Sanctioning North Korea, Iran, and Russia

Statement

Dear Friend -

Today the House took action against three of our most serious geopolitical adversaries: North Korea, Iran, and Russia.

Each of those countries are threatening U.S. national security and undermining global stability with a range of aggressive acts. The North Koreans are testing ICBMs; the Iranians fund international terror organizations; and the Russians are again intervening in eastern European countries, seeking regional hegemony.

The House sent a strong signal that these acts will not go unanswered by passing the Countering Adversarial Nations Through Sanctions Act (H.R. 3364). The aim of this bill is to use political and economic leverage to help hold these rogue nations accountable.

Here is how the bill sanctions each country:

North Korea
- Cuts off Kim Jong Un's access to hard cash, which will make it harder for his regime to continue its nuclear and ballistic missile programs.
- Restricts North Korea's ability to engage in illicit trade by cracking down on its shipping industry and its access to international ports.
- Sanctions those who employ North Korean slave labor, a source of billions of dollars for the Kim regime.

Iran
- Targets anyone who contributes to the Iranian regime's ballistic missile program, which aims to develop missiles capable of delivering nuclear warheads.
- Sanctions Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps for its support of terrorism.

Russia
- Sanctions Vladimir Putin and his oligarchs by targeting corruption, key sectors of the Russian economy -- including arms sales and the exportation of oil and gas -- and those responsible for gross human rights abuses.
- Enshrines existing sanctions against Russia into law for its intervention in Ukraine and its cyber-attacks against the United States and other democracies, as well as imposes new sanctions for propping up Syria's murderous Assad regime.
- Helps bolster energy security in Europe, and improves cooperation with our allies in order to counter Russian influence in Europe.

My hope is that these sanctions have an immediate and meaningful impact on the targeted nations to deter future aggressive, hostile acts. I remain committed to supporting measures like this one that will make America, our allies, and the world safer and more secure.

Please continue to contact me anytime an issue that concerns you is before Congress, especially if it concerns our national security.

It's an honor to serve you and Virginia's First District in the People's House.

Sincerely,
Rob

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