Zach Gibson
Negotiators from the House and Senate reached a deal on sanctions unveiled Saturday that does not include the changes sought by President Trump to make lifting sanctions against Russia easier. The legislation on sanctions against Russia and Iran passed the Senate with a vote of 98-2 last month but spent weeks stalled in the House. The White House had pushed to include language that would soften provisions allowing Congress to block the president from lifting or easing sanctions on Russia. But in the bipartisan deal announced Saturday, the bill will allow lawmakers to block Trump from making changes to sanctions policy. Ben Cardin, the top-ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, hailed the agreement. “A nearly united Congress is poised to send President Putin a clear message on behalf of the American people and our allies, and we need President Trump to help us deliver that message,” Cardin said in a statement. The bill is expected to pass with overwhelming support from both parties when it’s put to a vote on Tuesday.