[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 127 (Thursday, July 27, 2017)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4387-S4389]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
COUNTERING AMERICA'S ADVERSARIES THROUGH SANCTIONS ACT
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under the previous order, the Senate will
proceed to the consideration of H.R. 3364, which the clerk will report.
The legislative clerk read as follows:
A bill (H.R. 3364) to provide congressional review and to
counter aggression by the Governments of Iran, the Russian
Federation, and North Korea, and for other purposes.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. There is now 20 minutes of debate, equally
divided.
The Senator from Maryland.
Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, I yield myself 3 minutes.
I first thank Senator Corker, Senator Crapo, Senator Brown, Senator
Schumer, and Senator McConnell for their help in getting us to this
moment. This is an important moment for our country, and I am very
proud of what we were able to accomplish.
The legislation we are about to vote on will give the United States
the strongest possible hand to stand up against the aggression of
Russia. Russia attacked us and our democratic institutions; Russia
invaded the sovereignty of other countries, including Ukraine and
Georgia; Russia is participating in war crimes in Syria, and this
legislation will give the United States the strongest possible hand in
taking action against Russia.
Mandatory sanctions are included in this legislation with regard to
the energy sector, the financial sector, the intelligence and defense
sectors--not only with primary sanctions but with secondary sanctions.
This legislation provides for a democracy fund, working with Europe, to
protect ourselves against Russia's attacks. This legislation provides a
review process so the President, on his own, cannot eliminate
sanctions. He must come to Congress. As President Obama had to in
regard to the Iran sanctions, the President would have to come to
Congress in regard to sanction relief against Russia.
This is a tough bill to stand up to what Russia has done and requires
mandatory action. There are so many people to thank in regard to this.
Of course, we also have the Iran sanctions. I thank Senator Menendez,
on our side, particularly on the Iran sanctions issues. We are taking
actions against Iran for their nonnuclear violations, their support of
terrorists, their ballistic missile violations, their support of the
arms embargo, human rights violations.
What we do here is totally consistent with the JCPOA. The bills are
very consistent with what passed this Chamber 98 to 2. We maintained
the integrity of the Iran and Russia provisions consistent with what
was done in our committees.
In regard to North Korea, I know we all want to take actions against
North Korea. The provisions added by the House are consistent with what
we think are appropriate for North Korea.
This is an important moment for our country. I really do want to
thank all involved. I know Senator Corker, Senator Brown, and Senator
Crapo would agree with me: I really thank our dedicated staff. We could
not have done this without our staff. They worked 24/7 for the last 7
weeks to get this done. As a result of their action, the United States
is going to be in a better position dealing with Russia when this
legislation is enacted, and I am proud to be part of that.
I reserve the remainder of my time.
Mr. CORKER. Mr. President, I thank the ranking member for his
outstanding efforts, along with many others.
What I would like to do now is yield to Senator McCain, and I will
speak last.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Arizona.
Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, I thank the Democratic leader for his
courtesy, as always.
In just the last 3 years, under Vladimir Putin, Russia has invaded
Ukraine, annexed Crimea, threatened NATO allies, and intervened
militarily in Syria, leaving a trail of death, destruction, and broken
promises in his wake. Of course, last year Russia attacked the
foundations of American democracy with a cyber and information campaign
to interfere in America's 2016 election.
I am proud--I am proud--of the two individuals who just spoke, the
Senator from Maryland and the Senator from Tennessee. Both of them have
worked in a bipartisan fashion and got legislation to this floor.
Although it is long overdue, it is here. I believe we will see an
overwhelming vote, and I thank them for their bipartisanship.
In the last 8 months, what price has Russia paid for attacking
American democracy? Very little. This legislation would begin to change
that. The legislation would impose mandatory sanctions on transactions
with the Russian defense or intelligence sectors, including the FSB and
the GRU, and the Russian military intelligence agency which was
primarily responsible for Russia's attack on our election.
I believe my colleagues know what is in this. It would codify
existing sanctions on Russia by placing into law six Executive orders
signed by President Obama in response to both Russian interference in
the 2016 election and its illegal actions in Ukraine, and it would take
new steps to tighten those sanctions.
The legislation would target the Russian energy sector, which is
controlled by Vladimir Putin's cronies, with sanctions on investment in
Russian petroleum and natural gas development as well as Russian energy
pipelines.
My friends, the United States of America needs to send a strong
message to Vladimir Putin and any other aggressor that we will not
tolerate attacks on our democracy. That is what this bill is all about.
We must take our own side in this fight, not as Republicans, not as
Democrats but as Americans.
It is time to respond to Russia's attack on American democracy with
strength, with resolve, with common purpose, and with action. I am
proud to have played a small role. What I am most proud of is the
bipartisanship you are seeing manifested today on both sides of the
aisle. We need a little more of it.
I yield the floor.
Mr. CORKER. Mr. President, I thank the distinguished Senator from
Arizona for his dedication to our national security, for his tremendous
involvement in this legislation, and all that he does on behalf of all
of us to make sure that our Nation is secure.
Thank you so much for those comments and for your deep involvement in
this piece of legislation.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Ohio.
Mr. BROWN. Mr. President, I thank the chairman of the Foreign
Relations Committee and the ranking member, Senator Cardin.
Senator Crapo and I began working on this months and months ago. I
appreciate that partnership.
Senator McCain--I read an op-ed he wrote in USA Today about 3 weeks
ago. It was about what Putin tried to do with some level of success in
Montenegro, and nobody has watched Putin and his intervention in our
elections and European elections and their governments and his desire
to destabilize democracy around the world--nobody has recognized it
quite as early or with the acute sense that Senator McCain has, and we
thank him for that.
I rise to urge my colleagues to join me and vote for this critical
sanctions
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legislation, which is the product of months of bipartisan effort in
this body.
At a time when it is difficult to get things done in this far-too
partisan Senate, this effort proves it is still possible for Congress
to come together and accomplish big things. The bill provides for a
range of tough new sanctions against Iran, Russia, and North Korea.
The Ukrainian community in my State knows firsthand the dangers of
decades of unchecked Russian aggression. Congress must act to punish
Russia for its continued actions in Ukraine, in East Ukraine, in
Crimea, and for its interference in our Presidential election and to
deter future such aggression.
This bill will prevent President Trump from relaxing sanctions on
Russia without congressional review. We are all concerned about that.
Iran is one of the world's leading state sponsors of terrorism and a
continuing source of instability throughout the region. This bill is
carefully written to avoid violating U.S. commitments under the Iran
nuclear agreement, and it applies new sanctions in response to Iran's
support for terrorism, its human rights abuses, and its ballistic
missile program.
It also incorporates sanctions on North Korea, including measures to
toughen enforcement of current U.N. Security Council rules. North
Korea's efforts to develop nuclear capabilities must be countered. We
must take a stand against its horrendous human rights record, including
the savage treatment of Otto Warmbier that led to his death.
These are important steps. More can be done to address the situation
in North Korea.
I thank my staff, Colin McGinnis, Mark Powden, and Graham Steele on
this. I appreciate the work of the staff in all four of these offices
on Banking and Foreign Relations, and I ask my colleagues to concur.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Democratic leader.
Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to speak on
leader time.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, last year, we know the United States was
victim of an attack by a foreign power on the very foundation of this
dear democracy--the right of the people to a free and fair election.
The consensus view of 17 agencies is that Mr. Putin interfered in the
2016 election. For that alone, the United States has more than just
cause to sanction President Putin and the intelligence apparatus he
directs. To date, Mr. Putin and his allies have not suffered serious
repercussions for this stunning breach of our right as a sovereign
nation not to have our elections disturbed by a foreign capital. That
all changes today.
Congress has drafted this sanctions bill to hold Mr. Putin
accountable for his actions and to send a message to him and the rest
of the world that any further attempts to degrade our democracy will
meet further sanctions and action. We will not stand by idly as this is
done.
There is no process more sacred in a democracy than the guarantee of
free and fair elections. That fundamental right was attacked by Mr.
Putin. With this vote, let us finally--finally--officially condemn and
forcefully respond to that attack on our country. Let us send this bill
to the President's desk for his signature.
We still don't know if President Trump will sign this legislation. I
say to my colleagues: If the Congress speaks loudly enough and strongly
enough and we send this bill with a veto-proof majority, it will not
matter what President Trump decides.
Before I yield the floor, I wish to thank my colleagues. At the top
of the list are Senators McCain and Graham, who early on had the idea
to do this. Their strength against transgressions against this country
is wonderful.
I thank the chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee. He had to
pursue this legislation through ups and downs. He didn't relent, and
here we are today because of his efforts.
I thank his ranking member, Senator Cardin. They are a great
bipartisan team.
Similarly, Chairman Crapo and Ranking Member Brown, again, in a
bipartisan way, not letting partisan politics get in the way--they
passed this legislation.
I would like to thank leader McConnell because when he and I talked
about bringing this legislation to the floor, he didn't blink. He
didn't hesitate. He was forthright and said: Let's do it.
This piece of legislation proves that when this body works the way it
should, when both parties talk to each other, work with each other, and
the committee chairmen and ranking members negotiate legislation
through proper procedure, we can produce good, strong bipartisan
legislation.
I would be remiss if I didn't mention, in this moment of
bipartisanship, the same thing could happen with healthcare.
With that, I urge all of my colleagues to vote yes.
I yield the floor.
Mr. CORKER. I thank the minority leader for his comments, and I yield
a moment to Senator Crapo, who played an outstanding role as the leader
of our committee.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Idaho.
Mr. CRAPO. I thank Senator Corker. Mr. President, I thank, too, all
those who were mentioned: the Foreign Relations leadership, Senator
Corker and Senator Cardin; Senator Brown, my colleague in the Banking
Committee; and all the others who have been so involved in this issue.
This is one of the examples of how we can work together in a
bipartisan fashion to craft critical legislation for protecting and
strengthening America. Frankly, it is past time for us to stand strong
as a nation in response to the increasing aggression that we see in
Russia around the world--whether it be in Ukraine, in Crimea, in Syria,
in facilitating corruption globally, or in the cyber security attacks
we have seen that have been directed not only at us but at our allies
across the world.
It is very important that we implement this legislation. I am glad to
see the solid bipartisanship that we have been able to build. I also
hope that we can build this bipartisanship on many, many other issues.
We are going to be looking at North Korea, as has already been said.
I am hopeful and confident that we will stand again on this floor soon
as we deal with the threats we face from North Korea.
Again, I thank all of those who have worked so closely with us on
this legislation and appreciate the opportunity for us to move forward,
united tonight on this critical issue.
I yield back.
Mr. CORKER. I yield the floor to Senator Menendez.
Mr. CARDIN. May I have a moment?
First, I want to join in thanking Senator McCain and Senator Graham
for their work. We started in January on this legislation--their
legislation. How we drafted it is intact here, and I thank Senator
McCain and Senator Graham.
The leader on the Iran sanctions, going back many, many Congresses,
has been Senator Menendez. In introducing him, I want to thank him for
his leadership on Iran and, also, these other bills. I look forward to
his comments.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from New Jersey.
Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. President, let me thank the ranking member for his
kind comments. I thank the chairman for his continuous engagement in
this regard and his leadership.
I remind my colleagues that what gave us the vehicle to consider
Russia and North Korea was the countering Iran act that I was pleased
to author with the chairman and with the ranking member and other
colleagues in a bipartisan approach.
When we started on Iran, there were those who wanted to look only at
its intercontinental ballistic missile violations. I and others
persisted and said: Wait a minute. Iran is far more nefarious in its
activities--beyond intercontinental ballistic missiles.
It is collective leadership that brought us to a much broader bill
that we are about to vote on today, where Iran is being pursued for the
violation of its international order.
We just had the Prime Minister of Lebanon here, and he was saying to
us: If you are concerned about Hezbollah, then find where the source of
the
[[Page S4389]]
money is. The source of money for Hezbollah is Iran. If you are
concerned about intercontinental ballistic missiles, I would add, it is
Iran. If you are concerned about the greatest exporter of terrorism, it
is Iran. If you are concerned about human rights violations within
Iran, it is the leadership of Iran.
This is about sending a message to Iran that, in fact, when you
violate the international order, there are consequences to it. It is
about sending a message to Russia that when you violate the
international order, annex Crimea, invade Ukraine, indiscriminately
bomb civilians in Syria--and then when you try to affect the elections
of the United States of America, you have a cyber attack, from my view,
on the election process.
We can debate whether it affected the election. That is not the
issue. The mere fact that Russia tried to affect our elections should
be upsetting from the average citizen to the President of the United
States. We have an opportunity to make very clear to Russia and to any
other nation that this will not be tolerated.
Finally, to North Korea: North Korea's dangerous provocations in its
path to nuclear weapons and a delivery system to be able to deliver
those nuclear weapons are some of the greatest challenges we have.
We have an opportunity to come here today and say: You have to
observe the international order. We have to go back to the basis of the
rules that ultimately came about after our leadership in World War II
to preserve the international order that has brought us peace and
prosperity.
There are only a handful of peaceful diplomacy tools you can pursue.
One of them is the use of sanctions in order to try to prod countries
to move in a certain direction and to observe the international order.
That is our opportunity today with Iran, with Russia, with North Korea.
I hope we will seize it unanimously because when we do that, we send
the most powerful message in the world that the United States--
Democrats, Republicans, Independents--stand together in terms of
defending the national interests and security of the United States.
I yield the floor.
Mr. CORKER. I thank the Senator from New Jersey for his outstanding
leadership on Iran and his leadership on Russia and North Korea. He has
led us for years and years in sanctioning Iran and has brought them to
the table. I thank him for that.
For those who are here and want to vote, I am going to yield 1 minute
to Senator Gardner. I am going to speak for about a minute and a half,
and to my knowledge, we will be ready to vote. I thank all of my
colleagues for their patience.
Senator Gardner.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Colorado.
Mr. GARDNER. Mr. President, I thank Senator Menendez. I appreciate
the opportunity to talk about what this Senate and Congress has done.
Last Congress, we passed unanimously the North Korea Sanctions and
Policy Enhancement Act.
This legislation that we are about to vote on builds on the success
we started with last year. We have more work to do to stop the crazed
Kim regime.
I thank the chairman and the leader for committing to further
conversations on North Korea, further action that needs to be taken
because we know that, in China, there are over 5,000 businesses still
doing business with North Korea. China is responsible for 90 percent of
the North Korean economy. Now, 10 of those 5,000 businesses are
responsible for 30 percent of the economic activity, the imports from
North Korea into China. More work has to be done to stop this madman in
Pyongyang.
I thank this Senate for moving forward on legislation today to build
on the success we had last year. I urge its passage. We have more work
to do to put an end to this regime.
Mr. CORKER. I thank the Senator for his leadership on North Korea,
and I thank him for speaking.
Mr. President, I will be very brief, as I normally am. This bill has
taken passion, tenacity, and all of us working together to bring out
the best in this body and to get to this point where we are today. I
want to thank everybody who has been involved.
Senator Cardin has been an outstanding ranking member. As always, we
worked together, just as we did today on another markup, to get to
where we are. We have Senators Crapo and Brown. I think there were
about four committees working to get this piece of legislation out. It
was an incredible effort working around the clock for days and nights.
I want to thank them for their leadership.
I want to thank Senator Menendez, again, for his involvement, in
particular on Iran, but on all of these issues.
Certainly, thanks go to Senators McCain and Graham for their
tremendous leadership in beginning the process, especially on Russia.
Thank you so much.
Thank you, Senator Schumer and Senator McConnell, for giving us the
freedom to operate under regular order, the freedom to operate in the
committee process, which I know all of us long to get to on all issues
that we deal with here, and thank you to all of those Members who have
been so involved. Our staffs have been incredible. Thank you so much
for the professionalism, the knowledge, the energy, and the willingness
to work late hours to make this happen.
The attributes of this legislation have been discussed. I think we
all are ready for this moment. We are all ready to speak to what Russia
has done to our country and to others, to speak to what Iran is doing
outside of the nuclear agreement, and to speak to what North Korea
continues to do.
One attribute that hasn't been spoken to is this: It has been my goal
as chairman, working with the ranking member, that Congress continue to
be more and more relevant and to garner back the powers that we have
given to the executive branch for decades. One of the most important
attributes of this legislation is the congressional review, where, when
major decisions are made, Congress is involved; Congress has a say. I
hope we will build upon that, not only in foreign policy but in other
matters.
I want to thank all involved.
I urge a strong vote on this piece of legislation that sends a strong
message to Iran, to Russia, and to North Korea.
With that, I yield the floor.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. All time is yielded back.
The bill was ordered to a third reading and was read the third time.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The bill having been read the third time, the
question is, Shall the bill pass?
Mr. CORKER. I ask for the yeas and nays.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second?
There appears to be a sufficient second.
The clerk will call the roll.
The bill clerk called the roll.
The result was announced--yeas 98, nays 2, as follows:
[Rollcall Vote No. 175 Leg.]
YEAS--98
Alexander
Baldwin
Barrasso
Bennet
Blumenthal
Blunt
Booker
Boozman
Brown
Burr
Cantwell
Capito
Cardin
Carper
Casey
Cassidy
Cochran
Collins
Coons
Corker
Cornyn
Cortez Masto
Cotton
Crapo
Cruz
Daines
Donnelly
Duckworth
Durbin
Enzi
Ernst
Feinstein
Fischer
Flake
Franken
Gardner
Gillibrand
Graham
Grassley
Harris
Hassan
Hatch
Heinrich
Heitkamp
Heller
Hirono
Hoeven
Inhofe
Isakson
Johnson
Kaine
Kennedy
King
Klobuchar
Lankford
Leahy
Lee
Manchin
Markey
McCain
McCaskill
McConnell
Menendez
Merkley
Moran
Murkowski
Murphy
Murray
Nelson
Perdue
Peters
Portman
Reed
Risch
Roberts
Rounds
Rubio
Sasse
Schatz
Schumer
Scott
Shaheen
Shelby
Stabenow
Strange
Sullivan
Tester
Thune
Tillis
Toomey
Udall
Van Hollen
Warner
Warren
Whitehouse
Wicker
Wyden
Young
NAYS--2
Paul
Sanders
The bill (H.R. 3364) was passed.
____________________