The Democratic-controlled chamber overwhelmingly voted 362 to 53 approving the bill that would block the Treasury Department's December move to lift sanctions on companies connected to Oleg Deripaska. "Today I voted to reinstate sanctions on certain Russian companies. I am not convinced that they have met the necessary requirements," House Intelligence Committee Republican Chris Stewart posted on Twitter. The sanctions ban Americans and companies with US arms -- like many global banks -- from doing business with those on the US blacklist. Democrat Eliot Engel, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said the bipartisan result sent a strong message to the Trump administration which he said was "trying to make an end run around Congress on an issue as important as Russia sanctions."

Source: Dhaka Tribune January 18, 2019 15:41 UTC