The U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday overwhelmingly approved a bill that will slap tougher sanctions on Russia, Iran and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).
Congressmen voted 419-3 to pass the bill, with three Republicans --
Justin Amash, Jimmy Duncan and Thomas Massie -- voting against the bill.
The overwhelming support for the bill, which was voted under special
procedures to pass with a two-thirds majority, means that the House
could override a presidential veto.
The measure aims at targeting key Russian officials in retaliation
for Moscow's alleged interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential
election, as well as sanctions against Iran and the DPRK in response to
their weapons programs.
"These three regimes in different parts of the world are threatening
vital U.S. interests, and they are destabilizing their neighbors," House
Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce said Tuesday. "It is well
past time that we forcefully respond."
In addition to imposing new sanctions on the three countries, the
bill also grants Congress the power to block Trump from lifting
sanctions on Russia. This came despite that Trump administration
officials had called on lawmakers to grant "flexibility" to the White House in dealing with Russia.
According to the bill, Congress will have power to veto any decision
made by the president that would "significantly alter" U.S. foreign
policy in connection with Russia.
"This strong oversight is necessary. It is appropriate. After all, it
is Congress that the Constitution empowers to regulate commerce with
foreign nations," Royce said, according to news website The Hill.
The White House on Sunday signaled that President Donald Trump would accept the new legislation despite initial opposition.
"We support where the legislation is now, and will continue to work
with the House and Senate to put those tough sanctions in place on
Russia," said newly appointed White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee
Sanders.