GOP urges swift action on sanctions and Iran funding package UPDATED

House Republican leaders are intensifying pressure on their Senate counterparts to advance a $95 billion reconciliation package, urging swift action despite resistance from Senate Majority Leader John Thune.

Before departing Washington, House leaders signalled their expectations for the Senate to take up the measure without delay. The legislation includes funding for the war in Iran, agricultural assistance, and provisions tied to the SAVE America Act.

“The Senate needs to move on reconciliation before November, and I think the pressure from the American people is going to be unbearable if they refuse to act,” National Republican Congressional Committee Chair Richard Hudson told Axios on Thursday, July 23. “For the Senate to sit on their hands and do nothing, I think, will be unsustainable.”

Thune has pushed back on the proposed timeline, telling reporters earlier this week that he intends to wait until government funding issues are resolved before bringing the budget resolution to the floor.

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise said he expects the White House to increase pressure on Senate Republicans to act. Speaking to Axios in a pen-and-pad session on Thursday, Scalise dismissed concerns over legislative difficulty.

“They can say all day long, you know, 'It's going to be hard.' Everything's hard. Give me a lecture about how hard things are. That's what I do every day. They've got to figure out a way to get it done,” Scalise said of Senate Republicans.

Scalise also noted that because the reconciliation process requires only a simple majority in the Senate, Republicans would not have the “excuse of the filibuster” to avoid passing the SAVE Act.

The White House has also weighed in. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said during a Thursday briefing that President Donald Trump’s “patience is running out” with Thune when asked about the legislation.

“Well, maybe she or somebody else ought to get on the phone and get the votes,” Thune told reporters in response.

Tensions over the measure have placed Thune under increasing scrutiny from House conservatives, who have spent months urging him to take up the SAVE America Act. Thune, however, has consistently maintained that he does not have sufficient support in the Senate.

“He seems to be doing his best to try to pretend he's working on the SAVE America Act while not working on the SAVE America Act,” Representative Michael Cloud said.

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U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune said on July 23 that lawmakers are considering adding provisions targeting Iran to a bipartisan sanctions bill focused on Russia, as efforts intensify to advance the legislation.

Thune told reporters he expects Iran-related penalties to be incorporated into the bill, following a call from President Donald Trump, who said on social media over the weekend that such measures should be included.

“I think everybody’s fine with it because we do it anyway, Iran sanctions is something we’ve had in place the last 30 years,” Thune said. “I’ve been having conversations with Democrats and folks on our side, and … I think we’re homing in on it.”

The Russia sanctions bill has been under development for several years but has gained renewed momentum and backing from the White House following the death of Senator Lindsey Graham earlier this month. Graham had been a leading proponent of the legislation, which would impose mandatory sanctions on Russia and its allies, potentially including tariffs targeting countries that purchase Russian energy.

Under the proposed expansion, Iran and its ally in Lebanon, Hezbollah, could also fall within the scope of the sanctions framework.

Thune said he is working with Democratic lawmakers to reach an agreement that would limit debate time on the Senate floor, enabling a faster vote on the measure. The Senate is scheduled to recess for a month beginning August 7.

“I’m hoping we can get it teed up, and then if we can get some sort of limited time agreement to help expedite it on the floor, that would help too,” Thune added.

By Tamilla Hasanova