Lawmakers Move to Block Russian Diesel Deal with New Bill
Washington lawmakers have introduced bipartisan legislation aimed at dismantling the Treasury Department’s waiver for Russian fuel imports. The Ronald Reagan Peace Through Strength Act directly targets General License 135, drawing support from a congressional coalition seeking to enforce the 2022 Russian oil import ban.
Legislation seeks to render General License 135 ineffective
Introduced by Democratic Representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington alongside Republican Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania and Don Bacon of Nebraska, the bill strips the Treasury Department of its authority to issue waivers for Russian energy products. The measure also bars the Treasury from allocating funds toward agreements that breach the Ending Importation of Russian Oil Act of 2022.
Beyond blocking future waivers, the legislation mandates that intelligence agencies support Ukraine’s defense and notify congressional intelligence committees within 24 hours of any operational interruption. Lawmakers framed the administration’s waiver as a direct violation of bipartisan legislation passed in 2022, pointing to rising fuel costs linked to the conflict in the Middle East as the driver behind the administration’s policy shift.
The congressional pushback follows a series of warnings directed at banks and ports regarding Russian diesel handling, while separate scrutiny has emerged from lawmakers over the broader economic and strategic fallout of the energy imports.
