Legislation that would slap new financial penalties on Russia is running into a familiar obstacle: congressional inertia.

Top Republican senators are warning that Congress won’t approve new sanctions quickly, even though many in the upper chamber want to pass something in the wake of the Helsinki summit.

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Complicating the path for the flurry of bills, two key Senate committees are first planning to hold a slate of hearings related to Russia and existing sanctions legislation that will likely run through August. The House, meanwhile, is leaving town this week until September with no plans to pass a bill.

The congressional calendar ensures that any fight over Russia sanctions gets dragged into the fall and pushed against the partisan midterm election landscape, where many Republicans are fighting for their political lives.

Sen. Bob Corker Robert (Bob) Phillips CorkerHas Congress captured Russia policy? Tennessee primary battle turns nasty for Republicans Cheney clashes with Trump MORE (R-Tenn.), the chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, brushed aside questions about why a bill isn’t moving faster, saying senators don’t do “ready-fire-aim” policies.

“The Helsinki press conference was a sad day for our country and everyone knows it, but still, when you move ahead with laws and sanctions, hearings are appropriate,” he said. “Moving a bill three days after a deplorable press conference is not an intelligent thing to do.”

Corker, a critic of President Trump Donald John TrumpBiden on Trump's refusal to commit to peaceful transfer of power: 'What country are we in?' Romney: 'Unthinkable and unacceptable' to not commit to peaceful transition of power Two Louisville police officers shot amid Breonna Taylor grand jury protests MORE who spearheaded a 2017 Russia sanctions bill, added that senators want to be “methodical” and not “rush in with our hair on fire.”

Trump sparked widespread backlash when he refused to denounce Russia’s election meddling during a press conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Finland.

His rhetoric was considered by most lawmakers to be a political disaster and forced Republicans to go on defense to verbally distance themselves from the president, whose warmer stance toward Putin has mystified members of his own party.

A flurry of potential legislative responses to Trump’s rhetoric has been floated: A bill from Sens. Marco Rubio Marco Antonio RubioOvernight Defense: Pentagon redirects pandemic funding to defense contractors | US planning for full Afghanistan withdrawal by May | Anti-Trump GOP group puts ads in military papers Democrats step up hardball tactics as Supreme Court fight heats up Press: Notorious RBG vs Notorious GOP MORE (R-Fla.) and Chris Van Hollen Christopher (Chris) Van HollenCongress must finish work on popular conservation bill before time runs out Democrats fear Russia interference could spoil bid to retake Senate Mid-Atlantic states sue EPA over Chesapeake Bay pollution MORE (D-Md.) to slap penalties on Russia if the director of national intelligence determines it meddled in a future election is picking up more bipartisan support. Meanwhile, Sens. Lindsey Graham Lindsey Olin GrahamSenate GOP aims to confirm Trump court pick by Oct. 29: report The Hill's Campaign Report: GOP set to ask SCOTUS to limit mail-in voting Senate GOP sees early Supreme Court vote as political booster shot MORE (R-S.C.) and Bob Menendez Robert (Bob) MenendezKasie Hunt to host lead-in show for MSNBC's 'Morning Joe' Senators ask for removal of tariffs on EU food, wine, spirits: report VOA visa decision could hobble Venezuela coverage MORE (D-N.J.) are drafting a bill that would automatically impose tough new sanctions on Russia.

“I’m doing everything but the kitchen sink,” Graham told reporters about his upcoming bill.

In addition, Sen. Cory Gardner Cory Scott GardnerCook Political Report shifts Colorado Senate race toward Democrat Overnight Health Care: US coronavirus deaths hit 200,000 | Ginsburg's death puts future of ObamaCare at risk | Federal panel delays vote on initial COVID-19 vaccine distribution The Hill's Campaign Report: GOP set to ask SCOTUS to limit mail-in voting MORE (R-Colo.) has legislation that would ask the State Department to determine if Russia is a state sponsor of terrorism, which would trigger automatic sanctions.

But none of those bills will move this summer.

Both the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the Senate Banking Committee, chaired by Sen. Mike Crapo Michael (Mike) Dean CrapoBottom line Davis: The Hall of Shame for GOP senators who remain silent on Donald Trump Top GOP senator urges agencies to protect renters, banks amid coronavirus aid negotiations MORE (R-Idaho), announced this week that they would hold a series of hearings to examine a 2017 sanctions bill that placed new penalties on Russia and to weigh any future congressional action that is needed. The move, endorsed by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellFEC flags McConnell campaign over suspected accounting errors Poll: 59 percent think president elected in November should name next Supreme Court justice Mark Kelly: Arizona Senate race winner should be sworn in 'promptly' MORE (R-Ky.), effectively puts any Senate vote on tougher sanctions on hold until the hearings wrap up.

In addition to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo Michael (Mike) Richard PompeoTreasury sanctions individuals, groups tied to Russian malign influence activities Navalny released from hospital after suspected poisoning Overnight Defense: Pentagon redirects pandemic funding to defense contractors | US planning for full Afghanistan withdrawal by May | Anti-Trump GOP group puts ads in military papers MORE’s testimony before the Foreign Relations Committee on Wednesday, the panel is expected to hold an additional hearing next week and then additional meetings once the Senate returns in mid-August. Crapo, meanwhile, noted on Wednesday that he is already having conversations with committee members, but formal panel hearings won’t start until after Aug. 13.

These announcements have sparked criticism from Democrats that Republicans aren’t serious about standing up to Trump months before the midterm election. GOP leaders, on issues ranging from trade to immigration, have shown little appetite for sparking a confrontation with Trump and angering his base — which they will need in November to keep control of Congress.

Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer Chuck SchumerCruz blocks amended resolution honoring Ginsburg over language about her dying wish Senate Democrats introduce legislation to probe politicization of pandemic response Schumer interrupted during live briefing by heckler: 'Stop lying to the people' MORE (D-N.Y.) knocked Republicans as doing “virtually nothing” since the Helsinki summit.

“Republicans have failed to take meaningful action to hold the president accountable for his foreign policy blunders in Finland. Republicans have offered words of rebuke, statements, disappointed tweets, but they have not backed those words up with the force of action,” he said from the Senate floor this week.

Fifty-one percent of respondents in a recently released Quinnipiac University survey said they believe the Russian government has something on Trump, while 35 percent said it does not.

Schumer touted the polling as “astounding.”

Asked about Schumer accusing Republicans of being unwilling to confront Trump, Corker noted that the Senate passed new Russia sanctions last year in a 98-2 vote despite pushback from the White House.

When a reporter pointed out that Schumer was referring to Republican actions since Helsinki, the GOP senator responded, “Well, Helsinki happened about a week and a half ago. So, you know, there are efforts that are — I can’t even respond to that.”

GOP leadership has appeared open to passing new sanctions legislation. McConnell mentioned Rubio’s bill while speaking to reporters on Tuesday. And Sen. John Cornyn John CornynThe Hill's Campaign Report: GOP set to ask SCOTUS to limit mail-in voting Liberal super PAC launches ads targeting vulnerable GOP senators over SCOTUS fight Senate GOP faces pivotal moment on pick for Supreme Court MORE (Texas), the No. 2 Senate Republican, said on Wednesday that he is “certainly interested in doing something else to deter Russia.”

McConnell, in sharp contrast to Trump, has had harsh words for Russia and Putin since the Helsinki summit.

But there are already signs of skepticism that Congress needs to pass tougher Russia sanctions. And formal pushback from the White House as the process moves forward would only feed opposition from Trump’s conservative allies on Capitol Hill.

Sen. Rand Paul Randal (Rand) Howard PaulRand Paul says he can't judge 'guilt or innocence' in Breonna Taylor case Overnight Health Care: Health officials tell public to trust in science | Despair at CDC under Trump influence | A new vaccine phase 3 trial starts Health officials tell public to trust in science MORE (R-Ky.) blasted the talk of tougher sanctions when he opposed a Russia-related resolution last week and accused his colleagues of having “Trump derangement syndrome.” Meanwhile, Sen. Richard Shelby Richard Craig ShelbySenate GOP eyes early exit Dems discussing government funding bill into February GOP short of votes on Trump's controversial Fed pick MORE (R-Ala.), while not ruling out supporting additional penalties, has signaled that the United States should work with European allies.

Crapo stressed on Wednesday that he has not decided if the Senate needs to take up a new bill and if his committee would take up already drafted legislation or craft a new proposal.

“We definitely need to be sure that our sanctions regime is very capable to respond. But … we just put together a very extensive sanctions bill last year,” he said. “We are going to have some very extensive briefings and negotiations … and then make that determination.”

The Senate took a symbolic shot at Trump over Russia last week, when it passed a resolution warning Trump not to hand over diplomats to Moscow for questioning. But separate resolutions supporting the intelligence community’s findings that Russia meddled in the 2016 presidential election have repeatedly been blocked.

GOP Sen. Jeff Flake Jeffrey (Jeff) Lane FlakeHow fast population growth made Arizona a swing state Jeff Flake: Republicans 'should hold the same position' on SCOTUS vacancy as 2016 Republican former Michigan governor says he's voting for Biden MORE (Ariz.), whose resolution with Sen. Christopher Coons Christopher (Chris) Andrew CoonsMurkowski: Supreme Court nominee should not be taken up before election Battle lines drawn on precedent in Supreme Court fight Sunday shows - Ruth Bader Ginsburg's death dominates MORE (D-Del.) has been blocked twice, demurred when asked how the Senate can get a deal on tougher Russia legislation if senators couldn’t even agree to pass a nonbinding resolution.

“I don’t know,” he told The Hill. “That’s my concern, obviously. This [resolution] ought to be a layup.”