The Senate stands adjourned until 5:00 P.M. for the ceremony commemorating the life and legacy of the late Senator Lindsey O. Graham (R-South Carolina) being held in the Rotunda of the United States Capitol. Following the Congressional Tribute there will be a funeral service at the Washington National Cathedral at 2:00 P.M.
When the Senate convenes at 5:00 P.M., following Leader remarks, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session and resume consideration of Executive Calendar #833, Walter (Jay) Clayton, of New York, to be Director of National Intelligence, post-cloture. At approximately 6:30 P.M., the Senate will vote on confirmation of the Clayton nomination.
Upon disposition of the Clayton nomination, the Senate will vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to Calendar #454, H.R.5334, vehicle for Russia Sanctions Legislation. This follows a bipartisan group of senators reaching an agreement on the final version of a bill imposing so-called “bone-crushing sanctions” against Russia. The legislation would grant the U.S. president new powers to exert economic pressure on countries that continue purchasing Russian energy. In particular, it would authorize additional tariffs on the five largest importers of Russian oil and natural gas, as well as on the five countries that help Russia circumvent energy sanctions. The bill also extends the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996 through 2031, preserving the framework for secondary sanctions against foreign companies doing business with Tehran. The legislation also provides for a blanket 500% tariff on Russian goods imported into the United States. Separately, the president would be authorized to impose an additional 100% tariff on the largest buyers of Russian energy and on countries that facilitate sanctions evasion. However, a change introduced to the bill limits these new authorities to five years.
A one-pager on the legislation is available here. The text of the bill is available here.
