Senate passes Russian sanctions bill

The Senate passed a bill Thursday that aims to help Ukraine by sanctioning Russian officials.

S. 2828, the Ukraine Freedom Support Act, directs the president to sanction members of the Russian Federation and businesses controlled by the Russian government. 

{mosads}The bill aims to help Ukraine fight Russia’s invasion of eastern Ukraine. It will also aid Syrian rebels because Russian arms companies have sold weapons to Syrian President Bashar Assad. 

“The hesitant U.S. response to Russia’s continued invasion of Ukraine threatens to escalate this conflict even further,” Senate Foreign Relations Committee ranking member Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) said. “Unanimous support for our bill demonstrates a firm commitment to Ukrainian sovereignty and to making sure [Russian President Vladimir] Putin pays for his assault on freedom and security in Europe.”

The measure now heads to the House for further action.

The Senate passed several other measures as it tries to wrap up business before the end of the year.

H.R. 3329 directs the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System to make revisions to help community banks foster economic growth in their communities, boost small businesses and increase individual savings. The House passed the measure in May, but the Senate added an amendment, meaning it heads back to the lower chamber.

S. 2785, the Safe and Secure Drinking Water Protection Act, directs the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to publish a health advisory and submit reports on what level of microcystins in drinking water is safe for consumption. The bill also heads to the House for further action.

The Senate also passed two bills through unanimous consent agreements. The House had already passed the measures as well, meaning they now head to President Obama’s desk for his signature before becoming law. A list of those bills follows:

– H.R. 3044 approves the transfer of Yellow Creek Port properties in Iuka, Mississippi.

– H.R. 3468, the Credit Union Share Insurance Fund Parity Act, extends federal savings insurance to owners of the funds held in trust accounts opened and managed by credit union members.

Updated at 3:30 p.m.