Two House Republicans are considering pushing for a full vote on sanctions against Russia due to the ongoing Ukraine conflict. This comes after several months of discussions among the House, Senate, and the White House with minimal progress.
“Next week, as Brian Fitzpatrick’s sanctions bill comes to maturity, we can actually file it as a discharge petition on Monday or Tuesday. I plan to sign it,” said Nebraska Republican Rep. Don Bacon. “It will have to start from square one, though. We need 218 signatures, so that’s quite a bit of effort ahead of us, but this bill is solid, crafted with input from both sides. I think the Senate will back it too.”
This discharge petition is a way to enforce a vote on the bill, even if the House leadership opposes it. Historically, such petitions are rare, largely because they require a majority of Congress members to agree. Many in leadership are often hesitant to go against their party leaders.
Bacon mentioned that, ultimately, the issue comes down to moral clarity—who stands up for what’s right. He drew a historical parallel to leaders who either resisted or appeased oppressive regimes, recalling the decisions of Winston Churchill and Neville Chamberlain concerning Hitler. “We need to recognize bad actors when we see them, like Putin,” he stated, emphasizing the importance of acting correctly for history’s sake.
Fitzpatrick had introduced a bill in December that would impose sanctions on Russia if it fails to reach a peace agreement with Ukraine or violates any current agreements. Recent legislative updates indicate he introduced a resolution to hasten the bill’s consideration. His office, however, has not responded to inquiries.
A source familiar with the lawmakers’ strategy shared that they want to give House Republican leaders one last opportunity to bring the sanctions to a vote. Fitzpatrick has been in touch with the White House about this.
House Speaker Mike Johnson has expressed his support for sanctions but has indicated that the legislative process must start in the Senate. Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader John Thune believes it should begin in the House.
The Trump administration has already rolled out several sanctions targeting Russia’s significant oil and gas sectors, but advocates argue these measures aren’t enough to effectively challenge Russia’s military actions.
Bacon commented on the various challenges they face with the discharge petition, recognizing it’s a difficult path. “Two things are against us,” he noted, referring to the slim majority held by Republicans and the influence of former President Trump. Even though he supports sanctions, there are many who prefer to avoid direct confrontation with Trump.
He also critiqued the previous administration and its handling of Ukraine’s defense, arguing that the aid provided is significantly lower than what was offered under Biden, stating, “If you look at the amount of aid we’ve provided, it’s just a fraction. We ought to be contributing much more.”
Despite these challenges, Bacon remains hopeful that their efforts—alongside a similar measure aimed at additional aid to Ukraine—will receive enough backing from fellow Republicans. A Democratic bill for additional aid is currently one signature short of a vote.
Bacon concluded with urgency, saying, “It’s frustrating, but Ukrainians are suffering every day. We need to expedite this process.”
