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Congressman Castro Statement on Russia Sanctions Bill

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Joaquin Castro (20th District of Texas)

September 16, 2026

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) released the following statement on the Lindsey O. Graham Russia and Iran Act of 2026 (H.R. 5334):

“For four and a half years, the Ukrainian people have bravely defended their homeland against Russia’s invasion of their country and attempts to wipe them out. Tens of thousands of Ukrainians have lost their lives defending their homeland. Families and communities have been devastated, and tens of thousands of Ukrainian children have been kidnapped by Russia. The Ukrainian people are fighting a war of self-defense and deserve our support.

“As a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and House Intelligence Committee, I have consistently voted to support the Ukrainian people in their efforts to defend their country and way of life. I have condemned Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, led efforts to isolate Russia from international organizations, and consistently voted to provide Ukraine with the resources and defense equipment it needs to defend itself.

“While I strongly support the Ukrainian people, I was unable to vote for the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, a bill that would provide President Trump with broad authority to raise taxes on Americans through tariffs without clear safeguards to prevent the abuse of this authority.

“President Trump has never demonstrated that he is a friend to the Ukrainian people, from his efforts to extort President Zelenskyy during his first term to his recent statements blaming Ukraine – and not his own war in Iran – for rising gas prices. Despite already having authorities to impose sanctions and tariffs on Russia, he has refused to do so, preferring to praise Vladimir Putin and criticize Ukrainians.

“I support many of the provisions in this bill, including financial sanctions on Russian officials and financial institutions, and restrictions on investing in Russia, and would support the legislation if it did not include language granting President Trump broad authority to increase taxes through the use of tariffs.

“I have serious concerns that he would abuse the tariff authorities that this bill provides to pursue his own agenda and not use them in a way that would put pressure on those who buy Russian oil. His abuse of these authorities would be counterproductive not only for the United States but also the Ukrainian people, who deserve better.

I will continue to support the Ukrainian people as they continue to defend their homeland.”

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House Passes Water Resources Development Act, Includes Language from Rep. Omar to Protect the Stability of the Mississippi River in Minneapolis

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Ilhan Omar (DFL-MN)

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed language from Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) to protect the future of the Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock in the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA). This legislation provides authority for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) to carry out water resources development projects and conduct studies to provide improvements to the nation’s ports, inland waterways, locks, dams, flood protection, ecosystem restoration, and other water resources infrastructure.

The language resolves a decades-long concern for local and state governments regarding a vital piece of abandoned infrastructure underneath the Mississippi River, just upstream of St. Anthony Falls. The cutoff wall was constructed by the Corps on an emergency basis in the 1870s in order to stabilize the bed of the Mississippi River after a failed attempt to create additional tunnels for hydro mills led to a rapid collapse of St. Anthony Falls. A recent study by the St. Anthony Falls Lab assessed the integrity of the cutoff wall, while highlighting that ongoing questions about ownership cast doubt on who would be responsible for maintenance and evaluation of this important piece of infrastructure. Rep. Omar’s language in this bill will clarify that the Corps owns the cutoff wall and is responsible for its maintenance. 

“I’m thrilled to see my language about the cutoff wall included in the House passage of the Water Resources Development Act,” said Rep. Omar. “This passage addresses longstanding concerns shared by the City of Minneapolis, Hennepin County, and the State of Minnesota about a piece of infrastructure that is vital to the stability of the river at the heart of the Twin Cities. It builds on our work to protect this historic segment of the Mississippi waterfront, and ensures this sacred site will be safe and stable for our future generations. I’m grateful for our community, local, state, and federal partners that made this victory possible.”

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Huffman Advances Northern CA Projects in Critical Water Resources Legislation

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jared Huffman Representing the 2nd District of California

Washington, D.C. – Today, Representative Jared Huffman voted to pass the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2026. This piece of bipartisan legislation authorizes the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ civil works program while advancing critical water infrastructure, ecosystem restoration, and climate resilience projects nationwide.

“We’re in a tough time when it comes to water policy. President Trump has tried to roll back years of progress on sustainable water management, clawed back funding for critical water infrastructure projects, and tried at every opportunity to stoke water wars, especially in California. Meanwhile, water managers throughout the west are dealing with the fallout of the worsening climate crisis — record droughts, extreme floods, rising seas — while trying to maintain and modernize deteriorating infrastructure,” said Rep. Huffman. “WRDA is one of Congress’ best tools for tackling these complex water challenges – and I’m happy to say that I was able to get big wins in this year’s WRDA, including reversing a wrongheaded Trump edict against Army Corps staff communicating with members of Congress, and advancing important projects in my district to restore wetlands, boost water supplies, modernize our infrastructure, and increase flood and drought resiliency.”

The 2026 WRDA legislation authorizes new water infrastructure projects and studies while modernizing the Army Corps through reforms that improve project delivery, expand nature-based solutions, strengthen environmental mitigation, and help communities better prepare for climate impacts. The bill successfully passed the House floor today with widespread bipartisan support.

The legislation includes several priorities championed by Rep. Huffman, including:

 

  • Restoring open and timely communication between U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Members of Congress, by reversing the Trump administration’s restrictions that impeded communication between the executive branch and Congress.

  • Addressing deferred maintenance at small and local harbors by requiring the Army Corps to assess their facilities and identify opportunities for interested local governments to assume their operation and maintenance.

The bill also advances several Northern California projects championed by Rep. Huffman, including:

  • Petaluma River Marsh Restoration, Sea Level Rise Adaptation, and Beneficial Reuse Study: Accelerates a study to restore tidal wetlands using beneficially reused dredged sediment, improving habitat, reducing flood risk, and increasing resilience to sea level rise.

  • Ellis Creek Wetlands Rehabilitation Feasibility Study:Expedites planning to restore degraded wetlands, strengthen natural flood protection, and safeguard critical wastewater infrastructure through nature-based solutions.

  • Coyote Valley Dam Feasibility Study: Advances evaluation of improvements to increase flood protection while expanding water storage and strengthening long-term drought resilience.

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House Republicans Put Maximum Pressure on Putin’s War Machine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Johnson (LA-04)

House Republicans Put Maximum Pressure on Putin’s War Machine

House Republicans passed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, sending it to President Trump’s desk

Washington, September 16, 2026

WASHINGTON — Tonight, House Republicans passed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, legislation to impose sanctions targeting Russia’s war machine and countries who aid Russia’s war against Ukraine. Despite this legislation receiving 86 votes in the Senate – including from 37 Senate Democrats – only 58 House Democrats voted to sanction the Russian war machine, while 152 of their colleagues decided they hate President Trump more than they support Ukraine.

“With House passage of the Lindsey Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, House and Senate Republicans are placing maximum pressure on Vladimir Putin and the Russian war machine. This legislation strengthens economic sanctions against the Russian government, its financial institutions, and the foreign governments that aid Russian aggression against Ukraine by purchasing cheap Russian oil and gas and helping the Kremlin evade other sanctions,” Speaker Johnson said. “For too long, Putin has bankrolled this devastating war with money and resources from countries willing to look the other way, and today, that ends. This bill sends a powerful message of American unity and gives the Administration every tool in the toolbox to help bring this war to a just end, and we are proud to send it to the President’s desk.”

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House Republicans Pass the Ratepayer Protection Act

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Johnson (LA-04)

House Republicans Pass the Ratepayer Protection Act

Legislation ensures companies building data centers are responsible for the electricity and infrastructure upgrades necessary to power them

Washington, September 16, 2026

WASHINGTON — Speaker Johnson issued the following statement after the House passed Rep. Gabe Evans’ Ratepayer Protection Act, legislation to ensure companies building large data centers – not hardworking American families – are responsible for the electricity and infrastructure needed to power them.

“AI companies have a serious responsibility to earn the trust of the communities they invest in and to be good neighbors. The Ratepayer Protection Act guarantees hardworking American families won’t foot the bill for the buildout of AI infrastructure– or see their energy costs rise to pay for it,” Speaker Johnson said. “Winning the AI race against China means winning here at home, but it can’t come at families’ expense, and this legislation strikes the right balance of protecting local communities while keeping America on the cutting edge of AI development.” 

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Rep. Chu Votes Against H.R. 5334 Over Expanded Presidential Tariff Powers

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Judy Chu (CA2-27)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28) voted against H.R. 5334, the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026. Rep. Chu released the following statement: 

“I strongly support Ukraine and its fight for freedom and democracy. And I believe we should impose tough, meaningful sanctions on Vladimir Putin and those financing his brutal war. But this bill fails to accomplish that. Instead, it hands President Trump the largest transfer of tariff authority Congress has ever given a president: the power to impose tariffs of up to 100% on any country, based solely on his claim they are facilitating sanctions evasion, with no Congressional oversight or legal guardrails.  
 
Trump already has powerful tools to get tough on Russia. Yet when he announced his sweeping global tariffs in April 2025, Russia was left off the list while our allies and trading partners were hit. That record matters because this bill does not require Trump to focus this sweeping new tariff authority on Russia. Instead, it gives his Administration broad discretion to decide which other countries are facilitating Russian sanctions evasion and hit them with tariffs of up to 100 percent. And Congress would have no way to stop him. 
 
California families would be hit especially hard. We import more from the countries most likely to be targeted by this bill than any other state in the country — 35% of our imports, compared to 22% nationally. That means families across the nation would be paying an even higher price for a trade war they had no part in starting. 
 
Trump has already done enough damage to our economy without this bill. His tariffs have raised costs, diesel just hit its highest price on record, and gas prices have soared since he launched his illegal war in Iran. Americans have had to choose between paying for groceries, gas, childcare, and health care, all because of Trump’s self-created affordability crisis. 

We cannot hand Trump even more unchecked tariff power, not disguised as a help for Ukraine and not at the expense of hardworking Americans. We can hold Putin accountable without giving this President a new weapon to use against our own economy. 

For these reasons, I voted no.” 

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SCHNEIDER OPPOSES EFFORT TO GIVE TRUMP BROADER TARIFF AUTHORITY

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Brad Schneider (D-IL)

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Brad Schneider (IL-10), a member of the House Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee, voted against giving President Trump more power to capriciously abuse tariff authority and arbitrarily threaten allies. The Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act would grant the President power to enact more sweeping tariffs without Congressional approval and raise costs on American households by thousands of dollars. 
 

“I will always support Ukraine and the Ukrainian people’s fight against Russia’s illegal invasion. I have consistently called on Congress and the President to do more to help Ukraine,” said Schneider. “Sadly, President Trump has not responded. If the President had any interest in imposing sanctions on Russia and supporting the Ukrainian people, he already has the necessary authority and power to do so. Yet, after nearly twenty months in office, he’s stubbornly refused to use that power. 
 

“The President, however, abused his power to attack our important allies and trading powers,” Schneider continued. “The Supreme Court was crystal clear — the authority to impose tariffs belongs to Congress, not the President. Trump’s costly tariffs have already cost hardworking Americans thousands of dollars, further burdening families’ already stretched budgets. The American people need relief, but Republicans don’t have a plan for that. Instead, they are letting Trump continue to run rampant and impose tariffs. 
 

“We can and will continue to support Ukraine and the Ukrainian people and hold Russia accountable. But we will not be duped into handing Trump more tariff power to abuse,” concluded Schneider. “Power that he will almost certainly use to give himself more leverage to raise costs on hardworking American families and damage relationships with our allies. I will continue working to both rein in Trump’s trade war and lower costs and pursue comprehensive strategies to push back against Putin’s regime and uphold democracy for the people of Ukraine.”
 

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Scott: Congress Should Support Ukraine Without Expanding Trump’s Tariff Powers

Source: {United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bobby Scott (3rd District of Virginia)

Headline: Scott: Congress Should Support Ukraine Without Expanding Trump’s Tariff Powers

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after voting against the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act:

“I strongly support Ukraine and efforts to hold Vladimir Putin accountable for his brutal war. I stand with the Ukrainian people and have repeatedly voted to support Ukraine. However, I cannot support legislation that uses support for Ukraine as leverage to give Donald Trump even more authority to impose his reckless tariffs and trade wars that raise prices on American families. At a time when families are already struggling with the affordability crisis, Congress should be working to lower costs, not giving Donald Trump another tool to increase them.”

 

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REP LIEU AND SEN MARKEY URGE TRUMP TO GET CHINA TO COMMIT TO ENSURING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE CANNOT LAUNCH NUKES WITHOUT HUMAN ENGAGEMENT

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Ted Lieu (33 District of California)

WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D-Los Angeles County) and Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) urged President Trump to raise the principle of maintaining a “human-in-the-loop” in nuclear launch decisions during his meeting with General Secretary Xi Jinping next week. The United States already has the policy of ensuring humans are the decision-makers in the employment of nuclear weapons thanks to a provision authored by Rep. Lieu and Sen. Markey in the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act.

In the letter, Congressman Lieu and Senator Markey write:

Dear President Trump: 

As you prepare to meet with General Secretary Xi Jinping next week, we respectfully ask you to raise the issue of artificial intelligence (AI) and its use in nuclear weapons launch systems. The United States already requires that the use of AI should not compromise the integrity of nuclear safeguards or compromise the principle of maintaining a “human-in-the-loop” in the employment of nuclear weapons. We urge you to get General Secretary Xi to commit the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to the same principle that the United States already follows.

Sec. 1638 of the Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act declared that it is the policy of the United States that AI should not compromise the integrity of nuclear safeguards. A human must be kept “in the loop” for all nuclear launch decisions. AI should never launch a nuclear weapon by itself. Since the United States follows this basic principle, so should the PRC.

Your direct engagement on this matter is critical to ensuring AI doesn’t accidentally or intentionally cause a preventable nuclear disaster. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

READ THE LETTER HERE

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Castor Champions Passage of Bipartisan Ratepayer Protection Act to Shield Neighbors from Higher Electric Bills Tied to Data Centers

Source: United States House of Representatives – Reprepsentative Kathy Castor (FL14)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Reps. Kathy Castor (FL-14) and Gabe Evans (CO-08) celebrated the passage of their bipartisan Ratepayer Protection Act, which protects American families and small businesses from the costs of energy and grid upgrades required for new hyperscale data centers.

The Ratepayer Protection Act requires state utility regulators to establish rules ensuring communities do not pay for the costs of building new power plants, transmission lines and other upgrades to serve data centers. Without proper safeguards, families and small businesses in communities where data center development occurs could see their electric bills skyrocket. The Ratepayer Protection Act ensures that wealthy Big Tech companies cover the full energy and infrastructure costs of new data center development and are held accountable for their promises.

“Floridians already are dealing with sky-high electric bills. They should not be forced to subsidize the enormous energy demands of the world’s richest corporations,” said Rep. Castor. “If Big Tech builds a massive AI data center, the Big Tech company—not hardworking families, farmers or small businesses—should pay for their power and grid upgrades. The bipartisan Ratepayer Protection Act is an important first step that can help lower costs for our neighbors back home and empower states to set strict guardrails.”

“Hardworking families should not have to subsidize the energy demands of data centers. America needs the infrastructure to lead the world in AI and outcompete Communist China, but we cannot have that growth at the expense of hardworking families, farmers, seniors, and small businesses. My bipartisan Ratepayer Protection Act ensures large data centers pay for the infrastructure they require while giving states the flexibility to determine what works best for their communities. I’m incredibly proud to lead the charge on this pivotal issue, ensure our ratepayers are protected, and keep American innovation moving forward,” said Rep. Evans.

Castor strongly opposes data center development in Hillsborough County due to high electric bills and environmental concerns and pressed the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners in a September 10, 2026 letter to “act decisively to protect Hillsborough County residents, resources and long-term sustainability.”

The Ratepayer Protection Act builds on Rep. Castor’s leadership on the Stopping Hikes in Electricity from large Load Demands (SHIELD) Act, which she introduced with Rep. Mike Levin (CA-49) in January.

Background

If enacted, the Ratepayer Protection Act would direct state regulators to adopt new guardrails for new data centers with a demand of 100 megawatts or more, including:

  • Recovery of the full cost of upgrades for the data center through a special rate charge or other agreements. This ensures data centers are responsible for the costs associated with serving their demand rather than passing those costs on to families and businesses through higher monthly electricity bills.
  • Financial assurances that require the data center to pay for any generation, transmission, or other infrastructure necessary to serve their load, protecting utilities and ratepayers from that financial burden. This protects utilities and existing customers from being left responsible for upgrade costs associated with a data center, even if that data center later reduces operations or leaves the system entirely.