Shaheen Applauds Bipartisan Agreement to Move Forward with Russia Sanctions Legislation in the House

**In May, Shaheen played an instrumental role in urging Senate leadership to act on Russia sanctions and was a key negotiator on this legislation**

(Washington, DC)—U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) delivered the following statement after an agreement was reached in the House to move forward with legislation to sanction Russia. Shaheen was instrumental in urging Senate leadership to act on Russian sanctions legislation and was a key negotiator on the legislation that passed the Senate in an overwhelming bipartisan vote. She has been an outspoken critic of President Putin’s authoritarian regime and was the first in Congress to call for hearings on Russian interference in the 2016 elections.

“This agreement is long overdue,” said Shaheen. “I’m relieved that, like the Senate, the House will soon vote on an substantive sanctions regime that will deter Russia from further meddling in our democracy. The Kremlin is looking for every opportunity to weaken the United States and it’s critical that Congress ensure that there are consequences for their actions. Importantly, this legislative agreement includes a provision that prevents these sanctions from being unilaterally unwound. I’m also very pleased that, at my urging, language was maintained to prevent sanctioned individuals from using their family members to circumvent sanctions. It’s long past time to put this bill on the President’s desk.”