Washington, D.C. - Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet called on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to approve a bipartisan bill to strengthen and expand sanctions against the regime in North Korea and those who assist it. Bennet is a cosponsor of a bill introduced by Senators Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC). The Foreign Relations Committee is expected to consider a version of that bill that is merged with a similar bill spearheaded by Senator Cory Gardner.

"North Korea's repeated acts of aggression and hostility call for stronger sanctions," Bennet said. "Its claim that it detonated a hydrogen bomb along with other acts of provocation demonstrate its disregard for international law and its desire to pursue a nuclear weapon. A bipartisan bill will send a strong message that the United States will not tolerate this intransigence and will give the Administration additional tools to strengthen and expand sanctions against the North Korean regime and those who support it. The committee and Congress should quickly pass this bill, and the international community should swiftly move forward with additional sanctions."

Bennet signed on to the Menendez-Graham 2015 North Korea Sanctions Act following repeated violations by North Korea of international commitments and the perpetual brutal oppression on the vast majority of the North Korean people.

The bill would:

• Expands the ability of the Administration to sanction property and seize funds of the people or organizations that provide support to the regime.
• Expands the ability of the Administration to sanction support for cyber attacks or cyber vandalism.
• Enhances the ability of humanitarian organizations to provide life-saving assistance to reduce the suffering of the North Korean people.