House Approves Act Empowering President to Sanction Russia, Iran Over Security Threats

The House passed the "21st Century Peace through Strength Act" which grants the President authority to impose sanctions on Russia and Iran to address issues like fentanyl trafficking, money laundering, and protecting Americans' data from foreign threats, without specifying a particular party as the driving force.

This is a bill called the "21st Century Peace through Strength Act." It allows the President of the United States to put sanctions, or penalties, on Russia and Iran. This means if these countries or certain people in these countries do things that break specific rules, the U.S. can punish them by limiting trade or other economic activities.

The bill talks about many different issues, but here are some key points:

  1. It includes actions against the illegal drug fentanyl, especially when it's moved across borders by criminal groups.
  2. It discusses taking and using money or other assets from the Russian government to help rebuild Ukraine. This part focuses on not letting Russia use its assets until it pays for damages to Ukraine.
  3. It sets rules to keep Americans' personal data safe from foreign countries that might want to use it in harmful ways.
  4. It tries to stop financial support to terrorist groups by setting sanctions on countries, businesses, or people that help these groups.
  5. It sets penalties on Iran for its petroleum business and also talks about the role China plays in helping Iran avoid sanctions.
  6. It addresses the issue of human shields, which is when people are used to protect fighters from attacks in conflicts.

Different divisions of the bill talk about specific areas, like drug trafficking, rebuilding Ukraine's economy, protecting Americans' data, stopping support for terrorism, and keeping an eye on certain international trades and financial activities. The goal of the bill is to make the U.S. and its allies stronger by setting clear rules and penalties for certain actions by Russia, Iran, and other parties that might be dangerous or unfair.

418 votes
Yes360
No58
Not Voting13
Apr 20, 2024, 01:12 PM (Washington D.C.)
0
  1. Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  2. On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 360 - 58 (Roll no. 145).
    Learn more
  3. Passed/agreed to in House On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 360 - 58 (Roll no. 145).
    Learn more
  4. The House adopted the amendments en gross as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.
  5. The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
  6. The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 8038.
  7. The House resolved into Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for further consideration.
  8. Considered as unfinished business.
  9. Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union rises leaving H.R. 8038 as unfinished business.
  10. On motion that the committee rise Agreed to by voice vote.
  11. Mr. McCaul moved that the committee rise.
  12. POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Nunn (IA) amendment No. 2, the Chair put the question on agreeing to the amendment and by voice vote, announced the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Meeks demanded a recorded vote, and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.
  13. DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 1160, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Nunn (IA) amendment No. 2.
  14. DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 1160, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Gimenez amendment No. 1.
  15. GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with 30 minutes of general debate on H.R. 8038.
  16. The Speaker designated the Honorable Virginia Foxx to act as Chairwoman of the Committee.
  17. House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 1160 and Rule XVIII.
  18. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 8034, H.R. 8035, H.R. 8036 and H.R. 8038. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 8034 under a closed rule and H.R. 8035, H.R. 8036, and H.R. 8038 under a structured rule. Provides for 30 minutes of general debate and one motion recommit on each bill. Rule also provides that upon disposition of the bills under consideration, the House will be considered to have taken from the Speaker's table H.R. 815 and to have concurred in the Senate amendment with an amendment inserting the texts of all bills as passed by the House, if passed.
  19. Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 1160.
  20. Rule H. Res. 1160 passed House.
  21. Introduced in House

    This is a bill called the "21st Century Peace through Strength Act." It allows the President of the United States to put sanctions, or penalties, on Russia and Iran. This means if these countries or certain people in these countries do things that break specific rules, the U.S. can punish them by limiting trade or other economic activities.

    The bill talks about many different issues, but here are some key points:

    1. It includes actions against the illegal drug fentanyl, especially when it's moved across borders by criminal groups.
    2. It discusses taking and using money or other assets from the Russian government to help rebuild Ukraine. This part focuses on not letting Russia use its assets until it pays for damages to Ukraine.
    3. It sets rules to keep Americans' personal data safe from foreign countries that might want to use it in harmful ways.
    4. It tries to stop financial support to terrorist groups by setting sanctions on countries, businesses, or people that help these groups.
    5. It sets penalties on Iran for its petroleum business and also talks about the role China plays in helping Iran avoid sanctions.
    6. It addresses the issue of human shields, which is when people are used to protect fighters from attacks in conflicts.

    Different divisions of the bill talk about specific areas, like drug trafficking, rebuilding Ukraine's economy, protecting Americans' data, stopping support for terrorism, and keeping an eye on certain international trades and financial activities. The goal of the bill is to make the U.S. and its allies stronger by setting clear rules and penalties for certain actions by Russia, Iran, and other parties that might be dangerous or unfair.