When the Senate returns from its August recess, Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., said, he wants the chamber to take up a major Russia sanctions bill to spur Moscow to end its war with Ukraine.
Reps. Gabe Amo, D-R.I., and Michael McCaul, R-Texas, announced Aug. 21 that they are introducing a House companion to a Senate bill that seeks to remove obstacles to defense trade within the 4-year-old Australia-U.K.-U.S. security partnership.
Rep. Zach Nunn, R-Iowa, said Aug. 21 that the House should take up his Russia sanctions bill if Moscow doesn’t negotiate a peace deal with Ukraine.
Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., said Aug. 19 he is optimistic the Trump administration’s new trade deal with the EU will help peanut farmers in his state increase their exports to Europe.
House Select Committee on China ranking member Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill., urged the Trump administration Aug. 19 to continue sanctioning China for buying Iranian oil.
Despite co-sponsoring a bill that would impose a wide range of sanctions on Russia and its supporters if Moscow refuses to reach a peace deal with Ukraine, Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., said Aug. 19 he is hesitant for Congress to take up the legislation when it returns from its August recess.
Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., urged the Treasury Department Aug. 14 to sanction Iraq’s Al-Rafidain Bank for reportedly processing payments for the Yemen-based Houthis, which the U.S. redesignated a Foreign Terrorist Organization in March (see 2503040008). Treasury had no immediate comment on Wilson’s proposal, which he posted on X. Wilson, a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, encouraged the Trump administration in May to sanction the bank for supporting Iran (see 2506040005).
The Senate “stands ready” to give President Donald Trump “any economic leverage” he needs to pressure Russia to reach a peace deal with Ukraine, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said Aug. 18 as Trump was planning to meet with Ukrainian and European leaders at the White House.
Seven Democratic senators led by Arizona's Ruben Gallego urged the Trump administration Aug. 18 to sanction Israeli settlers who have blocked humanitarian aid deliveries into Gaza or violently attacked Palestinian civilians, including U.S. citizens, in the West Bank.
Reps. Jared Golden, D-Maine, and Greg Steube, R-Fla., introduced legislation Aug. 15 that would allow the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. to block entities connected to countries of concern from investing in new and existing facilities or businesses in the U.S.