Congress is moving to impose new penalties against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, which is now in its third week.
After passing a sweeping bill last week that provided $13.6 billion in Ukraine-related aid, lawmakers are preparing to move quickly to end normal trade relations with Russia. President Biden
Joe BidenSaudi Arabia invites China's Xi to visit Riyadh: report Biden attends in-person DNC fundraiser to tout climate agenda Man charged with attempted murder, hate crimes after NY Asian woman punched 125 times MORE on Friday formally backed revoking the “most favored nation” trade status for Russia, which requires an act of Congress.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi
Nancy PelosiOvernight Health Care — House may vote on part of funds this week Lawmaker pressure on Biden hits its limits Hearing on lawmakers' stock trading ban postponed after chair gets COVID MORE (D-Calif.) said in a statement that the House would take up legislation doing so this week. The House comes back into session on Tuesday.
“When the House returns next week, we will take up legislation to formalize this revocation, and it is our hope that it will receive a strong, bipartisan vote,” Pelosi said.
“Putin’s premeditated, unprovoked war is an attack on the Ukrainian people and an attack on democracy — and the House remains steadfast in our commitment to partnering with President Biden and our allies to level swift, severe punishment and stand with the Ukrainian people,” she added.
The House already passed legislation last week that banned imports of Russian oil, sought to limit Russia’s access to the World Trade Organization and reauthorized legislation that enabled sanctions on human rights abusers.
But the bill passed by the House last week stopped short of an original bipartisan agreement that would have suspended normal trade relations with Russia and Belarus.
Biden said that Pelosi had “agreed to hold off” on a bill in the House ending normal trade relations with Russia until he could get U.S. allies behind a plan to do so together and signaled there was a bipartisan agreement to introduce legislation.
“Unity among our allies is critically important,” Biden said.
Both the legislation codifying the oil import ban and a separate bill to end permanent normal trade relations with Russia would need to be passed by the Senate. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden
Ronald (Ron) Lee WydenThis week: Congress ramps up penalties against Russia over invasion On The Money — US suspending normal trade with Russia Treasury slaps new sanctions on Russian elites MORE (D-Ore.) and ranking member Mike Crapo
Michael (Mike) Dean CrapoThis week: Congress ramps up penalties against Russia over invasion House to move forward with bill to ban Russian oil On The Money — Biden faces pressure to ban Russian oil MORE (R-Idaho) spearheaded the deal with House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal
Richard Edmund NealThis week: Congress ramps up penalties against Russia over invasion Overnight Energy & Environment — House agrees to ban Russian oil House passes bill banning Russian oil imports, authorizing sanctions MORE (D-Mass.) and ranking member Kevin Brady
Kevin Patrick BradyThis week: Congress ramps up penalties against Russia over invasion House to move forward with bill to ban Russian oil On The Money — Biden faces pressure to ban Russian oil MORE (R-Texas) to suspend normal trade relations.
Mask mandates
Sen. Rand Paul
Randal (Rand) Howard PaulGOP senators ramp up pressure on Biden to scrap Iran talks The Hill's 12:30 Report - Lawmakers worry about Putin's erratic behavior This week: Congress ramps up penalties against Russia over invasion MORE (R-Ky.) is expected to force a vote this week to try to end mask requirements on public transportation.
“Apparently government doesn't want to relinquish its power and plans to extend the mask mandate on planes & public transportation. Not on my watch! I'll be forcing a vote next week to end this unscientific mandate,” Paul tweeted.
If Paul’s effort is able to pass the Senate — Republicans were able to score wins related to nixing coronavirus rules earlier this month due Democratic absences — it likely faces a roadblock in the Democratic-controlled House.
Anti-discrimination bill
House Democrats will try again to pass legislation to prohibit discrimination against people with hair styles associated with a particular race or national origin.
The bill — known as the Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair, or CROWN, Act — was blocked in the House last month. It garnered bipartisan support, but Republicans prevented it from getting the two-thirds vote necessary to clear under fast-track procedures.
Instead, Democrats are bringing the bill back up this week under a process that will let it pass by a simple majority. The bill would still need 60 votes to clear the Senate.
Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman
Bonnie Watson ColemanThis week: Congress ramps up penalties against Russia over invasion GOP blocks House bill to ban race-based hair discrimination Black women lawmakers commend Biden on commitment for Supreme Court nominee MORE (D-N.J.), the bill's author, said during the debate on the House floor that it's essential to formally ban hair discrimination because African Americans are penalized under workplace and school dress code policies for having natural hairstyles.
"Far too often, Black people, especially Black women and girls, are derided or deemed unprofessional simply because their hair does not conform to white beauty standards," Watson Coleman said.
Nominations
The Senate is moving forward with Shalanda Young
Shalanda YoungThe Hill's 12:30 Report - Lawmakers worry about Putin's erratic behavior The Hill's Morning Report - Presented by Facebook - Will Russia use chemical weapons? This week: Congress ramps up penalties against Russia over invasion MORE’s nomination to be director of the Office of Management and Budget.
Biden announced his intention to nominate Young to the post in November, after she had been filling the role in an acting capacity for months.
Young’s nomination came after Biden had to pull his initial pick — Neera Tanden
Neera TandenThis week: Congress ramps up penalties against Russia over invasion Biden to sign order to streamline government services to public Politics, media worlds react to Wallace news MORE, who previously led the Center for American Progress — amid pushback from some Democratic senators and widespread opposition among Republicans.
