Rep. Calvert Votes for Iran, Russia, and North Korea Sanctions

Today, Congressman Ken Calvert (CA-42) voted along with a bipartisan majority (419 to 3) of the House of Representatives to pass H.R. 3364, a package of comprehensive sanctions against Iran, Russia, and North Korea.

"Time and again Iran, Russia, and North Korea take actions that are a threat to America's interests and those of our allies," said Rep. Calvert. "The bipartisan sanctions packaged approved by the House today sends a strong message to these nations that there will be consequences for their actions. We simply cannot tolerate Iran, Russia, and North Korea taking continued provocative and dangerous measures."

Sanctions Package Details

IRAN

The bill sanctions those involved in the Iranian regime's ballistic missile program, its efforts to destabilize the region and threaten Israel, as well as its ongoing human rights abuses. Specifically, the bill calls for a strategy to deter conventional and asymmetric Iranian activities in the region, imposes sanctions on any individual that materially contributes to Iran's ballistic missile, weapons of mass destruction programs, or international terrorism, or participates in the sale or transfer to Iran of military equipment, and imposes sanctions on the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and affiliated foreign persons. The bill also calls for sanctions of individuals identified as responsible for extrajudicial killings, torture, or other gross violations of internationally recognized human rights.

RUSSIA

The bill strengthens sanctions in response to cyber-attacks and interference in Ukraine, empowers Congress to review sanctions relief, and works to strengthen transatlantic cooperation in countering Russian aggression. Specifically, the legislation provides for a mandated Congressional review if sanctions are relaxed, suspended, or terminated, as well as codified and strengthens existing sanctions contained in executive orders on Russia, including the impact on certain Russian energy projects and on debt financing in key economic sectors. New sanctions are placed on corrupt actors, those seeking to evade sanctions, involved in serious human rights abuses, supplying weapons to the Assad regime, conducting cyber activity on behalf of the Russian government, involved in corrupt privatization practices, or those doing business with Russian intelligence and defense sectors. In addition, the legislation allows new sanctions on mining, metals, and railway sectors, and authorizes assistance to central and eastern European countries vulnerable to Russian aggression and interference.

NORTH KOREA

The bill amends the North Korea Sanctions and Policy Enhancement Act of 2016 to modify and increase the President's authority to impose sanctions on persons in violation of certain U.N. Security Council resolutions regarding North Korea. Specifically, the bill expands sanctions to deter North Korea's nuclear weapons programs, targets those individuals overseas who employ North Korean slave labor, cracks down on North Korean shipping and use of international ports, and requires the administration to determine whether North Korea is a state sponsor or terrorism.

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