lead sponsor in the House on a Russia sanctions and secondary sanctions bill said that negotiations are still ongoing between the two chambers on the final language of the bill.
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Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., said in a brief hallway interview that lawmakers are trying to figure out "how much leeway to give the administration" on tariffs on countries that buy Russian energy products, for instance, how that tariff can be paused, and for how long. "We're still working with the Senate to address some last-minute changes that have been made regarding the tariff authority," he said.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., has said the House must move first to pass the Russia sanctions and secondary sanctions bill (see 2507090023). The House bill has 123 co-sponsors, evenly split between the two parties; the Senate version has 84 co-sponsors.
"The original language was, it was, you know, 500% [tariffs], and then the tariff authority was basically unabated," he said. "The revised language gives some discretion," but creating a tariff authority in law "creates separate issues," and he said they're trying to work through those issues.
Because of the broad support for the bill, it could probably pass under suspension of the rules, as long as the president doesn't change his position on it. (He has said he is OK with it.)
Rep Mike Quigley, D-Ill., the lead Democrat on the bill, was pessimistic that leadership would schedule a vote, believing a discharge petition is necessary. "Long overdue," he said at the Capitol. "We need to act now."
In contrast, Fitzpatrick expressed confidence that it will move this month. "We are moving Ukraine legislation, come hell or high water. They need a signal from us that we support them, and they will get it," he said.