The U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved legislation that would impose sanctions on Russia. The vote was 17-5 to advance the bill - Defending American Security from Kremlin Aggression Act of 2019.

Lawmakers have been pushing the President to take a harder stance against Russia over election interference, aggression toward Ukraine, to end occupation and support of pro-Russian forces in Georgia and Moldova and involvement in Syria’s civil war.

The legislation must pass the full Senate and House of Representatives before it can be sent for President Donald Trump to sign into law or veto.