US Congress agrees on Russia sanctions bill

US Republicans and Democrats have reached agreement on legislation that allows new sanctions against Russia, Iran and North Korea, leading congressional Democrats said on Saturday, in a bill that would limit any potential eff ort by President Donald Trump to try to lift sanctions against Moscow.

The Countering Iran’s Destabilizing Activities Act, which was passed by the Senate a month ago, was held up in the House of Representatives after Republicans proposed including North Korea sanctions in the bill.

The House is set to vote on Tuesday on a package of bills on sanctions covering Russia, Iran and North Korea, according to House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy’s offi ce. The measure will “hold them accountable for their dangerous actions,” McCarthy said in a statement Saturday.

Under the proposed bill, Trump must submit to Congress a report on proposed actions that would “signifi cantly alter” US foreign policy in connection with Russia, including easing sanctions or returning diplomatic properties in Maryland and New York that former President Barack Obama ordered vacated in December.

Congress would have at least 30 days to hold hearings and then vote to uphold or reject Trump’s proposed changes.

Many lawmakers hope the bill will send a message to Trump to keep a strong line against Russia.

With the bill, Republicans and Democrats are seeking to punish Russia for its 2014 annexation of Crimea, a peninsula belonging to Ukraine, and for meddling in the 2016 presidential election.

Putin has denied any meddling in the US democratic process last year. Trump has said that his campaign did not collude with Russia.

House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi said Russia’s “outrageous and unacceptable” behavior in the 2016 US election and in Europe “demand that we have strong statutory sanctions enacted as soon as possible.”

Even so, she expressed concerns that by including North Korea the legislation could face procedural delays in the Senate.