washington u.s. senate vote nearly unanimously thursday legislation impose new sanction russia force president donald trump get congress approval ease exist sanction russia move could complicate u.s. president donald trump desire warm relations moscow senate back measure 98-2. republican senator rand paul bernie sanders independent caucus democrats two vote measure intend punish russia meddle 2016 u.s. election annexation ukraine crimea region support syria government six-year-long civil war pass house representatives sign law trump would put law sanction previously establish via former president barack obama executive order include russian energy project legislation also allow new sanction russian mine metal ship railways target russians guilty conduct cyber attack supply weapons syria government legislation send strong signal russia nefarious activities involve senator bob corker republican chairman senate foreign relations committee say lawmakers debate measure measure become law could complicate relations countries europe germany austria say new punitive measure could expose european company involve project russia fin legislation set review process would require trump get congress approval take action ease suspend lift sanction russia trump especially effusive russian president vladimir putin 2016 u.s. election campaign though openness close tie moscow temper somewhat administration defensive investigations russian meddle election putin dismiss propose sanction say reflect internal political struggle unite state washington policy impose sanction moscow always try contain russia bill also include new sanction iran ballistic missile program activities relate international nuclear agreement reach unite state world power become law legislation must pass house representatives sign trump house aid say expect chamber would begin debate measure come weeks however could predict would come final vote lawmakers leave washington end july summer recess senior aid tell reuters expect sanction package would eventually pass expect measure would change house trump administration push back bill fellow republicans hold command 238- 193-seat majority chamber secretary state rex tillerson question legislation wednesday urge congress ensure sanction package allow president flexibility adjust sanction meet need always evolve diplomatic situation previously u.s. energy sanction target russia future high-tech energy project drill oil arctic fracking offshore drill block u.s. company exxon mobil tillerson chairman invest project new bill would slap sanction company countries look invest project absence u.s. company practice know backfilling also include first time discretionary measure trump administration could impose investments company western countries russia energy export pipelines europe senate also vote overwhelmingly thursday add provision bill allow u.s. space agency nasa continue use russian-made rocket engines 100 senators vote unanimously amendment reaffirm u.s. commitment nato alliance u.s. senate vote near unanimously russia iran sanction