On February 12, 2016 (January 5, 2016 in the lunar calendar), the U.S. Congress passed a sanctions bill against North Korea. The U.S. Congress passed a sanctions bill on North Korea and submitted it to Obama for signature. On February 12, 2016, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to pass a bill aimed at imposing stricter sanctions on North Korea. At this point, the bill was passed in both houses of Congress and submitted to U.S. President Obama for signature. On the same day, the House passed the bill with a vote of 408 in favor and 2 against. The bill requires the U.S. president to impose sanctions on individuals or entities who have dealings with North Korea in weapons of mass destruction, arms, luxury goods, cybercrime and human rights violations, including freezing assets, banning entry and terminating government contracts. The bill also authorizes the government to spend $10 million a year over the next five years on media spending and refugee aid to North Korea. House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Royce said that North Korea's recent nuclear tests and "missile" launches show that the Obama administration's policy of "strategic patience" with North Korea is unworkable. The administration and Congress must act together to strictly implement sanctions to bring North Korea back to the negotiating table. Obama administration officials have expressed support for the sanctions bill. Ben Rhodes, Deputy Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, said on the 11th that the government and Congress are in unison on this issue and both believe that it is necessary to increase sanctions against North Korea. The House last month passed a similar bill aimed at sanctioning North Korea, but the Senate has since revised it to add new provisions covering cybercrime, media spending against North Korea and refugee aid. On the 10th of this month, the Senate voted unanimously to pass a bill to impose stricter sanctions on North Korea. North Korea announced a nuclear test on the 6th of last month. This is North Korea's fourth nuclear test since 2006. On the 7th of this month, North Korea launched a satellite with a long-range rocket. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry issued a statement saying that North Korea once again chose serious provocations a month after its nuclear test, and that the United States will work with partner countries and Security Council members to take severe measures against North Korea's actions. U.S. Congress passes sanctions bill on North Korea and submits it to Obama for signature