U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., was one of only three members of the House of Representatives on Tuesday to vote against a bill that empowers Congress to block any White House effort to weaken sanctions against Russia.

The vote was 419-3, and now heads to the Senate. The measure would not only challenge President Donald J. Trump’s authority by limiting his ability to lift or suspend sanctions, it would impose more sanctions on Russia, Iran and North Korea.

The sanctions package chiefly punishes Russia for meddling in the presidential election, and its military aggression in Syria and Ukraine.

Massie was joined by fellow Republican Congressmen Justin Amash, of Michigan, and John J. Duncan, Jr., of Tennessee, in opposition to the measure.

In a prepared statement, Massie said he voted against “vague, expensive and reckless sanctions,” included in the bill.

“H.R 3364 would vastly expand unilateral executive authority. This bill cites the United Nations and United Nations Security Council resolutions as controlling legal authority instead of U.S. law and the Constitution,” Massie said. “As a co-sponsor of legislation to get the United States out of the UN, I oppose citing international law as authority for congressional action.”

Massie has frequently advocated for measures that would pull the U.S. out of the United Nations. In the wake of Britain’s “Brexit” from the European Union last summer, Massie called for an “Amexit” from the UN.

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Massie further defended his vote on Tuesday by decrying the amount of money the bill would allocate toward combatting future cyberattacks by Russia.

“This bill authorizes $250 million for a vague “Countering Russian Influence Fund” with no accountability on who these funds will go to or how they will be used. It also contains language that expands the Treasury’s ability to issue blanket warrants without probable cause, a clear violation of the 4th Amendment. In addition, this legislation threatens businesses and jobs across the country, including some in Kentucky,” Massie said.

The sanctions package would target Russia for its interference in the 2016 election, and include provisions that intended to restrain Iranian militarism and North Korea’s nuclear weapons program.

Aside from Massie, Amash and Duncan, who are all libertarian-leaning, the House bill received a vast amount of bipartisan support.

Speaker Paul D. Ryan, R-Wis., called it “one of the most expansive sanctions packages in history,” in a written statement.

“The multitude of threats posed to our national security by Iran, Russian and North Korea cannot be understated,” said Ryan. “It tightens the screws on our most dangerous adversaries in order to keep Americans safe.”

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-New York, wrote in a statement the Senate should pass the bill expeditiously.

“Senate Republican leaders should move this bill as soon as possible, so that it can be on the president's desk without delay,” said Schumer. “Passing the bill on a bipartisan basis will send a strong signal to the White House that the Kremlin needs to be held accountable for meddling in last year's election.”

The Senate may put the bill to a vote prior to its August recess.

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aadkins@dailyindependent.com