The U.S. House of Representatives on June 4 voted 226-195 to advance bipartisan legislation supported by U.S. Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Don Bacon (R-NE), and Kevin Kiley (I-CA) that would solidify U.S. backing for Ukraine and slap sanctions on Russia.
“Putin is counting on America to grow tired, divided, and distracted,” said Rep. Fitzpatrick, co-chairman of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus. “Today, with a historic bipartisan vote, the House sent the opposite message.”
The House-approved Ukraine Support Act, H.R. 2913, now heads to the U.S. Senate for consideration. Democrats had introduced the legislation in April 2025 to address the war between Russia and Ukraine by providing assistance to Ukraine and certain European countries, and establishing penalties for Russia and certain foreign persons.
“I strongly urge the Senate to take up and pass this legislation without delay to provide Ukraine the military aid it needs to win and impose tough sanctions that further isolate and punish Putin,” Rep. Bacon said, adding that “America must continue to support Ukraine’s fight against Russia’s brutal invasion.”
Specifically, assistance provided under H.R. 2913 would include establishing a reconstruction trust fund for Ukraine; requiring the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation to prioritize support for Ukraine; and reviving the president’s authority to lend or lease defense articles to Ukraine or Eastern European countries affected by the war through fiscal year 2028.
The bill also would extend through 2027 the U.S. Department of Defense’s authority to provide security assistance and intelligence support to Ukrainian forces, and require the U.S. State Department to take certain actions to build the capacity of the militaries and border forces of Baltic countries, according to the Congressional Record bill summary.
“I provided the decisive signature to force a vote on the Ukraine Support Act because the time for Congress to act is now,” Rep. Kiley said on Thursday. “Today, in a bipartisan way, we made it clear that the United States will continue to stand with the Ukrainian people and provide the material support necessary for their self-defense. We made it equally clear that Russia will pay a severe price for its unprovoked aggression and ongoing violence.”
If enacted, H.R. 2913 also would require the president to periodically determine if the Russian government or any proxy is waging a war of aggression against Ukraine, refusing to sincerely negotiate a peace agreement with Ukraine, or acting in violation of a negotiated peace agreement with Ukraine.
If the president makes such a determination, the president must impose certain penalties, including property- and visa-blocking sanctions on certain Russian officials; property-blocking sanctions on Russian companies in the oil and mining sectors, Rosatom (Russia’s state-owned nuclear enterprise) and its subsidiaries, and certain Russian financial institutions; and increasing the rate of duty on all goods and services imported from Russia into the United States to at least 500 percent relative to the value of such goods and services, the summary says.
“Ukraine is fighting for its sovereignty and survival, but the stakes do not stop at Ukraine’s borders,” Rep. Fitzpatrick said. “Standing with Ukraine is a matter of American security, allied strength, and moral clarity — and it tells the world that aggression will not be met with hesitation or retreat. This legislation gives force to that principle, and I am grateful to my colleagues in the House who stood with us on the side of freedom. Now, the Senate must do the same.”